 THE CALI PAGE
Date: December 2006 RISING 1,000 meters above sea level and nestled in the scenic Cauca Valley lies the warm and enchanting city of CALI, COLOMBIA: "The Capital of Salsa" and, according to Fodor's Travel, "home to the most exquisitely beautiful women in all of South America". Lonely Planet, Colombia, also specially points out: "Cali is noted for the beauty of its women, las calenas." For more photos of this magical city, SEE: CALI PHOTO GALLERY Cali, founded in 1536 by Belalcazar, is a lively and modern city of almost three (3) million population, spread over 1 million square meters, with an average temperature of 24 degress Centigrade. It is capital of Valle del Cauca department. It is widely regarded in Colombia as a lively city with a special ambience, best appreciated in the evenings when the refreshing breeze breaks the heat and the locals take to the streets at night in open air cafes and salsa dance discos. Cali is Colombia's third largest city, and is the largest industrial and commercial area of the South-West. Cali is renowned as a sports mecca, with very popular soccer and bullfighting stadiums. A great source of Cali pride is salsa dance music: the hot driving musical rhythm which has spread from the Carribean to Cali, and for which Cali is now world-famous. The Cali Lady, affectionately called La Calena, is seen by many as the most beautiful of the Colombian Latinas. The lyrics of a famous Colombian song go: "Las Calenas are the flowers of Colombia." YOUR TOURIST VISA
American Citizens are required to only possess a U.S. Passport at the Colombian port or gate of entry to secure a Tourist Visa for thirty (30) days. For more information about visas for Colombia: Click here for a contact list of AIRLINES The following airlines service Cali: 1. Avianca 3. Copa AIRPORT The Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International Airport serves Cali. Tel: 442-2624. It is a thirty (30) minute ride to the city on a very secure, clean and well-lit roadway. January 2006: One-Way Taxi Fare is about 30,000 Colombian Pesos, and Airport Departure Tax is approximately $35.00 USD (or equivalent in Pesos). CURRENCY CONVERSION Web: www.Oanda.com MAP OF CALI Web: http://cali.gov.co/publico2/mapas/mio.htm CURRENT WEATHER & FOUR DAY FORECAST IN CALI Web: http://weather.cnn.com/weather/forecast.jsp?locCode=SKCL SUGGESTED HOTELS Hotel Intercontinental: Av. Colombia, No. 2-72. Tel: 882-3225. Expensive but 5 Star luxury. Large swimming pool, tennis court, gym, restaurants, popular bar lounge. Located in the North of Cali, near Avenida Sexta (Cali's Broadway), the popular Cali street with shops, bars and discos, and the North shopping malls. Hotel Dann: Cra. 1, No. 1-40. Tel: 886-2000. Located in the North, close to points of interest. 5 Star accomodations, with upscale restaurants. Cora Aparta-Suite Hotel: Av. 9 Norte, #17N-31, Edif. Nueva Granada. Tel: 667-6021. One block from Avenida Sexta, and close to the shopping malls in the North. About $35.00 USD per night. Very nice and roomy apartment-style rooms with kitchen, living room space, TV-Cable, Fridge, and AC. BEST SHOPPING MALLS Shopping Malls: Chipi Chapi (the most popular and largest commerial center, located in the North), Carrefour (very nice, smaller shopping center also in the North), Unicentro (very large and modern mall located in the South of Cali), Palmeto (Cali's hip and newest shopping mall located in the South). BEST RESTAURANTS AND OTHER PLACES TO VISIT Restaurants: Cali Viejo (traditional Colombian), Dos Parillas (traditional Colombian), LOCAL NEWSPAPER The "El Pais", Cali Colombia BANKS Banco Union Colombiano: Carrera 3 No.11-03. Tel: 882-2678. BanColombia: Tel: 554-0555 SAFETY IN CALI Safety in Cali is a much-discussed but often-misunderstood topic. Cali city is absolutely safe, while the trend in all the major cities and Colombia generally is much improved with all the recent efforts of the Uribe government such the Democratic Security plan. SEE: http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/ar/colombia/ SEE: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1831.htm Safe and worthwhile places to visit are the many Tourist Centers and Shopping Malls. Just use simple common sense and caution. There is plenty to see and do, and you will have an enjoyable once-in-a-lifetime experience. HELPFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Emergency Cali Telephone Numbers (Police, Fire): "123" Colombian National Police: Web: www.Policia.gov.co Colombia DAS (Department of Administrative Security): Web: www.DAS.gov.co U.S. State Dept. Help for U.S. Citizens Abroad: Web: http://travel.state.gov/acs.html#emr BEST TRAVEL AND HEALTH INSURANCE Travel Insurance: Travel Guard, Web: www.TravelGuard.com Health Insurance: IMG Global, Web: www.imglobal.com SUGGESTED INFORMATION ON ROMANCE IN CALI Latinas offer American gentlemen unique opportunities for courtship and marriage. See "The Latina Advantage", Brazzil, September 2002. A SPANISH-LANGUAGE WEBSITE ABOUT THINGS CALI FOR A LIST OF PUBLIC NOTARIES FOR LOCAL MARRIAGE IN CALI SEE: Web: www.Notaria13.cjb.net U.S. CONSULATE-APPROVED DOCUMENT TRANSLATOR IN CALI Gonzalo Escobar Kafury, Av. 3F Norte #40-49, Barrio Vipasa. Tel: 664-6859. HELPFUL WEBSITES FOR HER SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT TO THE U.S. IMMIGRATION, VISA & PRENUPTIAL ASSISTANCE WHAT IS A GOOD IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY WORTH? E-Mail: garybala@VISA-Attorney.com
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