Monteria

kat1 (Moderator) says on Nov 9, 2005, 14:07:

I was born 20 minute from Monteria, Monteria is small but safe,some people like it some don't. it's hot as hell, there is a member here which I love very much that have been there more than me. UC he will tell more about the city.

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 9, 2005, 15:10:

The most wonderful thing about Monteria and the coastal area is the fact that it is very safe. They have one of the lowest crime rates in Colombia. My Colombian family are always erring on the side of caution when it comes to safety but in Monteria, it's a non-issue. We walk around the city at night. We travel around the countryside both by private car and by bus without having to worry about safety. It is hotter than hell and it's not a dry heat. Still, I like the heat so it's not a problem for me. They have a university and a couple of malls and an airport so it does have some modern conveniences. I think there is more traffic of all descriptions, car, moped, foot, bicycle, bus than any place I have ever been. Everyone drives like maniacs and it's dusty and noisy with everyone honking. At night the little juke joints along the Sinu River throb with music and the swaying hips of the hot Costenas. Kat is one of those hot Costenas and the women don't get any better than that. You hardly ever see a gringo and you never hear a word of English. You may never leave.

You could go by bus from Cartagena to Monteria no problem. In fact, it would be a lot of fun.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 9, 2005, 15:24:

Who's to fight? Everything in Cordoba, including the government and the army, is controlled by the AUC.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Sam Salmon says on Nov 9, 2005, 15:38:

You hardly ever see a gringo and you never hear a word of ...... "You hardly ever see a gringo and you never hear a word of English. You may never leave"
Absolutemente!





' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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White Rhino says on Nov 9, 2005, 19:54:

Can I drive from Cartagena to Monteria? Or take a taxi?

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 9, 2005, 20:15:

I don't think I'd take a taxi - a bus would be a heckuva lot more fun and interesting. You could certainly go by private car. Since the area is relatively flat, the roads tend to be fairly straight and in many places not too heavily travelled. I haven't gone as far as Cartagena by bus but I've gone to Covenas and there's nothing to worry about. You'd have to have lost your mind completely to drive in Monteria itself. Even the locals find it hair-raising.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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White Rhino says on Nov 9, 2005, 20:27:

The roads are safe in terms of kidnapping?

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 9, 2005, 20:34:

Yes. When my brother-in-law was running for office a couple of years ago, we drove to the most remote places imaginable. I suppose there is some slight chance of it occurring but that area has the lowest kidnapping rates in Colombia. I still think you're better off taking a bus.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Sam Salmon says on Nov 9, 2005, 20:58:

Taxi from the Airport in Monteria to Santiago de Tolu was about $US20 so a cab ride from CTG would be triple that if not more.
Busses are fast clean and well run.

C:Documents and SettingsPhilMy DocumentsMonteria Tolu Taxi.jpg




' a la orden!'

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Hunter says on Nov 10, 2005, 05:25:

White Rhino My Colombian friends who live in Cartagena and go to Monteria on business DO NOT go there by car, the only main road from Ctg goes through the mountains, that part of the road is not safe at the moment.

Hunter

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 10, 2005, 07:58:

I guess that's the road through El Carmen. Is it any better to go through San Onofre, I wonder? Have they been travelling by bus, Hunter? I must ask my wife to inquire about the situation.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Hunter says on Nov 10, 2005, 11:18:

UC I travel by air between Cities, mainly because it is quicker, but also because I hate the windy roads, for example I don't feel comfortable approx half the way between Medellin and Rio Negro airport.

I have never been to Monteria, but my business friends fly by air because they don't class the road route as safe.

They are happy to travel by road to Baq or Santa Marta, but not Monteria, so just repeating what they told me.

Hunter

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White Rhino says on Nov 10, 2005, 13:44:

Is there a direct flight from Cartagena to Monteria? Avianca doesnt have one and wants 741.9o dollars for the flight via Bogota.

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Nov 10, 2005, 13:49:

Avianca used to have one what happened? what about areorepublica?

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 10, 2005, 14:15:

You can fly via Aerorepublica You can fly on Aerorepublica via Bogota for less than that but I still think you should take the bus. Let me get my wife to make some inquiries about the safety situation for the bus ride.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 10, 2005, 19:10:

I asked my wife about this whole business of travelling between Cartagena and Monteria. Her mother and brother have travelled this route this year as well as in years past by private car (via Sincelejo) and there were no problems. She was also puzzled by the mention of mountains and said that there were no mountains, just some hills but that was about it. I mentioned the businessmen who felt it was too dangerous and she just shrugged. She thought it was much more dangerous up towards Santa Marta from Cartagena but maybe only because she's not that familiar with that area. I've noticed that Colombians tend to say that while their area is safe the other guy's area is not.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Nov 10, 2005, 19:46:

Just maybe, UC, your suegra is in tight with the same guys that Hunter's friends are afraid of. One person's protection is another person's nighmare.

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 10, 2005, 20:48:

Could very well be, Mr. H. maybe they just wave her through.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Hunter says on Nov 11, 2005, 11:10:

To the costenas they are probably mountains, I would say hills would be more correct.

I don't know your wife or her connections, I know my friends are not people who worry about most things, but they also have plenty of connections in the military, so if they say its not safe to travel to Monteria by road, I take their word for it.

Hunter

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 11, 2005, 11:23:

I don't know, Hunter. Maybe Dona Bertha (mi suegra) uses her connections for a trouble-free trip, as Mr. H. suggests.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Hunter says on Nov 11, 2005, 11:47:

UC Somebody could travel the route trouble free for a while, possibly forever, but it doesn't mean the route is safe.

Hunter

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 11, 2005, 11:59:

I certainly agree, Hunter. It seems as though many of these things are based on anecdotal evidence. In the lasvocesdelsecuestro site, I noted that some of the kidnap victims came from places like Sincelejo on the route between Cartagena and Monteria. Also a Colombian can make these trips in a lot more safety than a gringo. My wife wouldn't think twice about taking the bus from Cartagena to Monteria but I think she'd make me fly.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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White Rhino says on Nov 11, 2005, 20:23:

So there is a consensus not to drive or taxi or bus? If so, I will fly.

How can I fly direct at a reasonable price? I already called Avianca and they have no direct flight and the flight Cart-Bog-Monteria is 740 dollars!!! Aerorepublica? Do they have a USA phone number?

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Hunter says on Nov 12, 2005, 09:01:

White Rhino The price seems very steep to me, I fly Med - Ctg reguarly, even after the recent price rises I am paying 435,000 pesos for a return ticket.

When are you planning on traveling here?

Also how long will you be in Colombia for before you plan on travelling there, the reason is that it is nearly always cheaper to buy a ticket 14 days or more in advance here in Colombia, you get a better price then.

Hunter

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 12, 2005, 10:50:

I think I would still take the bus. People go from Cartagena to Tolu all the time and if they can get to Tolu, I don't see why they can't get to Monteria.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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White Rhino says on Nov 13, 2005, 12:52:

Are there no direct flights? Thanks again to all!

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Sam Salmon says on Nov 13, 2005, 15:33:

Oh FFS!!! Busses run back and forth 24/7 WTF don't you just get on one and go!!!
If an old gringo like me can do it anyone can do it.




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