My cartagena trip is a reality, now within 2 weeks, I have some questions...

markemarc1 says on Mar 12, 2008, 08:50:

Don't Go! I heard there is a war going on.

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nine inch nails says on Mar 12, 2008, 09:01:

5. Joyslava discoteca.

get down, get down. are you afraid of the boogie monster?

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tomtom33 says on Mar 12, 2008, 09:01:

There are at least 2 ATMs in the airport. But you will have to walk out the door, take a left, and re-enter by the next door.

You can wear shorts anytime except to any Colombian government office. On Fri. and Sat. nights in the clubs in Centro, you might want to wear long pants. In the LDV just wear pesos.

Cheap watches are fine. I wear my US$10 Walgreen special.

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morphus says on Mar 12, 2008, 09:21:

Dress up before you go to LDV and the girls might not charge you too much :)

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alezzz says on Mar 12, 2008, 09:27:

what is LDV? pardon my ignorance

---Music is the strongest form of magic.---

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Gator says on Mar 12, 2008, 09:28:

1. Bring a minimum amount of cash, use the ATM-machines which are just outside the baggage claim/customs area. No real difference in the banks.

2. Shorts OK in the daytime, gringo wear them at night but what the hell-you are on vacation.

3. A Casio is what I wear anytime the wife and I are traveling in Latin America

4. Jeans are, IMHO, just too hot due to the material. Khaki would be better.

5. Hit the night spots in the Old Walled City (remember, In Colombia, activity starts late but goes on till late into the night) The crowd build up to the weekends. If you are going to be their over Holy Week,16 - 23 March ( Semana Santa) the crowds will be fierce.

Good food, and lots of female college students. Seriously consider a Rumba Chiva trip which can be booked all along San Martin Blvd. Take the local bus for transportation-safe and very inexpensive. The taxi drivers are rip off artists-make sure you establish the fare before you get in-no tipping. Ask the desk at the hotel what the fare should be-if you find a taxi driver you like get his cell phone number and use him. It will be hot and humid so plan on chaging shirts often.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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tomtom33 says on Mar 12, 2008, 09:29:

La Dolce Vita. It is owned by Italians. Every young lady there except for a few barmaids is willing, for a few pesos, to share her favors with you.

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alezzz says on Mar 12, 2008, 09:31:

Thanks for the info tomtom... :-)

---Music is the strongest form of magic.---

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DodgerDogs says on Mar 12, 2008, 09:36:

LDV chicas will charge a gringo 100,000 to 200,000 pesos , while they will do a local for
50,000 . You are better of going to the casino next door and getting Mario or Ernesto to
hook you up with the LDV chica you want.

It is better to come to Colombia to enjoy the other things Colombia offers,
as if you just want cheap hookers you can do that in Mexico.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

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morphus says on Mar 12, 2008, 09:40:

Try to get a good one that does'nt ask for money and you can get a freebie if you play along.

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morphus says on Mar 12, 2008, 09:42:

Mario or Ernesto? You guys can't even pick up your own hookers...LOL

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El Polo says on Mar 12, 2008, 10:31:

LOL. There is an ATM in the airport, if your cash starts running low during your stay, use an atm in hightraffic / tourist areas. Shorts are a must, casio watch is ok, shortsleeve button down / nice t shirts & jeans are good for nights out, (go casual not formal) most nightspot around la avenida arsenal are usually good, dont let the girls at LDV know you hit an ATM earlier that day & stay away from Tony, also be prepared to tell the mesage ladies on the beach NO!!! They are persistent and will still try to cop a feel sometimes :)

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dwr says on Mar 12, 2008, 10:53:

Reconsider Cartagena. Go to Rio

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poco says on Mar 12, 2008, 11:05:

Quote: Cheap watches are fine. I wear my US$10 Walgreen special.

Ha,, true. I saw them and bought two. Gave them away as gifts. Honestly, they were a good deal. Personally I prefer a name brand watch,, like my $20 day date Timex I got at Wal Mart. Keeps on tick'n if you get a lick'n.

Good advise about taking cash especially when going with a group. I take about $100 to cover the taxi in the US.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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dwr says on Mar 12, 2008, 11:06:

Man I wish I was in Santa Marta about now!

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nine inch nails says on Mar 12, 2008, 11:59:

"LDV chicas will charge a gringo 100,000 to 200,000 pesos"

And how much for that Spitzer?? (jajajajaja)

get down, get down. are you afraid of the boogie monster?

