nena_cgena has left 12 comments

nena_cgena comments on Search: LT rental in Cartagena

corrected email the email address was supposed to be billayc at excite.com instead of billayo at excite.com . the NEW email address is now caminoaltovilla at yahoo.com . the website is 99% completed, you can see it if you wish: www.caminoaltovilla.com . have a great week! Anne-Marie/nena_cgena

nena_cgena comments on Search: LT rental in Cartagena

More info on villa rental at www.caminoaltovilla.com If you read "Long term rental in Cartagena" and want more information, please visit our new website. www.caminoaltovilla.com . or email Bill at caminoaltovilla at yahoo.com .

This villa is wonderful and rates are low, a very good deal for the beauty you'll enjoy.

nena_cgena comments on Search: LT rental in Cartagena

Long term rental in Cartagena SteohenB,
I hope you were able to get your accomodations in Cartagena. I am just getting to know this web site through my daughter.

My wife and I own a getaway villa with a spectacular view of historic Cartagena and the Caribbean. The villa is balconied BR/2.5BA 1,200 sq. ft. villa on 1.5 fenced-in acres full of native flowers and plants, tropical fruit trees and many bird species. We completed our vacation villa Camino Alto in 2000 with the help of the caretaker who lives on property and who, with his family, are available to help out with daily chores, shopping, prepare meals and run errands.

Camino Alto is at 500 feet above sea level in Torrecilla, a small residential development off the road to Turbaco five miles east of Cartagena. The villa is available year-round for weekly, monthly or longer term rentals and is recommended for the seasoned traveler who will enjoy the tranquility of this country paradise as well as the magnificent history and new renaissance of shops, arts and music in the ancient walled city, “the pearl of the Caribbean.”

I can be reached at billayc at excite.com.

nena_cgena comments on new yorker in cartagena

You'll have a blast! These thoughts and bits of advice are random and in no order so forgive me. Cartagena is a very social city especially when it comes to meeting other tourists/foreigners. The hotels within the walls of the city are gorgeous 4-5 star, fabulous service but also $175-$300 a night (Hotel Charleston and Santa Clara), but hanging out at the Plaza de Santo Domingo (within the walled city, just 2 blocks from Hotel Charleston, is a great place to meet people... outdoor tables for several different bar restaurants, music, vendors, etc. - catering primarily to tourists so very safe even late at night, most people hang out and socialize then move onto dancing at nearby clubs. Bocagrande is designed for tourists, you can pretty much walk where you need to go which would save you money on taxi's. Food, shops, hotels, grocery stores... everything within a mile stretch of street. Many of the higher educated people working in the above places know some English, if not they are used to communicating with Europeans, Canadians and Americans so it's nothing to be ashamed of and you'll do fine. Having street smarts is always good as a traveler in any foreign land, so being drunk with wads of money in the wrong part of town is not recommended. There are different websites to find people renting out apartments/condos in Bocagrande, El Laguito and Castillo Grande (these 3 areas are all pretty much the same place). I don't know enough about the hostals of the area, sorry. If you stay in Bocagrande the less you'll pay for taxi's at night, buses stop running probably 10, so if you plan to be out late it would be nice to be able to walk back to your room. But definately get into El Centro (the walled city) to check out La Plazita, you'll know it because it has a beautiful statue by Botero, "La Gorda", at the entrance. Tips: only arrange excursions through a hotel or travel agency, not someone on the street. Use the buses to save money, simply ask the bus driver if they are going to where you need to and ask how much the fare is, for this reason you want to keep small bills or coins for the buses. Don't exchange money with someone offering in the street, best thing is to go to Citibank and use their cash machines. Security guard at door will want to check your bag. Good luck, you will have a blast! The people are beautiful, you won't want to leave! Colombian women love gringo men, so be careful.... :-)

nena_cgena comments on First time to Colombia

GRINGA, DID YOU GO? Although this post was written 7 months ago.... I'm curious if you went to Colombia and what you thought. If you have not yet gone, please know that Cartagena is probably the safest city in Colombia, tons of tourists - Europeans, Canadians, Italians, Americans... blonde hair and light colored eyes is not uncommon, especially since Colombians can be true blonds with light eyes. You would stand out more just because you are foreign, regardless of your hair and eye color. All foreignors stick out. Barranquilla is considered safe as well. I'm surprised your boyfriend would have even brought up the subject of kidnapping... that's stupid. Here's a tip, if you are the daughter of a wealthy oil-company executive , don't go backpacking alone in the rural mountains of Colombia... that's the shiht you would need to be concerned about.

nena_cgena comments on First time to Colombia

CARTAGENA! NO QUESTION ABOUT IT!

nena_cgena comments on First time to Colombia

great post newbrunswicker! love it! hehe. An American who thinks outside of the media... wow. It is true people, life exists beyond our borders... have fun and discover the beautiful countries of the world. I LOVE CARTAGENA,COLOMBIA - EVERYONE MUST GO AT LEAST ONCE, YOU WON'T WANT TO LEAVE! The most romantic and magical city I've ever been!

