iS bArRaNqUiLLa tHe bEsT CiTy iN CoLOmBIa?

Miguel says on Dec 3, 2004, 14:51:

Do You Read EL HERALDO? Or do you have family and friends there? La Curramba has changed drastically over the past few months, for many reasons. Now you tell me why it is the best city in Colombia, and we can talk. Prefiero espanol o ingles, pero por favor no en Spanglish. ¡Ven!

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killera4sho says on Dec 3, 2004, 14:59:

ok como tu quieras... i haven't been there like fot the past 3 years and i missed so much,but i think is the best city in colombia because of its music, food.. especially the arroz con coco and bocachico frito...ummmmm i'm hungry. and also for the people who are really nice to everyone. o0o and tell me more about curramba plz are u originally 4rom there or wat?

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Miguel says on Dec 3, 2004, 15:29:

Not From There Been there and have seen drastic changes over the past six months. I read EL HERALDO every day and then reference EL TIEMPO in Bogota for the bigger stories. I have a girlfriend there and am very close to her family. We talk on the phone 3-5 times a week and stay in touch daily via the Net. Here is the deal...La Curramba has been a very mellow place for years, but with the unrest and violence in the rest of the country, many displaced people have moved there in search of a better life. Push becomes shove, and the residents and the newcomers clash. Crime stats through 1 Oct put BAQ a more dangerous place than New York City. This week it was reported that BAQ has become a safe haven for injured paras who need medical treatment. (In private homes by local doctors). Political assassinations on the safest street in La Curramba. Broad daylight bank robbery; random holdups by punks on motos. Thursday night an armed robbery at Olypia in Paraiso about 2 blocks from my girfriends house. People coming to her front door asking for a glass of water and then stealing her mom's car. Get the picture? I can't wait to go back in February. Seriously, it has changed in Barranquilla. Now I will wait for Jamie's retort.

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toneloc24 says on Dec 3, 2004, 15:38:

Not sure what best means to you I enjoy the people there. Extremely nice people. Many beautiful, friendly, educated girls as well. Honest friendly taxi guys. Even met some of Elmo's Guajiros and they were really cool people to hang with, just stuck in Vallenato heaven, LOL!!! But there's not much to do there.

From Sunday to Thursday, most people are working. During the day, there aren't many attractions to see. There's the zoo, the museums and unversities en El Prado, the beaches, and not much more. At nite, they are relaxing and not doing much. The discos (La Quinta, Frogg Leggs, Juanitos, Kilimanjaro, etc.) are all closed. As is La Troja & Arinosa. On the weekends, yeah, there's fun to be had.

Not sure what best means to you. I'll just say I enjoy weekends there with friends, and the family of friends.

"PBH is dead!!!!"

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killera4sho says on Dec 3, 2004, 15:40:

thanx a lot for ur information... i think i'm gonna startreadind el heraldo 4rom now on. i have family there and they don't tell me that... u know if you are going to start talking about crimes and things like that plzzzzzzzzzzzzz stay quiet....all cities in colombia are worst than barranquilla because of the guerrilla shit. but i'm not talkin about that, what am saying is that there is a lot of fun in Barranquilla especially en los carnavales!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i hope u hav fun in february when u go there.

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killera4sho says on Dec 3, 2004, 15:53:

o0o well papito.... wat can u do during the week in Barranquilla or in any city of colombia? i guess u r a bored person durinfg the week u could go to la tienda de la esquina and have some beers with ur friends...or go shopping. u could go to puerto colombia and visit the beaches!!!!!! there are so many things to do there.

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BxUnika says on Dec 3, 2004, 20:35:

To Miguel No offense, but I have a big problem with this comment you made:

"Crime stats through 1 Oct put BAQ a more dangerous place than New York City"

Hello? NYC is the safest major city in the US and one of the safest in the world. I don't know where you get the idea that New York is unsafe. Sure, we have rougher sections and I have even lived in them and I am still here. Someone else made a comment when I asked about neighborhoods in Cali and described the area (I forget which) s "safer than any neighborhood in NYC".

I just thought I would clarify that since I'm from NY.

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Miguel says on Dec 4, 2004, 04:56:

Sin querer... "Comment I made" is inaccurate; it was a paraphrase from a Colombian government-generated crime report.

