Saturday, October 5, 2013

Nice Furniture shopping... on the cheap! Barrio 12 de Octubre!

Dear Bogota Expats!

It's often very difficult to know where to shop for good furniture, but not pay top retail prices from the big malls or the standalone furniture shops around the metropolitan Bogota area.  With the help of our Relocation Specialist Yolanda, she took us to the area called "Barrio 12 de Octubre" where many of the items sold in other shops are sold at wholesale prices, and seem to come faster (5-10 business "habiles" days) and of course, cheaper by about 30-40%, the sale prices of the other big box stores.  In exchange for the low prices, you do not receive a fancy showroom.

Specifically, we are shopping for the following:
  • a modern sofa section set, 
  • a dining room table, 
  • 1-2 queen-sized beds with mattresses for us the guest bedroom, 
  • 2 convertible crib-beds for our 9-month old twins, and
  • patio furniture for our 80 square meter terrace

Here are some of the shops that we found:
  • PATIO:  Punto Parasol, Calle: 74A No. 50-04, Tel 630 6104 
    • For a round wooden or square table with four wooden or canvas chairs and a large umbrella with canvas, he said it would be 950,000 COP including delivery; no IVA
  • CRIBS: Mar Muebles, Carrera 50 No. 74A-15, Tel 240 9652
    • For two twin sized beds with a crib frame on top ("cuna burbuja"), she quoted 800,000 COP each including delivery 
  • LIVING ROOM SOFAS, DINING ROOM TABLES: Komodos Muebles, Carrera 50 No. 74-12, Tel 250 6762
    • Bedroom furniture 3,200,000 COP; Sofa Grand 3,500,000 COP, Chair 600,000 COP 
Saludos,

Avila



Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Our arrival to Bogota!

Dear Bogota Expats!

Our arrival to Bogota was something to witness... when you try to pack for living abroad for 3 years without using a shipping company, you sort of go crazy.  [We didn't abuse any of the baggage policies really - we had 11 boxes measuring 60" linear inches, 2 big 29" suitcases, a huge stroller in a bag (that we stuffed in my husband's shoes) and a Graco Pack n' Play.  Mind you, we already had shipped down 3 boxes already - 2 that are stored in his office with the IT person and another one with a co-worker, and a fourth down in Lima during his last mission trip!]

So after getting all our bags off the conveyor belt and all the boxes from the "special handling" area, we had 3 extra people helping us (one sent from another airline - Aerolineas Argentina - that had greeted us at the gate earlier), one colleague of this person, a security guy that was chatting me up about the twins, and my husband, while I pushed the stroller and had 2 carry-ones strapped to me.  Insane.  Two big vans cars came to pick us up and then dropped us off at the apartment we rented off airbnb.com.  (The fun part of all the boxes was that my husband tried to smuggle in some rice from his country and they saw it during the security scans (amazing technology I have to say!) - you're not allowed to import grains or rice into Colombia, or probably any other country!)  My husband begged that it was very special rice and "close to his heart" and that there was not much - ja, only like 10 kilos!  So he had to sign a document acknowledging this and off we were...

Thank goodness for the support of the relocation company and the car service... my husband's back did hurt for the next few days though as he did help bring the boxes in.  We are so used to packing and unpacking... but moving is a @#$@#!

Saludos,

Avila

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Private Social Clubs in Bogota!

Dear Bogota Expats!

When you drive around Bogota, you'll see a lot of large buildings that hold the playground for certain ("elite") individuals in the city to participate in sporting activities, dining, and surely to socialize!   Here is an article from dinero.com about "the price to have fun 'high'."

Saludos,

Avila



PUBLICADO: 21/08/2012

El precio de divertirse a lo “high”


¿Sabe usted cuánto puede llegar a costar la acción de un club social en Colombia? Una investigación de Dinero.com concluyó que para ser socio de un club además de tener plata, debe tener buenos amigos.

Los más tradicionales no dejan de ser estrictos en la escogencia de sus socios, y pese al desequilibrio económico tener un carné sigue siendo un privilegio. En la mayoría de los casos para adquirir una acción, el interesado debe presentar una solicitud de dos o tres páginas con información personal y laboral.

Si su amigo es socio, comenzó con pie derecho porque la recomendación que él pueda dar a la Junta Directiva, definirá su ingreso. El candidato permanecerá en cartelera durante quince días antes del dictamen final.

La adquisición de un derecho en el Club El Nogal de Bogotá, reconocido por ser el lugar de preferencia para algunos políticos, ejecutivos y personas de la farándula nacional, está por un valor de $180 millones, el cual cubre el núcleo familiar (cónyuge, hijos solteros menores de 30 años y madre del titular).

