Areas to live in Cartagena?

Boatygringo says on Jan 1, 2007, 10:57:

Places to Live You can pay BIG BIG BUCKS and be safe if you live in Boca Grande or Lagheo or you can pay BIG BUCKS and live in Manga. You can also be sensible and pay low bucks and live in the strata 3-4 area of Castillana or Las Gaviotas as I do. I have never had any problem in the year I have lived in this area, the people are friendly and I am not afraid to leave my house and walk around at night. I pay $148.00 US a month for a 3 bed 2 bath apartment and I can walk to the largest shopping mall in town. Boatygringo

Boatygringo

robi666 says on Jan 1, 2007, 11:34:

I am always surprised at how I am always surprised at people wanting to live in Bocagrande... I mean, is it a US people kind of place, or why would one even consider to live in a barrio with dusty environment, traffic, dirty beaches, dark sea, low quality condos, nasty vendedores, expensive shops, working girls, casinos, unkind people (at least in a Colombian perspective) etc.?
Cartagena is good for a vacation, nothing else. So... why people like it there so much? Would be interesting to know... BoatyGringo, yes, why do you live there? I mean, I know that you live near Castillana, but why Cartagena? Anyway... do you know Kirk? If yes, is he still around?

Better to burn out than to fade away.

"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."

Ctg Bound says on Jan 1, 2007, 12:26:

mclean04 I would initialy go for, Bocogrande, Laguito, Castigrande, Centro or Manga.

Stay in one of those for a short period of time, travel around Ctg, then decide on area, presuming you like Ctg.

Castillana where Boatgringo lives is OK, but you have to be carefull around there, its no where near as safe as the above areas.

I have spent about 2 years of time in Ctg since 2000.

Ctg Bound says on Jan 1, 2007, 12:30:

robi666 I agree with you, Ctg is fine to visit, but I could never live there, although I did once for nearly a year.

Most foreigners who do live there move on after a while, generally into the interior I have found, although a small percentage seem to like it and have been there for years or decades, but there aren´t many of them.

I personnely moved there when Colombia was a lot less safe than it is now, so just wanted to find my Colombian legs before moving on to pastures new and better, in my eyes at least.

Boatygringo says on Jan 1, 2007, 13:54:

Cartagena No robi666 I dont know Kirk. I live in Cartagena mostly because I have good friends there. I used to live on my boat at a marina in the Bousque area for a while untill I realised I coud rent an appartment for half of the cost, so I sold the boat. I have lived on or by the water most of my life and dont like to be too far from it. I do agree with you that the beaches and the water are the dark and dirty looking. If you do go to the beach the are bugged by every vendor that walks by. Boatygringo

Boatygringo

robi666 says on Jan 1, 2007, 14:50:

BoatyGringo,
I use to live BoatyGringo,
I use to live on my sailboat in Club Nautico. Sold it, as well... same reason. Marinas have got unbelievable high prices to be in Colombia. And shipyards, too. But we know that Ctg is the only place to be with a sailboat in Colombia, until now.
Things seem to be changing: I have seen at least 6 sailboats for many days anchoring out at El Rodadero of Santa Marta. And a few more in Santa Marta's bay. So much better than Cartagena, in the sense that you can swim there... that's Caribe.
It seems that they are buildind a new "muelle turistico" for sailboats... we'll see.

Better to burn out than to fade away.

"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."

Wastelandlive says on Jan 1, 2007, 18:36:

Hey Robi... What boat was that? Do we know each other?

I rebuilt Undine in Marina Manzanilla and then spent a few years living in Club Nautico, Club de Pesca, and the Anchorage.

Surely our paths crossed?

Wasteland

robi666 says on Jan 1, 2007, 20:33:

It was a Privilege '48, Italian flag... I don't remember your boat, but sure we have seen each other. Where are you now?
Better to burn out than to fade away.

"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."

Cartagena Hooker says on Jan 2, 2007, 06:09:

living in Cartagena I have been living three years in Barrio Crespo. it is where the airport is located and about a mile and a half west of the old city. It was originally setled by Oil company mid and lower management. Fiscallia is located here as well as a vacation center for the National Police executives. It is a middle class barrio with apartment buildings and private homes as well. It reminds me of a 1960's residential neighborhood with kids playing ball in the street and people sitting on the porches. The other neighborhoods mentioned only reflect the tourist neighborhoods. Laguito is full of hookers walking around with Gringoes. Traffic in Bocagrande is insane. Centro is outrageously priced and empty at night. There are other neighborhoods out in the barios but the police protection is not sufficient if you do not blend well in appearance. Stay away from Cabero and Marbella along the beach. The Apt buildings appear to be nice but the neighborhood is really not secure.

Wastelandlive says on Jan 2, 2007, 10:52:

Hmmmmm A privilege '48? Italian flag?

Well... I did know one or two Italian guys, especially while working in Marina Manzanilla. I bought some gear off of one.

I was a young guy - well, younger. I'm in Miami now, just about to sell my boat. That was an absolutely INCREDIBLE life, and I wouldn't give it up if I were wealthy enough to retire.

But living on a boat and trying to work is wearing me down. I'm a professional - stuffed suit, MBA stuff. Good hygiene and keeping up a professional wardrobe is just too difficult on a 37' boat. It's time to move on.

But I would still LOVE to live in Cartagena. You live in Gavioetas? That's hillarious. You've gone truly native!

I think you could save a little money by moving to one of those shacks on stilts at the departure end of the runway...

Me personally, I'm down with Hooker: Crespo is the most non-touristed, normal place in the city. It's mostly clear of both skank and crime, and it's affordable.

Wasteland

robi666 says on Jan 2, 2007, 14:50:

Wastelandlive,
I don't know Wastelandlive,
I don't know where you got the wrong impression that I am living in Gaviotas...
I am living in Medellin, right now. And going to move to the area of Parco Tayrona.
I sold the boat because I have a family now, and for the maintenance expenses... it is a huge problem to own a luxurious boat like a Privilege 482s.
But she was a great tough catamaran, escaping from Ivan in 2004, the last day in Grenada, rushing at 13 knots to Los Testigos and Marguerita.
I have been doing charters, mostly to wealthy Gringos, for 4 years. Been around everywhere, from Turks and Caicos to Cartagena. Good life, but time to change.
I sold my boat thru the Catamaran Company of Fort Lauderdale to a wealthy man who lives in Miami, while the boat was still in Cartagena, ready to move to San Blas... so I missed those islands.
But I will go back to the sea again in some years...

And... I wouldn't live in Cartagena, but I'd choose Manga. By far, Manga is the best barrio to live in.

Better to burn out than to fade away.

"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."

Wastelandlive says on Jan 2, 2007, 16:39:

Oops! Sorry. That must be boatygringo living in Gavioetas.

So you marriend a local, eh? Good on ya. I'm going to have to see Medallin one of these days...

Wasteland

robi666 says on Jan 2, 2007, 16:59:

Medellin is beautiful... one problem: there's no sea!
Yes, I married her 3 years ago... she use to sail with me, but we decided to have a baby and we had to take land somewhere.
Better to burn out than to fade away.

"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."