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kernow62 says on Dec 4, 2004, 08:23:

Tinto just curious do you have the murder rate comparison for Bogotá as compared to some of the US cities? I was trying to find it on my PC where I saved it and can't. I seem to recall it faired quite well compared to some of the cities, not NYC I recall which I do know is statistically not bad as far as murders go.

Using the murder rate in US cities might not be the best comparison, how about compared to cities in Japan or England or elsewhere.

In the UK I feel less safe in Liverpool than I do in LA, I know statistically I am much less likely to get killed, but I know I am statistically more likely to be a victim of violence more than in LA.
Heck my hometown is a little place, population 20,000 or so, and murders are rare, but getting into a fight is a daily occurence, so murders aren't really the only statistic to take into account.

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killera4sho says on Dec 4, 2004, 08:25:

can ya'll ppl stop talkin B.S. who cares about N.Y??????????????????

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killera4sho says on Dec 4, 2004, 13:29:

can ya'll ppl stop? stop talkin about murder and shit.... BARRANQUILLA is the best city in colombia. no matter what!!!!!!!!! specially when it's time para rumbiar!!!!!!!!!!!!

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kernow62 says on Dec 4, 2004, 15:15:

Why the hell did you ask for people's opinions then killer4sho. I think Baranquilla is a shit hole. It is the hairy unwashed anus of Colombia.

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kernow62 says on Dec 4, 2004, 15:22:

Thanks Tinto I suppose that makes the touristy areas of Bogotá even safer then.

Nice site, I will look at it more in detail.

PS: Killer4sho I was just messing with you I don't really think that about Baranquilla, I just cannot stand it when people write the way you do, it is bad enough I have to hear it.

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diegopaisa says on Dec 4, 2004, 15:51:

Hmmmmmm With 2 Airports, 2 bus terminals , a metro system, friendliest working people anywhere, best climate, beautiful women etc.
Medallo by far and everybody knows it....yeah I know it hurts..

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BxUnika says on Dec 4, 2004, 16:24:

Oye, Killer4Sho "PS: Killer4sho I was just messing with you I don't really think that about Baranquilla, I just cannot stand it when people write the way you do, it is bad enough I have to hear it"

Maybe one of my friends in the projects could host him and put him up for a few days in the South Bronx.

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kernow62 says on Dec 4, 2004, 18:35:

BxUnika thanks for the offer but I wouldn't go to that dump for anything.

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JamieJ says on Dec 15, 2004, 19:35:

Miguel I am not sure to what extent Barranquilla has changed. I did hear of a robbery at Fedco by Hotel Prado where 5 well dressed men robbed the place and hit one of the female employees that was moving too slow. Usually there are security guards or soldiers in front of this place so this seemed very brazen. When I was looking for property more than once when asking why the property was available I have been told they were robbed and went out of business or someone was kidnapped and they had to sell to pay the ransom. To what extent these stories fit in with the statistical crime rate I do not know. I am not a defender of Barranquilla and it is certainly not a beautiful city. I just take the precautions to make sure I am safe and those that are around me or visit are also safe.
Jamie
Engage The Exotic - Colombian Women

Jamie

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KenMan says on Sep 28, 2005, 18:46:

Well dieguito let me tell you My mom is from Barranquilla, My dad is from Medellin. I was born in the U.S. I have been to Barranquilla like four times, Medellin three. Medellin is a much pretier city. It has better malls, the girls are pretty, and the weather is nice. Barranquilla is a party town. Barranquilla is also nice, some parts look like Coral Gables in Miami.The girls are also pretty and have lots of flavor. If you were to ask me where i prefer, I prefer Barranquilla its just more fun. Medellin can be nice or whatever, but Barranquilla just has a more tropical flavor. Medellin is its own country, very closed minded. As to the safety ive always felt safer in Barranquilla then when i go to Bogota even the people in Bogota say it. Thats my opinion.

