emp99 has left 23 comments

emp99 comments on

It is worth noting that I am working on an independent Mompox website. It is in the early stages, but bear with me and in the coming weeks I will have further info about hotels, restaurants and activities but for the timebeing www.mompox.org

emp99 comments on Interested in hiring a freelance writer for expat publication focused on Latin America

Req, Richard here from Matador. I am not sure if you got my email. I am writing a relatively high profile piece for a UK newspaper about moving to Panama and real estate there. If you have any pointers or tips I would be very grateful. Of course, if you want a quote or a namecheck I am open to that too. Let me know, write to rsnmccoll at hot mail dot com. Maybe you could then use it on your site. Also, while I am super busy, perhaps I could help you out a bit on your new venture. richard

emp99 comments on query re: Guaviare

get in touch with the people at Parques Nacional Naturales and get your permits. It is good to speak to them first in Bogota.

emp99 comments on Quibdo?

I second what gorgonabob says. I went there just over a year ago, interesting yes.....but really felt like the front line. Got questioned a few times by the police and militayr wanting to know why I was there. Head to Bahia Solano, Nuqui or El Valle.

emp99 comments on Lasik Surgery

I got the same treatment here, no regrets

emp99 comments on Does anybody know anything about Yachana Lodge/ Funedesin????

yes, I worked there in 2005. It is a fantastic place which delivers for the local community in my opinion. Accommodation is fine and the work is usually challenging -pm me with further questions.

emp99 comments on mompos

Hit me up for any questions Richard La Casa Amarilla Mompos

emp99 comments on Medellín to Cartagena

Stop in Mompos. Take an overnight bus to Magangue and change there.

emp99 comments on River travel from Barranquilla

It is not so easy. I have been looking into this for some time. Basically there are a few boats that travel the Magdalena. Cattle barges, the barge that transports oil and some other assorted craft. You will just have to go down to the docks, ask about and then pay a sum to a boat captain I assume. If you want other trips on the Magdalena you can catch chalupas in Puerto Berrio to Barrancabermeja and then from there to El banco with connections to Mompos.

emp99 comments on Oh ye wise ones - how to handle a nuisance neighbor ?

Get a petition together and get all neighbours to sign it and take it to the police/ apt owners etc etc. There is a colombian law that states that if all the neighbours in the immediate vicinity are affected you can get these clowns thrown out.

emp99 comments on Oh ye wise ones - how to handle a nuisance neighbor ?

I think that place still exists, it is run by a transvestite. There is no train (or so I believe) all the way to Medellin but you an get on a dinky small train as far as Puerto Berrio.

emp99 comments on Mompos and Vila de Leyva

From Santa Marta there is a collectivo that leaves in the early am or at 1pm. I recommend the earlier one. La Casa de Felipe can help you with this. This goes via Bosconia, La Gloria to Santa Ana. Roughly 7 hours. You cross the river at Santa Ana to Talaigua Nueva, 20 mins and then catch a collectivo a further 30 mins to Mompos. From Barranquilla check and see if the Unitransco bus is working, this leaves in the am and gets in around 3pm. If not catch any transport to Magangue and make the connections that Kiwipaisa has said. From Mompos to Villa de Leyva. Given the weather fewer 4x4s are making the journey from Mompos to El Bnaco Magdalena...this is not a bad thing as it means they are increasing river travel once again. So catch a car or a chalupa to El Banco. In El Banco you can find a variety of buses. I would suggest heading to Aguachica or Bucaramanga and trying for a connection to Tunja. The in Tunja catching one of the plethora of buses to Villa de Leyva.

emp99 comments on Mompos and Vila de Leyva

This hotel was clean, safe and friendly and offered good information about the city

emp99 comments on Restaurants in Cartagena

La vitrola

emp99 comments on Room for rent Chapinero Alto, Bogotá

price?

emp99 comments on travel guides

wait for the new Footprint guide coming out later in the year. The current Lonely Planet is poor, the new one comes out next year I believe. The Bradt guide covers the Amazon and Guajira peninsula well but is thin on the ground in other parts. Until then, look online here at PBH and consult www.vivatravelguides.com

emp99 comments on full size Bed for sale in Bogota - $60.000 pesos

implausable, but is the bed still for sale? ricardo_emp at hotmail.com

emp99 comments on DINING TABLE AND 4 SOFAS FOR SALE IN BOGOTA

Katty, do you still have items and furniture for sale? ricardo_emp at hotmail.com

emp99 comments on Fridge for sale, Bogota

still for sale? ricardo_emp at hotmail.com

emp99 comments on Apartment Needed in Bogota

Both sound, interesting, I will be back in Bogota in a week or so. Oh yes, the rental would be more or less indefinite at this point. I have a Colombian Visa and am not planning on leaving!

emp99 comments on

Liliana, before you launch into statements of this magnitude, as the above posters have all mentioned, you need to get your facts right, at the very least do a little more research. Basic typos like Katrina and Karina are one thing, but these massive swathes of generalisations are going to get you nowhere. Hopefully any sociolgy teacher will be able to slice through your comments mercilessly. As a person who works in the tourist industry I would stress that the "old" type of tourism you mention is not going to go away and to even believe this is bordering on the absurd. Take any location at the other end of the spectrum, lets say a European or north American destination - backpackers and low income spectrum folks still find the time and the means to go there and stay time, find affordable accommodation and enjoy themselves. As has been mentioned there is a massive market for high end top dollar tourism in Medellin, Cali, Bogota and Cartagena and places beyond.Cartagena has had a massive tourism income over the years in comparison to the rest of the country and in order for you to understand this better I should talk to the people at ProExport in Bogota. While they realise this they are still pushing Cartagena. Have you ever seen the city when a big cruise ship docks, 750 wealthy tourists descend on the old town, all spending large sums of money and dining out. Backpackers and "low income bracket" americans are never going to go away. Yes, there may be an evolution in the way that tourism is perceived and in the nature of the tourism market but your implications that it is all going to alter mas o menos overnight is way off the mark.

emp99 comments on La Casa Amarilla Mompos up and running

I can't tell you exactly how long from Barranquilla...but from Cartagena if you catch an early bus to Magangue and then the motorise canoe/taxi combo to Mompos then you can can get to Mompos in 5-6 hours.

emp99 comments on La Casa Amarilla Mompos up and running

Kelvin, I am out of the country right now but will be back in Bogota on the 23rd of May and then heading on from there a few days later to Mompos most likely. From Bucaramanga you can catch the Unitransco bus which takes 6 hours to get to El Banco and then you know it, the 2 - 2.5 hour 4x4 trip from there to Mompos. Let me know when you are thinking of coming. If you plan to come in June I'll definitely be there.