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nine inch nails says on Mar 12, 2008, 11:59:

12 millions pesos?

get down, get down. are you afraid of the boogie monster?

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Saltador says on Mar 12, 2008, 13:42:

The locals aren't doing many LDV girls for 50,000 pesos anymore. I looked it up on urbanlegends.com...

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cali373 says on Mar 12, 2008, 13:49:

ALWAYS ASK HOW MUCH BEFORE YOU BUY OR ASK FOR A SERVICE!!!

It is hot in Cartagena. During the day just walk around the historic center "el centro". There are many intersting shops, cafes, restaurants in el centro. If you can try staying in el centro too. Bocagrande is modern and safe but no charm, nothing special about it, its like a Miami. ATM´s can be found in the airport or several banks in el centro and bocagrande.

Try all the plazas of the historic center especially for dinner, san diego, santo domingo, san pedro. Cafe del mar is kool but it is not for food.

Clubs are great along"la Calle Arsenal". Alte night clubs are Elektra, which had many prostitutes but many foreigner go there. It has pretty good music. dont worry you will not get bombarded by prepagos.

you will probably find out about ISIS, it full of whores, I though it was a strip club to my suprise HAHAHA.

I always wore jeans and a short sleeve button down shirt. Try a rosario island tour as well.

The woman seem to have gotten hotter in Cartagena this year.

Smile if you are a thinker!

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Chriscan says on Mar 12, 2008, 15:52:

Your going to roast - wear shorts all the time - don't even bother with pants. Carry lots of cash but hide most of it. Your chances of being robbed are next to none but your chances of running out of money are 100%. Bancolombia lets you take out the most at a time.

Don't bother taking much luggage. You can buy all you need there. Always have at least $100 - you never know what opertunity might present itself.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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robi666 says on Mar 12, 2008, 16:10:

1) There are no ATM in Cartagena. You're the only ATM walking machine.
2) None wear shorts in Cartagena.
3) There are people that kill for a couple of dollars, why would not they do it for your Casio?
4) 80% of girls in LDV have got AIDS or gonorrea. You decide.
5) You'd better not go. I heard Costa Rica and Rio are nice.

Don't go to Santa Marta, it is dangerous there. Thank you.

Or, you may be on the wrong board. You'd get better advice from WSIG, or whatever it is called. Ask Morphus for a free pass. I bet also a guy named Scooby can help you, get in touch with him.

"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."

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El Polo says on Mar 12, 2008, 16:28:

Rob you forgot to mention 6) las aguila negras 7) the resurface of los pepes

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robi666 says on Mar 12, 2008, 16:30:

Oh, yes, ask about them to Medellin_Traveler.

"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."

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El Polo says on Mar 12, 2008, 16:37:

Hey Rob, what the deal with the 666 vaina?

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Saltador says on Mar 12, 2008, 16:39:

This is what I hate about this board. A guy asks a serious question, and is bombarded with exaggerations, stereotypes, and misinformation.
Just the nature of PBH and it's members. It is what it is.

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robi666 says on Mar 12, 2008, 16:40:

Nothing special...
Just a tattoo that I have on my neck since the day I was born...

"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."

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El Polo says on Mar 12, 2008, 16:42:

In my humble and non-bias opnion, my advice was the best!!! and pretty straightfoward. I speak for myself.

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El Polo says on Mar 12, 2008, 16:45:

Una palenquera mas maluca grabbed my ass once while on the beach in bocagrande, that is why I added the last line in. At first thought, I assumed it was a stunning cachaca but it turned out to be to complete opposite, she managed to grab my ass while balancing a bowl full of mangos on her head

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mjordan2169 says on Mar 12, 2008, 18:11:

Thank you everyone who answered this post seriously. Like I said, the trip is booked, no need to tell me to go somewhere else.

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mjordan2169 says on Mar 12, 2008, 18:45:

As for the Chiva bus...are there different companies? Is it totally random? Is the price negotiable or how much should I be paying? Which ones are best?

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DodgerDogs says on Mar 12, 2008, 19:25:

If you want to ride a chiva go wait in front of the Hilton hotel, many people will approach you
and offer what ever you want. Then haggle for the best price and get on the bus with best looking Chicas Sabado noches are best .....Good luck and use your wits, and dont let temptation ever set you up for a street con...... And if Cartagena seems not what you want then its 2 1/2 -- 3 hrs. and 20,000 pesos to better Playas and cheaper prices in Santa Marta.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.Martin Luther King:

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Gator says on Mar 12, 2008, 20:07:

Rumba Chiva is an old bus called a chiva with a small live typical band known as "conjunto vallenato" on board that tours the city raising hell.You also get a small bottle of rum free(tip buy a bigger one before you get on board) cost say 35.000 pesos.No real "best" most of the bigger hotels can get you a ticket or plenty of touts on the streets also sell tickets.

