Bucaramanga - Anyone been?

fosth says on Jun 8, 2005, 02:33:

Haven't been there but found this site:
www.bucaros.com
Lists bars,retaurants,events, etc and has great galleries of photos.

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william_andrew_channell says on Jun 8, 2005, 07:09:

Bucaramanga is easily the most beautiful city in Colombia. Check out Giron for the architecture, Floridablanca for sweets, B/manga's parks, the great food, good landscapes, nice people, and the atmosphere overall is really nice. Try not to go so crazy seeing everything, just relax and go wherever people take you.

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juanalejo says on Jun 8, 2005, 07:40:

Barichara If you have some spare time you can travel to Barichara, it is one of the prettiest colonial villages in all of Colombia, plus you get to see the Chicamocha Canyon, which is quite impresive. Nearby San Gil has a few extreme sports including rafting, canoeing and climbing.

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adrimm says on Jun 8, 2005, 08:30:

Wonderful place William Andrew took the words right from my mouth...

Giron is wonderful (and super close - on the road between the airport and the city). Try the restaurant "La Casona" in Giron for typical Santanderean food.

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carter says on Jun 8, 2005, 09:19:

I live in San Gil If you want info on this area and Barichara send me a message

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silviat says on Jun 8, 2005, 13:22:

Giron I dont know what do you like, if you want specific suggestions you can send me a private message, I live here and I can tell you about place sto go and things to do.

Since I dont know what are you interested on doing, for a beautiful place to see go to Giron... Its a town from the colony times and its very cute (its old part, its new one isnt very nice)... But watch out for the gypsies... they are always like crazy for telling you the fortune... they can be really insistent!

If you wanna see another colonial town and do some "adventure sports" (and if you have time to travel about 2 hours) go to San Gil & Barichara in which case I recommend you to talk to Carter, he has lots of useful information.

Bucaramanga is full of cute parks, but some of them are not that great at nights. During the day try to go to "Parque del Agua" (just open on the weekends) I really like it. Also Parque de la Floresta (I'm not sure if its the correct name but it's located at La Floresta... that is more normal but still very cute.

A lot of people goes to La mesa de los santos, a place full of "fincas" and fancy houses where you can go for the weekend... it is quite colder than bucaramanga so if you plan on going there remember to take a coat.

In Floridablanca you will be able to try yummy candies, obleas, arequipe and things like that.

For going out dancing, Mi Pais seems to be a cool club with tropical music (lots of reggaeton because bumangueses just loved it), then there is Cubica, another bar with tropical music cool if you like that style of partying.

Another option down here are the "Cafes" Bucaramanga is full of them. I really really like "Cafe Con-Verso" beautiful place (Calle 44 con Carrera 28, close to parque de las palmas). Puerto Bambu (Avenida el Jardin behind the UNAB) its also a cute option, Saxo-Pub (around parque las palmas) is another good place to go with very good cocktails, and Gato Pardo (around parque las palmas as well).

All of that is on the cabecera area which is very comercial

For shopping you have Cabecera 4a etapa, Cabecera 5a etapa, La Florida...

For dinning out you have many different restaurants... I recommend El Campanario (in cabecera 4a etapa, very cute), El Corcovado (they have very good food), Vino Tinto, La Carreta, Toscana or Yoko... etc.

Well if you have any question please pm me.

I hope you enjoy your time here

Silvia

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sieteinfantes says on Jun 8, 2005, 18:32:

re: Yes, very nice, people are the friendliest around too. The weather is absolutely perfect, and go see the universty there, the views are stunning

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adrimm says on Jun 8, 2005, 18:52:

Little mention I am always suprised that Bucaramanga (and environs) seem to get such little reference on PBH, it really is beautiful and the climate is nice (avg 25 degrees C).

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vicshere says on Jun 8, 2005, 20:01:

web site check out http://www.bucaramanga.com/walld.asp
there is lot of pictures of the city and area and don't forget to check out my hamburgers on calle 56 17A-22 el diner come by and speak English to me I am getting rusty
oh and by the way stay away from El Corcovado its expensive and the waiters are thieves I know from personal experience


listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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go2pr says on Jun 9, 2005, 04:45:

Silviat Very comprehensive post, thanks.

