Any Gringos in Cartagena?

nueva york bombero says on Feb 2, 2008, 16:14:

What's your thoughts on buying in Santa Marta?

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Peter Solano says on Feb 2, 2008, 16:22:

I agree with PepeA, he also forgot to mention Cartagena is a heck of an expensive place to live, Barranquilla would be a better choice and is only 11/2 hours away so you can visit your in laws at any time. Peter.

Peter Solano: Tour guide/Interpreter. Email: petersolano@gmail.com. Skype handle: petersolano2007, Cell: 011 57 310 624 4078, Barranquilla, Colombia, S.A.

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peteyw says on Feb 2, 2008, 16:36:

I can echo a lot of PepeA's thoughts, but its not quite as bad as described. I currently live in Cartagena, been here 3 years. I live across from the Bocagrande beach and this beach is cleaned by machine and by hand every night. I know as I run the beach at night and see them cleaning it; the Castillogrande beach is clean also.

You can get pestered by the vendors, but after they begin to recognize you (2 years) they mostly pass you by . The entire old city doesn't smell like urine, but if you're around the bar areas late at night, people will relieve themselves and those areas can have an odor.

Absolutely agree about staying away from Laguito. Castillogrande and the Bay side of Bocagrande (its more touristy on the beach side) are by far the best choices. Agree as well about the drivers, absolutely the worst as PepeA attested.

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peteyw says on Feb 2, 2008, 16:39:

Me too! Like it here and there is good and bad everywhere.

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Frank Rizzo says on Feb 2, 2008, 17:10:

They should have just built Cartagena on the sun. I'll take San Andres any day.

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tomtom33 says on Feb 3, 2008, 03:52:

If your wife is Costeña, you might want to consider living away from the tourist zone. There are many relatively safe areas in Cartagena. Just avoid Poco Rojo, the mercado area, and the area around la Popa. The high cost of living is fairly well confined to the tourist zone.

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robi666 says on Feb 3, 2008, 04:01:

I always liked Manga as the place of Cartagena where to live.
The only reason to go living in Barranquilla is between your legs.
Santa Marta is a great place and will get even better.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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scott321 says on Feb 3, 2008, 05:52:

Just moved to Cartagena for at least a year 2 weeks ago. I am from USA and wife from Nicaragua where I lived last 7 years. We live in Castillo Grande because its better for the kids but the Old City is where I would live if single.
Yes I know Castillo is expensive but walking down the bike/walking path on the bay at 9:00 with a nice cool breeze last night with the kids was pretty damn nice after having a nice meal in Boca Grande.

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tomtom33 says on Feb 3, 2008, 07:00:

Manga is quite nice but can be a bit pricey as well.

Maybe I'll get over to SM one of these days. How long is that bus ride from CTG, Robi?

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robi666 says on Feb 3, 2008, 08:15:

I think there are not direct bus from CTG.
I never took the bus from CTG to Barranquilla, always coletivos.

In Barranquilla, you go to Simon Bolivar (or to la Terminale, if it is easier for you) and get a bus to SM. You can either go down in "La Bomba de Azucar" if you go to Rodadero or en la terminale if you are going to SM. 1h 30m and 10k pesos more or less.

Of course, you can take a coletivo to SM but they stop in Barranquilla anyway and you have to change car.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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peteyw says on Feb 3, 2008, 10:47:

I called a bus company that picked us up at our building in Cartagena and took us to Santa Marta with a stop in Barranquilla. It was comfortable, air conditioned and the price was about 38K round trip per person. Santa Marta was real cool to visit; couldn't live there as I'd be bored stiff after a week or two.

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nueva york bombero says on Feb 3, 2008, 10:57:

Santa Marta was so amazing, I'm buying a place.
Under 2 hours to santa marta from Barranquilla and $5 US?!?!
A little over 2 hours to Cartagena from Barranquilla and $6 US!!
I fell in love with this place and I'm hearing good things about tourism there.
Also, the amount of construction going on is very encouraging.
Cartagena is done, Santa Marta is the next big hot spot to emerge.

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nueva york bombero says on Feb 3, 2008, 11:42:

Buy now! I am going back to make a final decision soon.
I have found a lot of info already. Brand new houses in a gated, secure compound
are going for at $75k US (3 bedroom, 3 bath)
Condo prices are all over the place. $35k for studios, $90k (2 bedrooms), $130 (3 bed).

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Frank Rizzo says on Feb 3, 2008, 11:48:

Bomber....do you have more info??? I'm interested... Any websites, etc??

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nueva york bombero says on Feb 3, 2008, 11:57:

Yeah, but the best way to research, honestly is going there and checking out the area.
All the websites I have are geared at ripping off gringos!
The most important thing is researching the construction company and
making sure they are reputable.
Don't go to a real estate either, unless you want to pay a %.
Email me and we'll talk more.....

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Frank Rizzo says on Feb 3, 2008, 12:13:

Thanks NYB, how do I contact you?? Is there a local paper there? Those general prices look very good.

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nueva york bombero says on Feb 3, 2008, 12:16:

Click on my name and email me...

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Frank Rizzo says on Feb 3, 2008, 12:24:

Thanks...PM sent..

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tomtom33 says on Feb 3, 2008, 13:34:

Thanks, Robi.

I have taken the bus several times between BAQ and CTG. I am sure that the bus for SM leaves from the same BAQ bus station that the CTG bus arrives.

I took a colectivo once from CTG to BAQ. It was not very roomy. I much prefer the bus. And there are bathrooms on the bus.

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nueva york bombero says on Feb 3, 2008, 13:37:

The only advantage to a colectivo is it's a little faster, but I prefer the bus too.
And at less than half the price, it's a better deal.

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tomtom33 says on Feb 3, 2008, 13:42:

The colectivo is normally faster. However, if you are the first picked up and the last dropped off, you don't save much time.

If you are going from CTG's tourist zone to north BAQ, you need taxi fares of 15K or so on each end. That actually makes the colectivo cheaper. You could take a city bus from CTG's tourist zone to the bus station, but I don't know the city bus system in BAQ.

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