Show Me the Money!

I thought today would be a good day. I was finally going to get some pesos! I haven’t been able to exchange any cash since I arrived, which pretty much means I haven’t had any money since I arrived. So, to exchange my money, I go to the most obvious and safest place…the bank! Well, if you are in Colombia and want to exchange money, please do not go to the bank! I went to the first bank, Daviviendo, which was located near where I’m staying. I waited in line for about 10 minutes to be informed that I must go to Banco Popular in the town center. So I trek into the city and pass by another bank, BBV. It was so crowded that I didn’t even bother waiting in line. I don’t know what’s up with banks in Colombia but they are always crowded. There are crowds of people waiting outside the bank before it opens at 8:00 AM. I’m not sure why. My teacher said that it is usually the case on the 1st and 17th of the month as those are paydays in Cartagena. Anyhow, I pass by another bank that wasn’t so crowded. I can’t remember the name right now. I wait for about 15 minutes to be informed that I need to go to Banco Columbia in the town center. Hmmm…One bank tells me to go to Banco Popular and another says got to Banco Colombia?? I’m already getting a weird feeling about this! The town center is only a short walk away and I discover that Banco Popular and Banco Colombia are right next to each other. I try Banco Popular first. There is a greeting table where I’m told I must go to the second floor in order to exchange dollars. I go to the second floor and wait 15 more minutes to be told that I must go to the money exchange across the street. So I was told to come to Banco Popular…I get there and was told to go to the second floor…I get to the second floor and now I’m being told to go to a friggin money exchange. “It’s right across the street…you can’t miss it” Well, I did not find the money exchange because as soon as I got out of the bank I got hounded by people wanting to exchange pesos for dollars. Now, I read about these guys on the net and was advised not to partake in any offers. The first guy offered 2000 pesos for every 1 dollar. I knew this was above the going rate, but I still said no. But they are persistent. The guy motions over another guy that speaks English. He proceeds to offer 2100 pesos for every dollar. I finally get rid of them and decide to go to Banco Colombia. On the way, another guy comes out offering 2000 pesos. Noticing my disinterest, he offers 2100 and then 2200 pesos. I still refuse and go to Banco Columbia. I wait another 15 minutes only to be told I need to go to another Banco Colombia behind this one. I leave, and, of course, I did not find any Banco Colombia behind this one. I did find a Citibank though. Inside Citibank, I spoke to a greeter who said I must go to Western Union to change money. She stated banks do not change money. Boy, I really wish I would have went to Citibank first!

Western Union is right next door so it’s no issue. I get inside and wait for my turn. Western Union is offering 1550 pesos for every one dollar. That’s a far cry from the 2200 I was offered on the street, but I stick to my guns. I wait for about 15 minutes. A lady who was two places in front of me realized I needed to exchange money, as did everyone else in the place since the armed guardsmen kept asking me all these questions that I didn’t understand and needed other people in line to translate for me. I should have just walked in and shouted, “Hola everyone, I am stupid American that speaks no Spanish and have mucho dollars!” Anyhow, after the lady finishes her turn, she comes to me and says she will offer me 1600 pesos for every dollar. I’m thinking, I’m two places away, I’m in the WU and not on the street, I’ll get 50 more pesos per dollar, and I just saw this lady get money from Western Union. So, I put on my Nike’s and just do it!

I’m back on the street and guess who I run into again. It’s the guy that offered me 2200 pesos for every dollar. He is now desperate and is offering 2500 pesos for every dollar. Checking on www.xe.com, the going rate is 1696 pesos for every dollar. I expected WU to be less than that as they have to keep the lights on somehow. However, I am still baffled how this guy on the street was offering 2500 pesos. WU wasn’t even offering that much for the Euro, which is way more valuable than my dollar. The dollar is so bad, Europeans are starting to use it as toilet paper and Canadians are now crossing the border to go shopping! I digress…but I think that the guys on the street are using counterfeit money or something like that??

Anyhow, I got some money in my pocket and I want to buy something! So, the first thing I go for is Cerveza! It’s been 3 days since I tasted alcohol and I was starting to get the shakes! So I try the local brews, Club Colombia and Aguilla. I’m leaning towards Aguilla, but I’ll be doing a lot more taste testing in the coming days! ☺ I finish my two beers and pull out a fresh 20000 bill to pay, but you already know it’s not going to be that simple for Da Kid! The friggin bar doesn’t have change for my friggin 20000 bill. I have to wait there while the guy goes to try and find change. He’s asking other establishments, cab drivers, and people just walking by. I tell him that I will come back manana at the same time. He’s ok with that, but he wants to keep my 20000 bill (can u tell that I like saying 20000 bill even though its only like $12!) and have me come back for the change. Hmmmm….so he’s back to asking people for change. He finally finds a construction worker that has change and then proceeds to give me change. Can you believe he had the audacity to try and short change Da Kid by 500 pesos! Now in the grand scheme of things, 500 pesos is nothing when you are walking aroung with 20000 bills and got 50 Mil bills in your pocket, but this is all about principle! And I want everyone that's reading this blog to know that Da Kid stood up for something! The bartender tried to say the cervezas were 2500 pesos each. However, before he saw my 20000 bill, he added it up as one beer costing 2500 and the other costing 2000 pesos. Nice try Senor Bartender but as Cuba Gooding would say…Show me the 500 pesos!