tompower has left 147 comments

tompower comments on Bus from Cartagena to Barranquilla

if your arriving by air to cartagena its better to go marsol to barranquilla because they are right there at the airport in crespo,... the bus terminal for regular intercity buses is way out on the east of town a good hour through congested cartagena. FYI - there are two highways from cartagena to barranquilla the original and a newer toll highway that follows the coast. The intercity buses and trucks take the old highway which starts past the bus terminal, the new toll highway leaves north east from crespo and because only cars and puerta a puerta ( thats what these types of shuttle services are called) use the highway people fly along at light speed.

tompower comments on Bus from Cartagena to Barranquilla

cartagena-barranquilla-santa marta Shuttle Van MAR SOl is a bus service that runs an hourly van service from cartagena to barranquilla then to santa marta. They use mercedes benz vans that are all very new, they seat no more than 13 people. They are a very organized and an impressive service. What you do is call them give your name and number and where you are, my experience with them is only cartagena to barranquilla and return but I'm certain the service is excellent all the way to santa marta. If for example you are in the hotel dan carlton in the Laguito, you call and reserve your time for the next available bus they run every hour from 6am till 4 pm to barranquilla/santamarta. The van comes to your hotel and they go around cartagena picking everyone up then they stop at the cartagena office near the airport and then they leave on the costal highway to barranquilla when they arrive at barranquilla they drive a route around the city to drop people off, they dont go all the way south in barranquilla they'll drop you off at a point as far south as they go, in cartagena they won't go any farther from the center than pie de la popa (where the monastery on the hill is). If the van is leaving the cartagena office at 6 am they start picking people up at 5am if you call they'll say like be ready at 5:30 am . They always show up i've never been stiffed and i've used them dozens of times. Sometimes if the passangers are from all over cartagena they'll pick you up in a taxi and the taxi will take you to the office where you'll board the van before going to barranquilla. Best of all it only costs 19,000 pesos and these guys know the highway they fly through the security and speed traps never longer than 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to barranquilla. I know they're good because all the other van services try and steal their passengers. There's a home depot at the pie de la popa and sometimes when I'm waiting there for the mar sol van the caribe van(another service) will come by and say mar sol sent them for me and its bull shit. Mar Sol is great and a great price, why use a private car for 120,000 pesos they actually take longer sometimes. Here's the numbers for the mar sol office in barranquilla: 3683272 3694228 3008083147 3135450004 3736425 3574265 their address is calle 93 # 47-13 their right up from the McDonald's Here's the numbers for the Mar Sol office in Cartagena: 6564192 3008056659 their office address in cartagena is crespo cll. 70 no. 6a/120 When you walk out of the airport in cartagena theres a main street in crespo i don't know its name but you just walk one block to the right and their office is on the sea side of the street, once again walk directly out the airport to the main crespo road and turn right walk one block and you'll see the mar sol office on the right hand side. The Mar Sol van service between Cartagena-Barranquilla-Santa Marta is Tom Power approved. Remember, were all in this together.

tompower comments on All our Canadian posters take a bow , say hello and say ehhhh..

Hey canadaman I'll take a bow as a canadian. But incase you dont believe me ill submit the following letter as my credentials. BTW, were neighbours. Remember, we're all in this together.