nena_cgena comments on First time to Colombia

GIFTS Thinking more about it, the gifts are appropriate for people you may be visiting or as a thank you for those who might be helping you or you might be staying with... handing out gifts to random locals would just be seen as weird. Although you think it may be 3rd world, they have pretty much everything we have here... sometimes just harder to find and much more expensive.

nena_cgena comments on First time to Colombia

Have fun in Cartagena! I travel to Cartagena often, we have a house there and I have lots of family there so this info is pretty accurate: Cartageneros love tourists - they like Italians, Canadians, Europeans and Americans. Receiving gifts from these places is appreciated... it has become a joke though, when Americans (like myself) bring gifts, they say "made in China"... hehe. Your ideas of candy, personal hygienne items and school supplies are all good ideas. Especially if they actually say "made in Canada". If you are bringing gifts to family/friends and know sizes... clothing is very expensive in Cartagena, so jeans and athletic shoes are great gifts... but shampoos, perfumes (they love Victorias Secret body sprays!) and yummies like this are greatly liked with women. The people in Cartagena are very friendly especially if you are a tourist. Don't be surprised but people will beg for small change, just as in any city where there is poverty. Children, young men, old folk alike. With children, if you start handing out change you will be swarmed. Be subtle if you want to give them change. If you don't want to be bothered, be stern but respectful and say NO TENGO MONEDAS (I don't have any change). Making eye contact and smiling to vendors or others who might want to sell to you is usually an invitation to approach you. Cartageneros have a huge respect and appreciation of tourists because they love their city and want foreignors to love it too. They also know that without tourism, many would be without work.
It's one of my favorite places on earth, magical and romantic. Even just a week and your life is not the same... I LOVE CARTAGENA de INDIAS!

nena_cgena comments on Should I be afraid of the police?

gringoinbogota smartest comment so far thank you for posting the smartest comment so far in this post... someone who knows what he's talking about...

nena_cgena comments on Planning to move to Cartagena(tips needed)

Jess, an exciting and life altering choice When I read your posting I recalled all the summers I spent in Cartagena as a teen. I loved it. Teenage Cartageneros LOVE American teenagers. I would hope that your teens speak some Spanish, it would help. I don't know anything about the type of school you are looking for but what I do know is that I remember schooling in Cartagena is very important to kids there. Only the best students get into Public Schools, almost everyone else pays to send their children to private schools which actually makes the children extremely eager to learn and appreciate the education, it is a responsibility and an expectation. I never met a bad student as a teen. I also recogonized that my cousins who were a couple years younger than me were studying things that only kids in my advanced classes were studying. I know Cartagena very well. If I had a chance to choose where I could live in Cartagena it would be in El Centro, Manga (more historic and beautiful areas) or El Laguito or Bocagrande (more touristic and modern - Europeans,Canadians and Americans would stay in Bocagrande while visiting). U.S. dollars go a long way in some areas, I would look into renting an apartment in one of these areas until your family gets to know the city more so you could decide on schools and where to live. Cartagena is a magical city with gorgeous people, I travel there once every year or two to see family. My family has a house outside the city and I dream of living there sometimes. I wish you and your family the best. If your children are open to change, this will definately be different for them but it will be good for them. They will learn to appreciate things more and find joy in a simpler life. also, soccer and baseball are huge, as well as music, dancing and going to clubs. i have a friend who has taught at the University of Cartagena as well as a couple technical schools,if you want some information on jobs I can ask him.

nena_cgena comments on MDE armed robbery

This Cartagena-lover says BE SMART, wherever you are! I was born in Bogota but am much more familiar with traveling in Cartagena although I have lived in the U.S. for 30 years. There are basic rules you follow that I'm certain would apply to tourists traveling to any large city where poverty/crime exists. In my opinion, it doesn't matter if you travel to Medellin, Kingston, Rio or New York City. You have to know what you're doing and be smart. Any "foreigner" seen being too complacent or ignorant to the environment can be taken advantage of. Basic rules for traveling in taxi in Cartagena would apply anywhere (Medellin,Bogota,etc)... these are my rules: only carry enough cash to get you by for the day or two; have plenty of small bills to pay the taxi instead of having him pretend to not have change for a large bill; negotiate the price of the taxi ride with the driver before you get in the car (it would help to know how much the ride should be), if you know your way around the city, tell him what route you want to take... so he knows you know where you are and he will be less likely to take you into a part of town you shouldn't be in; call a radio taxi, they give you a car id# and send the taxi to pick you up, they are a little more expensive but most of these drivers have been thoroughly screened and are monitored closely, their cars are always nicer too.
I LOVE CARTAGENA!
Anne-Marie
nena_cgena