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elmodefoque says on Sep 29, 2005, 05:15:

A couple years back my, Bar A couple years back my Barranquillera cousin talked me into staying in Bogotá for one day. I wanted to hop on the next plane and continue to Barranquilla, but outta respect for my uncle I stayed . That evening we were gonna hang out in la zona Rosa, so I needed to get cash. As we were driving there I asked my cousin to make a quick stop at an ATM machine, located in their fancy neighborhood, north Bogota. I still remember what she said “we gotta go around a couple times to make sure there are no suspicious characters in the area, after all we’re not in Barranquilla” She has lived in Bogotá nearly 10 years but travels back to Curramba every other weekend when ever she feels the need to rumbia like a costeña. The same happened when I went to Medellin; getting money from an ATM machine was a big freaking production. I wondered how the hell people live like this, this is bull crap! I hate to imagine how it is in Cali.
In Barranquilla I spent half my time with the broke ass modefoque and half the time with the well to do from the north. Every day, I stop at an ATM to get my usual 200,000. barras, not once do I think twice about pulling over into any ATM location in Barranquilla, whether be in Soledad, a so called real “dangerous” hell hole or with the riquitos from la calle 84 and up. Ok, maybe is my appearance, I’ve been told many times that I look like a freaking narco, or crazy Guajiro, and most people get scared when they see my big black corroncho ass, but I do the same thing in NYC. The other day I went to Hunts Point da Bronx, NO, not for hookers, I don't do that anymore. I was looking for a used tail light. In the middle of that hell hole is a Citibank, not once was I hesitant or afraid of pulling in there and getting cash. I guess looking like a low life does have its advantages in some places.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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greenday says on Sep 29, 2005, 09:30:

there is crime and murder in Colombia please get used to it people!!!!!

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BAQ says on Sep 29, 2005, 14:12:

I live here Well, I live here and it is "Ok", meaning in the future, I would like to get an apartment in Santa Marta so I can spend time in both cities. I agree there are MANY positive things about Barranquilla, most of the people are nice, the food is good, nice looking women ect.

From a negative standpoint, the major problems here are:

1. Crime, mostly holdups from guys with guns and home invations.
2. PISS POOR POLICE PROTECTION, 95% of em go home after 6pm
3. Petty crime/theft
4. Poor street and public area maintinance
5. Public official corruption (see reason #4)
6. HIGH cost of electricity and telephone service

Other than that, I enjoy living here. EVERY CITY in every country has it's problems and barranquilla is no different.

So on a scale of 1-10, I would rate living here at a 7.

Semper Fidelis !

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toneloc24 says on Sep 29, 2005, 14:50:

ELMO - Man, do you exaggerate!

La Troja - Shady characters indeed, but cool folks all-around. No danger...at least on Sat. nite at 3 am. I could do that place again, over and over. My kind of people, probably involved in shady stuff, but nonetheless down-to-earth.

Maria Mulata - in La Victoria on Murillo y approx. 16th - Damn those clubs up north (with the exception of Calle 79), this is my new favorite party place in Colombia!!!!! Eye candy (chicas) everywhere. Cheap drinks. Great music. Great atmosphere. Great attitudes. No pretense. A bit small, but still a great time. Truly an authentic Colombian costeno experience.

I did go to a car audio show outside of Buena Vista on Saturday. The cars left a lot to be desired. I guess I'm spoiled in my experience in that, but there were few entry, and they were pretty wack. The highlights, of course, were the Barranquilleras representing Heineken and Pall Mall. Absolutely divine!!!

"PBH is dead!!!!"

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Rubiazo says on Sep 30, 2005, 19:44:

For once I agree with Unika. Nothing particularly dangerous about NYC. Even it's bad areas are really nothing. We pay for that safety with a heavy handed police presence however.

Bogota's 23 per 100k is about equivalent to the WORST year NYC had, which I believe was 1992. Back in the early 90s, Bogota was as bad as Cali still is now, and that was also when Medellin topped 400! Why all those cities spiked at the same time, you'd have to ask Uncle Sam I guess!

I hear dumbasses here all the time saying shit like 'I'm going to move to Orlando/Memphis/Atlanta/etc where there is LESS CRIME.' How stupid do you have to be to not look up statistics at crime.com to know you are talking out yer ass!!!

Elmo, shoulda gone to Inwood Av just off of Jerome Av in the 170s to get your tail light. Cheaper than HP.

I'd like to know how a city can be the best in Colombia when all the discos are closed during the week. Sounds kinda lame if you ask me.
I'd love to check out carnival there one year but I have no idea how the hell I'd deal with that crap dog-breath heat and humidity. I don't think my skin and lungs could handle it!! I don't think any sane person could claim that Barranquilla has nice weather!

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KenMan says on Sep 30, 2005, 20:38:

Whats wrong with the clubs up north if anything i wouldnt take the gringos down there by la 14 and that stuff. La murillo is nasty stay up north and go to Froggleggs or Barullo.

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