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Barranquilla Carnaval 2006

Hello room, this is my first post on this site. I have been interested for so long about Barranquilla Carnaval. I came to hear about it by surfing the net. I have been to Bahia (Brazil) Carnaval twice and would like to attend the one in Barranquilla next year.

I am a black man, 30 years old and living in Toronto. I find it hard to find information about staying accomodations in Barranquilla, or what generally goes on in Barranquilla during Carnaval because I've never actually known of someone that's been. I'd prefer to rent a apartment for about 1 month, as opposed to stay in a hotel. I speak virtually no Spanish whatsoever, however through my travels to Brazil, I am somewhat adequate in Portuguese, although I realize they are two totally different languages. Would going to Barranquilla solo with limited to no knowledge of Spanish be a big problem during Carnaval?

I am a solo traveller, and my Spanish is virtually nada. Nevertheless I'd really like to see Colombia soon. If possible does anyone care to share their Carnaval experiences and what to expect on this thread. And if possible would anyone have a link with regards to possible apartment rentals next year?

By Markaveli on Jun 10, 2005, 14:48 in Friendly Talkzone. AddThis Social Bookmark Button


tigredelnorte says on Jun 10, 2005, 15:58:

Carnival 2005 Baranquilla I was there. I'll say this. There are not many english speakers in Baranquilla. I'm sure you can find something there to rent for a month. It will take making a connection. You have 9 months. You can pick up some spanish. I would recomend it. I'll ask around, about an apartment. The hotel that I stayed at would not give me a weekly rate. They did not need the business, as it was Carnival.

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Erik says on Jun 10, 2005, 16:07:

Carnaval Tour Every year we organize special tours to the Carnaval of Barranquilla and they are a great succes. Contact us at info at deunacolombia.com or take a look at our website www.deunacolombia.com.
Beside this tour we can also help you with a lot of information about Barranquilla and the carnaval.

Erik

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ryanrowedotcom says on Jun 10, 2005, 16:54:

Stay in Cartagena and travel back and forth IMO, Barranquilla is not the best city for tourists, you'd probably enjoy Cartagena or Santa Marta more. You could always stay in one of those cities and travel back and forth to barranquilla and stay the night when needed.
I went to barranquilla carnaval, I didn't sleep anyways. it was nuts. you'll have a lot of fun bud.
Check my website for updates on life in colombia
http://www.ryanrowe.com

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Miguel says on Jun 11, 2005, 05:40:

La Curramba If you are going for Carnaval, by all means stay in Barranquilla. Why "commute" to it??? Start working on Spanish hoy mismo!

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COLDK says on Jun 11, 2005, 20:43:

apartmentos & apartahotel can recomend:

http://www.apartamentosalvarojesus.com/

http://www.paginasamarillas.com/pagamanet/procesos/web.aspx?ie=1263679&tipo=6&web=www.paginasamarillas.com%2fapartoteleslait.htm

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Markaveli says on Jun 12, 2005, 10:42:

Barranquilla carnaval 2006 Thank you for your input. I finally have a foothold on what goes on down there. I am more a traveller than a tourist, I am more for embracing people and learning more about how and where they live rather than sitting on a beach a umbrella sipping Pina Colada's.
I've read that you must go to Cartagena/Santa Marta for beaches, because there are none in Barranquill, is this true?

Can you join Carnaval bands and party with people, or do you just watch it go by from the sidewalks? How is the nightlife in this city during Carnaval?

About safety I read once on a website that I can't remember that there is only one road in, and also one road to exit the city, and there are searches of cars coming in and out of Barranquilla.

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Miguel says on Jun 12, 2005, 12:03:

Beaches In B/Quilla The city is actually inland and the best beach close by is Puerto Colombia.

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rjstuff says on Jun 13, 2005, 19:59:

Carnaval http://ramanjalota.com/crpics/Colombia1.htm This is my website with pictures from the Barranquilla carnaval and then cartagena, santa marta etc. Without enough Spanish or someone with you that knows Spanish, its very difficult - I have traveled many times in Costa Rica and those people there do speak or understand English - Colombia I will rate at 10% English speakers if that much! Barranquilla is very very hot and the beach in Barranquilla is dirty, but the carnaval is outstanding and lasts several weeks - I think they have three days of parades at the end . Have fun

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Markaveli says on Jun 20, 2005, 15:27:

rjstuff........Thank you for the photo's they are very interesting. May I ask, is this Carnaval along the lines of Rio de Janeiro where you watch the big trucks go from the sides like the O Sambodromo. Or can you participate in it, like in Salvador, Brazil.

Again, I have experience travelling to places with limited to no knowledge of the language that weren't exaclty tourist mecca's so I am not so put off by not knowing Spanish. I have 9 months beforehand, so I indeed intend to learn some.

