Things to do in Cartagena???

kentuckygreg2 says on Jan 2, 2008, 09:04:

don't stay there, rent an apartment in laguito. You can rent one for $70 a night and much nicer.

I stayed there in June and it was OK. too crowded.

Pros: Free booze and food.
Cons: Can't control AC so it's somewhat hot in the rooms. loud, elevators extremely slow and roasting hot. beach vendors hang out.

Nightlife:
Mr. Babilla, Babar (old city), Tu Candela (old city)

Daytime
visit the castle and old city.

Love and happiness!

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 09:09:

Take a day-trip to Islas Rosarios. Most hotels can book the boat.



Just one of the islands.



Isla Grande

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 09:37:

Also Isla Grande

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mjordan2169 says on Jan 2, 2008, 09:37:

kentuckygreg2...how were the girls in and around decameron?

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mjordan2169 says on Jan 2, 2008, 09:38:

sweet pics slootskipper. Thanks.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 09:41:

Side trip to the Aquaria: Feeding the Cat Sharks

You can also dive on some of these trips.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 09:47:

My Pleasure. I have more than a hundred at http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=cgaeflvq.62jbxqb2&x=0&y=xdjq6h mostly of the city

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pbthekid says on Jan 2, 2008, 10:05:

I agree, Decamaron service is awful and off times very crowed. the lifts are VERY slow.
Food is good and the Rest. on the 22nd or 23 floor is great. however a better value to
go to the Caribe Hilton in Boca Grande, the servce is great, food good, Beaches with peddlers with "armanni sun glasses" sure (sic). Go to the La Popa, the Fort, Santo Domingo Sguare on Sat Nite.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 10:15:

"IF" you haven't already booked, and like a small boutique hotel, http://casalafe.com/ in the old city, is very nice. But, that is not on the beach.

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morphus says on Jan 2, 2008, 10:20:

Yeah, nothing more fun than being trapped on the Rosario Islands with vendors....LOL

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 10:41:

They didn't annoy me too much.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 10:43:

They didn't annoy me too much. But that is the risk of traveling to poor areas, and to prosperous places, as well.

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Chriscan says on Jan 2, 2008, 12:37:

Cartagena = hookers and blow

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

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Enrique187 says on Jan 2, 2008, 12:38:

awesome pics. those sharks are something else.

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Chriscan says on Jan 2, 2008, 12:46:

Just hanging out in Centro is cool. I really like the hotel las vegas if you want something cheap with a little style $22 with AC, TV and Balcony. Play Blanca is sort of a must. Cartgena is the only place in Colombia with lots of good gormet resturants. If you are willing to fork out $15-20 a meal, you will eat like a king. Otherwise on the beaches and in the poor neighbouhoods, you can get a big hunk of fresh fish for$1.50 that can be almost as good.

A good start is the church up on the hill - I forget the name but you can see the layout of the city and get your berrings.

If I was going to meet you there, I wouldn't tell you that 95% of the girls you will meet in pubs and bars are working. I have had a lot of fun wathcing my friends think they are macking hot girls when the truth is that they are getting played.

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

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 13:51:

Ate some great food in Cartagena, especially Conseulo de Mariscos, with many small lobster tails, at http://www.lacocinadesocorro.com/home.htm, next to convention center



Available light photo with yellowish outdoor ambient lighting is not very good

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Chelesupercono says on Jan 2, 2008, 14:09:

Cartagena is nice for a few days but then it gets pretty boring....and very very expensive.....BQA is cheaper and a lot more fun.....hot hot chicas.....

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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guacharaca says on Jan 2, 2008, 14:46:

Check out El Centro on a Sunday. It is totally dead and peaceful. It is great for photographs because no one is in the street.

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 15:28:

JAJA, choriza, looks much like a similar foto.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 16:05:

Thanx Enrique, maybe you saw where I posted earlier that I have a lot more, for anyone who has never seen the city at: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=cgaeflvq.62jbxqb2&x=0&y=xdjq6h

Sorry, but no hot chicas on any of them.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 2, 2008, 17:09:

Yeah, Chorizo, thanx. I also tried, but the results were not so good. I should have also made a flash shot.

BUT, what a great meal in a very pleasant place. We dined al fresco.

I think was maybe only about $12US, each, + drinks.

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el flaco says on Jan 3, 2008, 02:11:

You may be interested in a visit to the mud volcano mid way between Barranquilla and Cartagena. You can book a tour at the famous (infamous?) Casa Viena http://casaviena.com/index2.html Calle San Andrés 30-53 - Tel.: 00-57-5-6646242 a backpacker's hostel in a seedy street. The tour picks you up at your hotel, thinking about it I'm sure that your hotel would book the same tour. The tour is in Spanish but caters to foreigners who can translate for you.