Para iniciar el proceso de ingreso se debe separar primero con un 10% del valor, diligenciar una solicitud de ingreso, tener recomendación de cinco socios, y presentarla al Comité de Admisiones y a la Junta Directiva para el estudio. La cuota de sostenimiento que se debe pagar mensualmente es de $615.000.

Al ser propietario de una empresa y adquirir un derecho empresarial, debe cancelar $200 millones, para que solo cuatro de los empleados disfruten del club sin extenderse a sus familias. La cuota de sostenimiento para derecho empresarial con cuatro usuarios es de $993.000.

Para ser socio de Los Lagartos, otro de los clubes más prestigiosos del país, debe presentar una carta a la Junta Directiva, estar recomendando por ocho socios y recibir una visita domiciliaria. Debe pagar $100 millones y $ 1’260.000 como cuota mensual. En el momento, el club no tiene acciones a la venta.

Si usted quisiera ser socio del Club Unión de Cartagena debe comprar una acción, la cual tiene un valor de $12 millones, con una cuota mensual de $416.000. Para el pago de estas cuotas, le exigen al candidato, sacar una tarjeta de crédito Colpatria o Davivienda, ya que dichos bancos les recauda la cartera.

En la misma ciudad, el valor del derecho para una persona natural del Club Campestre es de $32 millones y para una persona jurídica es de $44 millones. Cuentan con una modalidad de pago de 36 meses y la cuota inicial se paga según el endeudamiento del socio. Está entre $777.778 y $889.889 mensuales.

En Medellín, las acciones y el derecho en el Club el Country tienen un valor de $9´067.200. Para dar inicio al proceso de ingreso, se cancela un derecho de estudio de solicitud por $566.700. La cuota mensual es de $657.372. Debe tener referencias no familiares de dos socios del club que lo presenten.

Lo mismo sucede con el Club El Rodeo, al tener que cancelar un derecho de ingreso por $8 millones y una cuota de sostenimiento de $799.000. En el Club Colombia de Cali, el más antiguo de esta ciudad, el valor de la acción es de $17 millones, con una cuota mensual de $596.552.

En el Club campestre del Caribe, ubicado en la ciudad de Barranquilla, la cuota de inscripción es de $6,8 millones y actualmente ofrece un año de cuotas mensuales por $436.590.

Para mantener el negocio, los empresarios del sector han tenido que rebajar en algunos casos el precio de las acciones y ciertos clubes han decidido ser más flexibles con sus requisitos de aceptación. Lo cierto es que estos espacios siguen siendo los favoritos por muchos colombianos durante los fines de semana.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Pre-Assignment Visit - Apart-Hotels, Daycares, Cooking Schools, Baby Stores

Dear Bogota Expats!

On our pre-assignment visit, we asked our relocation company to help show us some of the following centers/facilities that we would need, such a daycare centers for our babies.  I include it for you below in the case that it will be useful for you to use!


Jardines infantiles


  • Passe-Partout Day Care
  • Sesamo Kids
  • El Arca de Noé  Pre-School
  • AEIOTu Pre-school
  • Arco Iris

Here is also a list of jardines infantiles in the northern part of Bogota - http://losmejoresjardines.com/Catalogo/Default.aspx?id=76&Page=1

Apart-Hotel


  • Central Apartamentos: www.centralapartamentos.com 
  • Lugano Suites: http://www.luganosuites.com/
  • Celebrities Suites: www.celebritiessuites.com
  • Jazz Suites:  www.jazzsuites.com

Clases de cocina

Almacenes de bebés y niños


  • www.pepeganga.com.co
  • www.offcorss.com.co
  • www.falabella.com.co
  • www.babystation.com.co
  • www.zara.com.co


Saludos,

Avila

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Bogota We're Coming!

Dear Bogota Expats!



Wow, so it's really coming true!  We are returning to Latin America, more specifically to Bogota, Colombia!  My husband and I met almost 10 years ago in Buenos Aires when we were both studying abroad there!  After leaving Argentina after three years at the end of 2005, I never imagined we would ever return to the region - much less have the opportunity to live and work (and possibly study)!  My husband will be working for an international organization - across the Latin American region - covering five different countries on governmental reforms and administration - yes, very sexy!

I hope to update this blog often with news of our lives as expatriates in Bogota and to share information that might be useful for others thinking about relocating here or who are already here!  [Although I do realize our experience will be very unique this time - not living as "poor" students like we have lived in other countries - I hope the recounting  of our lives and our adaptation to the local culture will be of value to others moving to BOG!  I do always want to note that most of these blogs will likely be about the "northern" part of Bogota, as I am hearing there is a large distinction.]  As there are four of us in the family - two adults and two kids, I have aptly named it "Bogota Para Cuatro!"  Without question, it should be a grand adventure - on all levels - for sure!  We can't wait!

Saludos,

Avila