tompower comments on travel in Colombia- Barranquilla- Cartagena

dear russ, You should call Marsol on arrival at airport and reserve a time for the van in next hour and take a taxi directly to their barranquilla office, its next door to a mcdonalds. If your spanish isn't good just write down their baranquilla office address and get a taxi to take you there once there you'll be able to make them understand you want to go to cartagena. i'm going to be in cartagena from sunday the 20th until feb 20th e-mail me if you need any help. here is my old post on MarSol: cartagena-barranquilla-santa marta Shuttle Van MAR SOl is a bus service that runs an hourly van service from cartagena to barranquilla then to santa marta. They use mercedes benz vans that are all very new, they seat no more than 13 people. They are a very organized and an impressive service. What you do is call them give your name and number and where you are, my experience with them is only cartagena to barranquilla and return but I'm certain the service is excellent all the way to santa marta. If for example you are in the hotel dan carlton in the Laguito, you call and reserve your time for the next available bus they run every hour from 6am till 4 pm to barranquilla/santamarta. The van comes to your hotel and they go around cartagena picking everyone up then they stop at the cartagena office near the airport and then they leave on the costal highway to barranquilla when they arrive at barranquilla they drive a route around the city to drop people off, they dont go all the way south in barranquilla they'll drop you off at a point as far south as they go, in cartagena they won't go any farther from the center than pie de la popa (where the monastery on the hill is). If the van is leaving the cartagena office at 6 am they start picking people up at 5am if you call they'll say like be ready at 5:30 am . They always show up i've never been stiffed and i've used them dozens of times. Sometimes if the passangers are from all over cartagena they'll pick you up in a taxi and the taxi will take you to the office where you'll board the van before going to barranquilla. Best of all it only costs 19,000 pesos and these guys know the highway they fly through the security and speed traps never longer than 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to barranquilla. I know they're good because all the other van services try and steal their passengers. There's a home depot at the pie de la popa and sometimes when I'm waiting there for the mar sol van the caribe van(another service) will come by and say mar sol sent them for me and its bull shit. Mar Sol is great and a great price, why use a private car for 120,000 pesos they actually take longer sometimes. Here's the numbers for the mar sol office in barranquilla: 3683272 3694228 3008083147 3135450004 3736425 3574265 their address is calle 93 # 47-13 their right up from the McDonald's Here's the numbers for the Mar Sol office in Cartagena: 6564192 3008056659 their office address in cartagena is crespo cll. 70 no. 6a/120 When you walk out of the airport in cartagena theres a main street in crespo i don't know its name but you just walk one block to the right and their office is on the sea side of the street, once again walk directly out the airport to the main crespo road and turn right walk one block and you'll see the mar sol office on the right hand side. The Mar Sol van service between Cartagena-Barranquilla-Santa Marta is Tom Power approved. Remember, were all in this together.

tompower comments on GREATEST CARNAVAL BARRANQUILLERO SONGS OF ALL TIME

what's the name of it? this song?

tompower comments on CARTAGENA NIGHT LIFE

I've been to it its called escandalo its down carcoles way only problem though is the music is F&^! at &% loud bring ear plugs and a note pad if you wanna pick-up any girls.

tompower comments on GREATEST COSTEÑO SONG OF ALL TIME, LA OPERA DEL MONDONGO

luckily i dont understand half the words iknow what jopo is.

tompower comments on GREATEST COSTEÑO SONG OF ALL TIME, LA OPERA DEL MONDONGO

Mamita aquí estuvo un hombre parado sobre una mesa, mostrándome un monicongo con un hueco en la cabeza, CORO Mija esa es la Monda mija la monda pela Ay mija esa es la Monda ay mija la monda pela El día que no sale el sol el aire seca la ropa una vieja en cuatro patas y Javier dándole copa CORO Mija esa es la Monda mija la monda pela Ay mija esa es la Monda ay mija la monda pela No la tires contra el suelo que ella no es ninguna perra con tus chácaras tan largas le has llenado la chucha tierra CORO Mija esa es la Monda mija la monda pela Ay mija esa es la Monda ay mija la monda pela El pato para volar las alas las encartucha la mujer para culiar se encoje y abre la chucha CORO Mija esa es la Monda mija la monda pela Ay mija esa es la Monda ay mija la monda pela Una vieja se echo un peo con la fuerza tumbo un coco que vieja tan hijueputa pa tener fuerza en el jopo CORO Mija esa es la Monda mija la monda pela Ay mija esa es la Monda ay mija la monda pela Una vieja no muy vieja le cayeron 24 y la chucha le quedo como bebedero de pato CORO Mija esa es la Monda mija la monda pela mija esa es la Monda mija la monda pela con la marimonda el mico sajiño y puercomana te escupo y rompo el jopo y te echo leche en la caga CORO Mija esa es la Monda mija la monda pela Ay mija esa es la Monda ay mija la monda pela Una joven se monto Encima de un carro de mulo Si se le parte la suele la vieja se parte el culo CORO Mija esa es la Monda mija la monda pela Ay mija esa es la Monda ay mija la monda pela A Rosalía me culie allá en el nueva granada la leche le vi correr como tierra en la quebrada CORO Mija esa es la Monda mija la monda pela Ay mija esa es la Monda ay mija la monda pela

tompower comments on Where can I get some information on Canada?

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/colombianosencanada/

tompower comments on Where can I get some information on Canada?