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Markaveli says on Sep 3, 2005, 17:45:

Need help Can anyone that's attended Barranquilla carnaval answer this question about the parade? I am finding it a bit difficult to learn more about Carnaval in Barranquilla compared to other festivals that take place at the same time.

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elmodefoque says on Sep 6, 2005, 06:41:

Hey Mark, you got a couple choices, either pay 170 mil pesos, more than 50 US dollars to watch the carnaval from estanco (benches) with the upper middle class modefoques like I did in Feb. or you could pay 2 mil pesos or 50 cents and sit in front of someone’s home along Murillo, they supply the plastic chair and their beer and booze is a lot cheaper. After a few drinks you’re welcome to get up and follow your favorite “carrosa” down the crowded street but if you hear someone shout “QUITATE DE LA MITAD HIJUEPUTA GRINGO!!!” I suggest you duck real quick cause there’s a good chance a beer bottle is heading your way.
I’m spending the entire month of Feb in Colombia, mostly in Barranquilla but I’ll also travel to Cartagena and Santa Marta a lot with a couple days in Medellin and a few hours in Bogota. Best thing to do is get hotel reservations now. For weary gringos I suggest you keep your ass in north Barranquilla, but if you got some adventure in your blood then you’re welcome to hang out with me and a bunch of broke ass real corroncho barranquillleros from the south. My mother lives in a hell hole called el Santuario, and my aunts and cousins not too far away in la Victoria, but I also know many people in fancy neighborhoods, Villa Country, Alto Prado etc.
As for being black in Barranquilla is no big deal, most real barranquilleros are dark modefoques, but the ones up north, of course, are polo wearing hp blanquitos feos but their women are real hot and bien putona and will drop their panties at the sight of incoming gringos.
I don’t know didly squat about the carnival in Brazil, but if you don’t mind the same beat and dance moves over, and over, and over, and over again then Rio is great! I prefer hearing and dancing to salsa, cumbia, vallenato, merengue, reagatton and freaking champeta.

curramba, la puerta de oro, lo de mas es monda!!!

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Spanish in Barranquilla says on Sep 7, 2005, 13:35:

Learn Spanish before Carnivals Tha Universidad del Norte in Barranquilla offers a Spanish Program from February 6 to 24, it ends just before Carnivals so you can enjoy this time of the year in Barranquilla.

We can help you find a host family, apartment or hotel.

Classes will be held from 8:30 to 1:30 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays

For more information.

iidiomas at uninorte.edu.co
www.uninorte.edu.co/extensiones/idiomas

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Markaveli says on Sep 8, 2005, 00:02:

b'quilla 2006 Can you participate with the parade itself? I know nothing of the physical geography of B'Quilla, but I guess it's best from what you're saying to look for somewhere in the north of the city right? I'd prefer a apartment to a hotel personally.

Are the nightclubs packed leading up to carnaval? Do you need a to travel by taxi's a lot or are buses available as well. About the chicas part....you really perked my interest :)

Thanks for your input, without PBH it would be virtually impossible for me to know anything about B'Quilla carnaval.

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Miguel says on Sep 8, 2005, 00:07:

10,000 Taxis in Barranquilla Cheap, dependable, and always close by.

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elmodefoque says on Sep 8, 2005, 12:12:

Mark, Barranquilla gets loud and exciting starting early December and it continues into the end of February when Joselito is buried, indicating the end of carnaval. Many pre-carnaval events begin right after New Years. And YES, in barrios populares you could be part of the parade, less police or military control down there, every man for himself kind of attitude and if you have no problem with the rough necks then it will be lots of fun but if you do, I hope you could run faster than those modefoques and their filthy dogs. They got this funny thing about shoving beer bottles up guy’s butt, especially if the modefoque is not from the neighborhood. Since I’ll be down there you’re welcome to join my crowd, we’ll be watching the parade along Murillo y 17, not exactly 5th avenue NYC.
As for taxis, tons of those little yellow modefoques all over the place and like Miguel was saying, very cheap and reliable. A taxi driver could hook you up with what ever you want and I mean WHAT EVER YOU WANT if you catch my drift.
The partying in north Barranquilla is great for gringos, lots of those fine upper middle class baranquilleras dying to practice their English with ya. Their once in lifetime trip to Orlando and Miami makes them come back even more hungry for everything that’s American and most are eager to return to the USA, and that’s when you come in, and it don’t matter if you’re old, ugly and got two left feet.

curramba, la puerta de oro, lo de mas es monda!!!

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Markaveli says on Sep 11, 2005, 17:46:

B'Quilla 2006 So the place to stay is in the North of the city? Is that where all the nightclubs are located? I'd like to hit a few nightclubs down there during the Carnaval. Do you recommend the clubs down there as a place to meet women, or is it better to meet them in the streets or the malls?

When would you recommend a good time to arrive before Carnaval? I was thinking maybe 2 weeks before carnaval, and leave to come back here 2 weeks after carnaval is finished. Thanks for your input

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