Have you some advice about the best and most friendly hotel in town : the Dann, from its internet site, seems really good, yet is Melia better ?

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vicshere says on Jun 9, 2005, 11:39:

the dann go2pr I stayed at the dann carlton the first few visits and even got married in the hall on the roof. I have only good things to say about the dann yes a bit more expensive than the others but first class all the way or as close to first class as you will get anywhere in Colombia even has hot and cold running water....that's a luxury down here.....getting up at 6 am and running a cold shower will wake the beee jezze out of you... I know I do it every day hehhehehe....when your in town drop but and have a chat if you have time
later Vic

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic

listo

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silviat says on Jun 9, 2005, 12:59:

go2pr I agree with Vicshere about the Dann. The melia is nice but the area sorrounding it isnt very good specially on a saturday night.

The Dann carltos is about 20 or 30 thousand pesos expensiver than the Melia but it's a very nice hotel located in a very good area of town... I totally recommend it.

If you need anything else just let me know!

Vic I have to disagree with you about El Corcovado... yes its very expensive but it has such a nice view at nights (and the waiters arent thieves... at least they havent been with me!).

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go2pr says on Jun 9, 2005, 14:06:

Thanks Vicshere and Silviat for your answers. Will send you a PM when I'm in town, yet it won't be before November unfortunatly !!

Cheers

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silviat says on Jun 10, 2005, 07:40:

oh I thought you said this weekend. :) I will probably be gone from bucaramanga by july (getting married on octuber 1st :) :) :) ). But I will still have lots of contacts down here so if you have any other question dont doubt on asking or pm'ing me by the time you are about to come.

Cheers

Silvia

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FrankLeal says on Jun 15, 2005, 21:39:

From Bucaramanga too! It's nice to see some more people coming to Bucaramanga, it'll be a pleasure to guide you around too. There are some pics I have posted before related to places near Bucaramanga if you want to check them.

Hey Vic, how are you? I havent see u lately, well I was working in Medellín and just came back some days ago, but I gotta call.

Francisco A.

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terco panzone says on Jul 9, 2005, 12:50:

vic I live in Bmanga also, I guess I'll have to check out your place...

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vicshere says on Jul 9, 2005, 14:32:

terco drop by anytime Hey terco drop by anytime ...as my english is getting rusty and i need the pratice heheheheh.....

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic
homepage
http://spaces.msn.com/members/jacintoplace

listo

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carter says on Jul 10, 2005, 17:02:

maybe were needing a PBH Bucaramanga get together?

I´ll bring the hormigas

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adrimm says on Jul 10, 2005, 17:44:

Ugh ants Just don't wave them in my face! One of these days Carter when I make it down there I'm going to pop in and surprise you.

Vic, what kind of food do you have in your restaurant? Typico or are there some dishes with foreign influence?

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vicshere says on Jul 10, 2005, 20:57:

Adrim
Carter...no hormigas thanks
Well adrim at first we start serving traditional lunches.....and we did that for about 5 months.....BUT lunches are very competitive here....I was selling lunches for 3000 and within 2 months I had 3 neighbors selling lunches for 2000 and 2500.....believe me the profit on a 3000 lunch was very little...then to be eaten up by the competition unbearable.....any way make a long story short.... as of 3 months ago I turned this into a fast food (we open 5:30 till 1:00am) "comidas rapidas" we serve hamburger,hot dogs, pinchos, chori papa shalie papa, and we have chicken and steak asada. I have some specially designed equipment I had made here and my burger are coming out very tasty as per my customers. So right now we are building up a good following of loyal customers who are spreading the DINER burger by word of mouth.....so lets see where this goes.......

listo
"con mucho gusto"
Vic
homepage
http://spaces.msn.com/members/jacintoplace

listo

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Don Marco says on Jul 12, 2005, 05:14:

Fincas For Sale Greetings All:
I am interested in purchasing a small to midsize finca on hillside with a nice view, any suggestions. I will be in Cali in Sept 05 and will go looking. Also, my a girl I know is from B'manga and say's it's just beautiful. Thanks for any input! Also, how does property title and the legal status of homeownership play out with the Colombian Gov???

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