Many of the colombians I meet in the Toronto Area came to canada as refugees. MAny of them came through the USA. Ever since 9-11 illegals in USA had it really tough with no chance of ever getting legal status. It's a tricky process getting to the canadian border because if they are screened by american border first they get deported. There is a shelter in buffalo that many immigrants who are attempting to enter canada go to and they wait there as immigration canada works through the shelter for people to present themselves in order. Also, if the immigrant has family living in canada and able to present themselves at the border crossing when their family member arrives it makes the process smoother infact many I talked too believe if you have family that can meet you at the border you are assured of a place and ability to cross. I'm not nor were many of the colombians I've met really serious about the threat of returning to colombia they all seem to know how to present theri case to immigration and many seem to have been awarded residency. The best thing for colombians living illegally in the US trying to become refugees and enter canada is that once they enter they are given a hearing date which takes a long time years for many, but also they are given social insurance, and refugee id, they are free to work open bank accounts and exist as free citizens send children to school etc. With the process of appeals they could hang on for years before being deported or if they work hard with other colombians they could present a believable case and win their hearing. The one down side is it seems all of them are cut off from returning to colombia to see family,... that;s tough made tougher still because even after they receive residency many of them say that they still cant return until the 3 year mark when they achieve citizenship because refugees who make visits home to countries they flee many times are tried for fraud??!! Its a tough process but for an immigrant who's been living in limbo in the US for years Canada really is the place to go. I hope more colombians come to canada to let the pressure of Elmo in New York he's really suffering down there. Remember, we're all in this together. Tom Power

tompower comments on tompower

VERY VERY SOON!!!

tompower comments on Coming to Colombia

many great kernels of wisdom to be found here: http://poorbuthappy.com/elmodefoque/posts/

tompower comments on To Islas Rosario from Cartagena.

so you gonna come too? sloopskipper? we should have a PBH party in cartagena.

tompower comments on To Islas Rosario from Cartagena.

no no noi cg I took the land rout forget it. worse than hours on a boat. u and me we'll get a private lancha in laguito and leave later go straight to playa blanca, tomtom u commin?

tompower comments on To Islas Rosario from Cartagena.

Rosario islands are very safe and a women travelling alone need not worry. The way to get there is to just show up at the pier its called muelle pegasos like tomtom says around 8am and buy a ticket for the islas rosarios tour. There are many different lanachas and as they fill up they leave. Try avoiding the big boat alcatraz it takes a lot longer and there fore you spend more time on the boat and less on the islands. When I go I always ask to get on the lanchas Ketty 1 or Ketty 2 these lanchas are all engine they zip out there the fastest. The trip can be arduous because they stop at the fort at tierra bomba for gas , stop a playa blanca to drop off food(sometimes) then on to the island where the aquarium is, you'll have to pay the fee to get in there if you dont wanna just wait, then back to playa blanca for the beach then around 3 pm they'll head back. but stop again at tierra bomba for another break or lunch if you didn't have it on playa blanca. In my opinion the trip isn't quite like the booze cruises you'd see in mexico or other sun destinations. What happens is I think the lancha driver gets a cut from every where he goes so instead of just taking you to the beach at playa blanca for the day he runs the people around from one stop to the next making a little baakshesh here and there. If you'd like i'll be in cartagena from the 20th of january for a month, e-mail me and I'd love to go too. Remember, we're all inthis together. Tom Power

tompower comments on Religious Marriage Ceremony in Colombia

I got married in the catholic church to my wife. I didn't need to provide the typical documents a notary requires. I had to go to my catholic parish and have them send to the church in colombia's archdiocese my certificate of babtism, and a letter saying I was free to marry. However, the work wasn't easy because the priest in canada made me come twice to pray and otherwise waste my time. Then when we went my novia and I to the priest in the church in colombia he made us go back and forth to the arch diocese to get those letters from canada big hassle very frustrating, then her an I had to go to a weekend seminar for marriage two days 8 hours. Then we had to go to the church a few times and confess our sins. SO its probably more Hoopla than all the hassle of getting a notary to do the job. Oh and if your not catholic forget it you need to convert first no girl is worth that much trouble (weeks and weeks of praying and reading the bible)!! And as far as the best man being involved remember the whole show is in spanish and no matter what you try and do to put your touches on the day the ladies won't have a clue what your trying to do, better just let them do their thing and tell your guests that because of the cultural divide their gonna be sitting out today. Remember, we're all in this together. Tom Power

tompower comments on Coming to Colombia

hey nomad if you wind up in cartagena ill be there at that time I;m always hanging out on the beach in front of the caribe hotel.

tompower comments on colombianas in queens

tsk tsk, small details,.... dont bother the good man and let him continue with his GREAT WORKS!