I thought it was good fun and good value, also a fairly unique experience.

Barranquilla is not far away and has a good zoo if you're into that sort of thing. Also there is a riverside restaurant overlooking the river Magdalena. I loved both of these things, an easy day trip to do on your own. Night time travel is safe between the two towns.

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tompower says on Jan 3, 2008, 05:57:

Every evening after supper but before I start partying i enjoy walking all the way to the centro arriving at the torre de reloj at around 9pm. I like to sit there and drink beer from the vendors with their syrofoam coolers and chat with the locals lots of beggars, vendors, pimps but also many colombian toursits there as well lots of girls who are on holidays are there for a couple hours. I really force myself just to relax and take it all in. Cartagena is best when you just relax and stop trying to do anything, the vendors and the beggars always get money from me when im in a hurry but when im relaxed they cant get money and im not bothered.

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Dan says on Jan 3, 2008, 06:15:

I still haven't been to Cartagena yet but if I'm ever able to go, I would love to visit the Castle/fort area. and spend time at the beach.

God Bless America!

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Dan says on Jan 3, 2008, 06:15:

nice pictures by the way... beautiful shots

God Bless America!

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 09:13:

There is MUCH to see in Cartagena, and on the islands. A beautiful city.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 09:17:

Thanx Dan, you saw the Kodak album?

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 09:30:

People who say Cartagena is dirty, stinks, and has dirty water must have visited a different city than I did, or they did a helluva LOT of cleaning before October.

I did not see so much as a single piece of paper on the ground in the 5 days I was there.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 09:40:

Yes, the Caribbean is all shades of green and blue, but if you think Cartagena is so horrible, why do you waste your time to read comments at "Things to do in Cartagena???", just to toss in negatives?

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 09:51:

Of course you are right. The perception of visitors is much different than residents. I learned that, all too well, when I moved to another country after a two week visit.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 09:57:

Thanx, but I am planning a revisit in a couple weeks and I might even take a place there. Then I can spend more time, and maybe agree with what you have said.

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JSM says on Jan 3, 2008, 10:00:

DON'T TAKE A TRIP TO THE ISLAS. If you want to visit Playa Blanca then just take a boat to the beach. Don't take a big boat that stops at the aquarium and then eventually the playa. Boring, slow, really annoying and exhausting. You can book a little day trip to the mud volcano. It was simple and fun and way easier to do it on a tour then going yourself. People in my van were staying at Decameron so I'm sure they know what to do.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 10:03:

Thanx so much! But, on this second trip I will again focus on Cartagena. But, if it seems that life in Colombia might be for me, and I find a place, I certainly look forward to experiencing Bogotá, as well as Medellin, and the other great cities.

I have a love of the sea, and sort of need that proximity.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 10:12:

Good advice, most anywhere, I am sure.

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 11:06:

Surely if people stay at Decameron, "they know what to do".

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kentuckygreg2 says on Jan 3, 2008, 11:09:

"surely you can't be serious! I am serious and stop calling me Shirley!"

Love and happiness!

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 11:11:

JAJAJA, was just a quote, but a bit out of context.

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tompower says on Jan 3, 2008, 12:19:

I like to go to castellana mall. Its a big mall on the eastern side of cartagena, they got a food court there and movie theaters and nice shops and tons of people. It costs about 10,000 pesos to get there in a taxi. I like to hang-out in vivero, wander around in the shops and hit on girls. I wind up at the food court and i like kokko rikko pollo apanado with the campestre salad,... ummmmmmm. But i dont usually take a taxi , i get a motor cycle to take me by way of the cienaga de tesca. A few years back they built a road from the airport to the bull ring which is just before castellana. This road goes through areally dangerous poor part of cartagena but i love the risk and its asight. THey planted this neat little two lane expressway right smack dab in the middle of the shacks on the banks of the lagoon to the north of cartagena. Its a sight. little risky especially on a motorcycle but i go in the daytime if that helps.
remember, we're all in this together.
Tom Power

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sloopskipper says on Jan 3, 2008, 12:31:

Sounds a bit scary, but interesting. I guess maybe I was in that part of the city, but on the runway at the airport, on the flight out. It seems notice they are planting trees or shrubs to reduce visibility from the planes.

I think I would opt for the taxi, or maybe armored car?

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