Couple of restaurants are Juan del Mar Restaurante, Plaza San Diego, Club De Pesca for sea food, try the Pargo Rojo, La Olla on San Martine Blvd., Restaurante Dany El Churrasco Argentino
Bocagrande on Cl 5 2-104-try their arequipe ice cream and right down the street in the Hotel Da Pietro on Cr 3, 4-401 is a good Italian restaurant

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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Juanes says on Mar 13, 2008, 05:17:

- shorts are fine and if your arriving from a coldish place and you havent acclimatised then its still on to wear them at night cos its hot there. i wore them in the day and night most times but its a bit harder to hide your boner if ya want to try out some salsa or dance moves con una negrita especial por la noche.

- try to avoid them with flowery/hawai shirt....to look like u just come in off the cruise ship
- try to avoid them with.....white terry towelling socks pulled up high like a german/austrian

- ATM's...i used my two visa debit normal bank cards in the bank machines just outside the clock face entrance area outside the walled city....no charge o ni problema....a normal bank card can be used all over colombia frankly. the only place in all latin american or central countrires i had problemas was in Puerto Cortes in HOnduras.

- jeans and tshirt/short sleev t shirt is good to look more colombian and blend in and estoy seguro que tengas mas suerte con las mamacitas con esta ropa por la noche.

oh yeah, i bought my black plastic casioin manizales cos i lost me other going up in the snow at 5500 metres for 38 mil and it lasted me for ages so less blazey the better.

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/

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Juanes says on Mar 13, 2008, 06:31:

''LDV chicas will charge a gringo 100,000 to 200,000 pesos , while they will do a local for
50,000 . You are better of going to the casino next door and getting Mario or Ernesto to
hook you up with the LDV chica you want.''

what the hell, there are people paying this kind of money to sleep with colombians around cartagena........if thats the case and you want that im telling you just hop on a bus to santa marta near the promenade and hang around the bars there and for no more than 30 mil you can complete your mission....cos i was the same negrita i paid 20 or 25 mil.........even around the bogota in the capital city i was in a place with a friend around carrera 9 or something that costs 30 mil........crazy........why have one when you can have a variety for the same price..........

oh and this is when i wanted this option, a lot of times i met girls naturally in the bars or on the net beforehad on friendsabroad.com, facebook,etc

seriously, i only paid more than 20 mil once in 3 months in colombia which is when i arrived in cali at nightime and i didnt know my bearings so i soon checked out of the 45 mil place and for the pleasure of a morena o negrita o rubia a veces nunca me he pagado mas de 30 mil pesitos. verdad

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/

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tomtom33 says on Mar 13, 2008, 06:41:

Juanes, some restaurants charge more than others. If your wallet is geared to the mom and pop tienda, that is where you eat. The presentation is a bit nicer at LDV. Did you ever pay 3 times more for a beer at a nice club than you would have paid in a grocery store?

Free market.

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Juanes says on Mar 13, 2008, 17:24:

not really tomatito. i still found girls not in the mom and pop brigade for 25 or 30 mil down in clubs zones in cali and medellin and bogota.....jus saying you got to have atm tattooed on your forehead to pay 200 mil for a hooker in ldv or wherever your khaki shorts take u, not even the street girls in rio who are just as nice if not better than colombianas charged me the equivalent in reales.

im sure people really notice the quality of paying that 175k mil more after youve had ten costenas and a half bottle of ron medellin o aguadiente.

chau papito de estados unidos

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Juanes/

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robi666 says on Mar 13, 2008, 17:27:

News from Medellin is that the grupos de limpieza will start to target prepagos who's with Gringos.
Muerte a los gringos.

"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."

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mjordan2169 says on Mar 13, 2008, 21:38:

No more comments robi666

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Aaron21 says on Mar 13, 2008, 21:50:

Classic.......?

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Chriscan says on Mar 14, 2008, 03:53:

I think the chivas leave the hilton at around 8pm. there are some little bars just before the hilton (one way street) where you can hang out at wait.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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