tompower comments on colombianas in queens

GOD BLESS YOU u are a GOOD MAN!

tompower comments on Warning to you romantic gringos

Mr.Modefoque, The reason guys don't take your advice is because everyone thinks their girl is different. I thought my wife was different,... guess what? I was wrong. Pride and Arrogance is the mark of the gringo we do everything right! I can do this, it'll be different for me. She's special. NOPE. I failed and I am proud to say MR.MODEFOQUE you are right. I can't generalize here about colombian women because I'm a gringo noone likes me to say anything bad about colombia but you MR.MODEFOQUE are doing a noble job here warning others and ur the only expert here .KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK you going to be rewarded someday.God Bless You.

tompower comments on Things to do in Cartagena???

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

tompower comments on sloopskipper

when u gonna be in cartagena? nice fotos btw

tompower comments on Gringo Lessons from Sin Tetas no Hay Paraiso by Tom Power

one night i was with my wifes new cartagena friends a bunch of pretensious people living here in canada and she said "Tom show them some of your slang words that the black guys tell you on the beach in cartagena " so i said " cuando regreso a la casa voy a darla a mi mujer mi MUNDAH!" u coulda heard a pin drop. Those ladies never called my wife back. i think GRINGOS should be allowed to say what ever they want if were speaking in spanish they should be thankful and give us a little slack if we call a guy maldito or muerto de hambre i'm just repeating what i've heard i don't really know what it means. My wife says the old cheese I like to eat makes my breath pecueco and shes constantly worried about smelling of grajo. There's one for Elmo Grajo.,... armpit smell.

tompower comments on Things to do in Cartagena???

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.

tompower comments on ALL Inclusive???

oh i see from past post your already booked in, well there is some good about being in the decameron I stayed there on my first trip. Its nice enough and you'll save on booze and food. When I was there my friend and I met some girls from barranquilla and invited them to stay with us and it was a real GONG show trying to get the girls into the hotel, they made them feel like Hookers. It was hilarious my friend who's a real negotiator had a sit down with the manager and they argued back and forth for half hour my friend kept saying " be a man make a decision" The decameron sells a good deal to colombians and other south americans so the hotel will be packed with families who are pretty much trapped with you in the hotel lots of opportunities to wheel. However, any girls you meet outside the resort your gonna have to court outside the hotel. There's no wrong way to do cartagena every moment will be fun,.. count on it. Too bad ill be gone by the time u get there. remember, we're all in this together. Tom Power

tompower comments on Cartagena 29 janauary

dear wkarmani i will be in laguito from january 20 to feb 20 ill be renting an apartment as well if you want help when you arrive you can always find me on the beach infront of the caribe. Plan on spending 150,000 pesos per night for a 2 bedroom in laguito. The avianca website isn't good better to call and reserve flights by phone. I buy my tickets on travelocity. IM me if you need help. And yes you better not be a light weight when it comes to drinking!! remember, we're all in this together. Tom Power

tompower comments on ALL Inclusive???

get an apartment in laguito!!

tompower comments on Gringo Lessons from Sin Tetas no Hay Paraiso by Tom Power

in cartagena its chucha

tompower comments on Fiancee to Canada issues...advice urgently requested!

My apologies Ron ilooked into it and ur right a permaent resident can sponsor a spouse just like a canadian citizen,.... what are u waiting for?

tompower comments on Gringo Lessons from Sin Tetas no Hay Paraiso by Tom Power

oh and those girls know he's the man.

tompower comments on Gringo Lessons from Sin Tetas no Hay Paraiso by Tom Power

When a gringo meets a colombiana and takes her out and spends money on her I think he feels like she's impressed with how hes so rich compared to the average colombian but the point of the story is that we're not rich compared to the drug lords and they DO throw their money around. Sin tetas shows us a little humility when were out and about in colombia, that guy in the Land cruiser with the tinted windows he's the MAN not us.

tompower comments on 12 day trip to Columbia: Any advice on the best way to travel from Bogota to Cartagena to Medellin?

now ur talking sense!!!

tompower comments on Gringo Lessons from Sin Tetas no Hay Paraiso by Tom Power

albeiro is the name of catalina's boyfriend since she was 11.

tompower comments on 12 day trip to Columbia: Any advice on the best way to travel from Bogota to Cartagena to Medellin?

dear mr.leftside here's my 2 cents., I imagine ur taking the air canada toronto-bogota flight to get to colombia, maybe u live outside of vancouver. so on day one of ur trip ur gonna drive to the airport fly the 4.5 hours to toronto and have to spend the night because no flight can get u to toronto the same day as ur flight to bogota. U dont leave toronto till 2pm the next day so another day of travel u arrive too late to bogota to make any connection to cartagena so u overnight in bogota by the time you get to cartagena the next day u probably wont have any desire to go anywhere else. Just sit on the beach and rest your weary bones from all the travel. And prepare yourself for the return to canada ( its a long process catching that return flight to toronto, lots of line-ups and OH the humanity cramming on that toronto flight!!) I love colombia and i'm flying that same flight from toronto this month and i'll be staying in cartagena for a month and I'm going straight to the beach and no where else. You only got 12 days live like a king in cartagena for as many as you can. You'll come back to colombia guaranteed then u can maybe go to medellin or then maybe not just go back to cartagena,.. it's all there. Remember, we're all in this together. Tom Power

tompower comments on Fiancee to Canada issues...advice urgently requested!

RonDMC i just read your status,... are u a citizen or a permanent resident of canada? If you're not a citizen you can't sponsor anyone.

tompower comments on Fiancee to Canada issues...advice urgently requested!

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/canadians-how-to-sponsor-your-colombian-spouse/

tompower comments on Fiancee to Canada issues...advice urgently requested!

i was refering to catholic marriage anywhere in colombia, she and you need to prove ur baptised in catholic church or convert.

tompower comments on Fiancee to Canada issues...advice urgently requested!

the guy above is right about going to san andres, I married my wife in the catholic church and didn't need to provide a birth certificate or search of marriage to marry her in the church I did need permision from my parish in canada and a batisim certificate. If your not a catholic u could convert in colombia over a couple of weekends then marry her without anything more than a passport and get a marriage certificate that in spite of everything she says is as valid as a mariage with a notary.

tompower comments on tomtom33

you the man!!

tompower comments on 50th birthday adventure vacation

Maybe the people complaining about dirty water were swimming on the other side of boca grande the beaches in castillo grande face cartagena harbour and it is like the toilet of cartagena but the boca grande side from laguito all the way to boquilla gets a constant current from way out i cant imagine garbage floating all the way from jamaica.

tompower comments on Cartagena or Medellin

Hey tomtom, same with me five years ago I went to a brothel in Jaco and every girl there was from colombia it got me thinking. And yes the women are mostly dark in cartagena but there are thousands of girls in cartagena from places like medellin and cali looking for a gringo like you.

tompower comments on CARTAGENA NIGHT LIFE

Anyone know if this place is still open? La Carbonera I've been there a few times but they won't let me bring my colombian girl in. Even my wife. Because I think they have a problem with Old gringos with hot local girls. Anyone had the same experience or is it just me?

tompower comments on 50th birthday adventure vacation

Go to caribe hotel walk directly to the beach turn left i am there in one of those beach tents to your left you will recognize me because of all the vendors hanging around my tent, if you get to the rocks at the break water you've past me go back and ask for Turbaco Tom or just look for a big pile of beer. Remember, we're all in this together. Tom Power

tompower comments on

I'm gonna stay in laguito at an apartment I haven't made any reservations with anyone because I refuse to call and set it up in advance, all the guys i have ever rented from jack the prices up when they hear my gringo voice over the phone. This year I'm gonna bargain hard when i arrive. As far as sneaking out on my wife, i sent her back to colombia for good a couple of months ago, i'm not cut out for monotony sorry monogomy. I'm sure I'll be dealing with big drama when I arrive but NOTHING is getting in between me and LDV.

tompower comments on

Don't worry dogman i've already been to costco and got the bulk pack. .... and i'll use a whole bunch in your honour!!

tompower comments on Cartagena - from a culinary point of view...

ups i see u did mention the bongo del sinu,... man you've done it all.

tompower comments on Cartagena - from a culinary point of view...

El bongo del Sinu is a nice place everyone recommends them for their baby beef, I like the tejadas with suero (fried plantain chips with sour cream) they are located at the end of calle arsenault (The street where mr.babilla is) just before the bridge to manga. very near the club de pesca. Remember, we're all in this together. Tom Power

tompower comments on

hotter the better.

tompower comments on Cartegena base- looking for great snorkeling

that looks like a something I'd like to try

tompower comments on

I've just bought my ticket im heading down to cartagena on the 19th of january. i'll be there until feb 20th. I can't wait to get there. I'm gonna be a fixture down there on the beach.