Cartagena Reports

[Guilem G]

What's happening in Cartagena? The Cartagena newspaper "universal de Cartagena" is reporting many murders in the city, two of them in Laguito and another one in Centro historico?

Is the safety deteriorating in Cartagena? I'm suposed to be there next March.

[Zippy42]

Another profoundly accurate and detailed post on monger life in CTG, Hilltopper. Mirrors my experience with Tony also. You can work with Tony by either the carrot or stick method, and it takes work. But it is worth going to his beach area, I've got some wonderful memories of meeting chicas there, some via Tony. He will work for you to get the chica you want, only because he wants his 20K cut.

OTOH...one morning, when it was so windy that the beach was practically closed, Tony showed up on my hotel doorstep with a chica to pimp. The portero would not let him on the grounds of my apartment bldg. Needless to say that it was really annoying, especially since I was with a chica at that time.

Think of Tony as someone who can give you the opportunity for personal growth by generating the capacity to create boundaries, because, like a unruly child he will test all of your boundaries and probe for weaknesses, working his way to your wallet.

In my decades of travel, the only people who rival Tony are the touts of India. Unfortunately there are thousands of them! ("Hello my friend, how you doing!?")

I have known Tony for years, when he was skinny and would run down the beach chasing chicas for you. He can be a a nice asset to your trip , but as posted before, he will test your bounderies until he nows if you have game or not. I actually like Tony and no trip would be complete for me without spending some time on his beach. I have been to Tony's home and had dinner with him, his wife and I think 5, yes 5 kids. I never pay for a chair or cabana anymore and always bring my own beer in a cooler which Tony ices down for me, BUT, I always buy a bottle of Ron and give to tony for him and his boys to drink during the day. Took me 10 years to get to this point with him but he never trys to screw me over anymore. Just be forceful in the beginning , in a nice way and explain that you know how he runs his business and that you can help grow his business with word of mouth to your FUTURE Monger Buddies, and he will start to realize you know what you are doing.

[Soldierb11]

I totally agree with your assesment of Tony.

I met the guy years ago doing his thing.

Like you say, once you raise the BS flag at him and don't take his mierda, he kind of respects ya and he can be quite helpful.

I'm sure he's taken advantage and gotten away, with lots of tourists, so until he knows, that you know the game, he'll take what he can from ya.

Hey guys

I ran into several tonys on playa hollywood. Does anyone have a pic with the guy in it?

Thanks

[Gonzo]

Another profoundly accurate and detailed post on monger life in CTG, Hilltopper. Mirrors my experience with Tony also. You can work with Tony by either the carrot or stick method, and it takes work. But it is worth going to his beach area, I've got some wonderful memories of meeting chicas there, some via Tony. He will work for you to get the chica you want, only because he wants his 20K cut.

OTOH...one morning, when it was so windy that the beach was practically closed, Tony showed up on my hotel doorstep with a chica to pimp. The portero would not let him on the grounds of my apartment bldg. Needless to say that it was really annoying, especially since I was with a chica at that time.

Think of Tony as someone who can give you the opportunity for personal growth by generating the capacity to create boundaries, because, like a unruly child he will test all of your boundaries and probe for weaknesses, working his way to your wallet.

In my decades of travel, the only people who rival Tony are the touts of India. Unfortunately there are thousands of them! ("Hello my friend, how you doing!?")

Well, when it comes to Tony, as I've said on here before, he can be very helpful at times, but you have to continually remind him that he does not need to add his propina into the total price one owes him for renting a carpa, chair and buying beers.

[Paracite]

What is Cartagena like in mid-may (weather, collection of hotties, etc.)? I have heard there will be a lot of college hotties because of vacation, but not sure if that is true.

It looks like May is one of the rainier months, is it constantly raining and putting a damper on the party atmosphere?

[Ricker]

Atw, I can't disagree with you, LOL. I think that's the main reason I find those occasional days when Tony is absent from Playa Hollywood to be quite refreshing and relaxing.

A guy shouldn't and doesn't have to go to so much trouble. But alas, he is what he is and I do what I do when we're around each other to counter-balance some of his ways. While I'm far from being a control-freak, Tony is one of those guys that I have to find some form of leverage with or otherwise I wouldn't be able to tolerate dealing with him.

After being around him so much, I've reached a comfort zone that is manageable. I like him well enough for the effort he gives in seeing to it that I have what I want when I'm in Playa Hollywood and I do enjoy a few jokes and drinks with him when I'm in a light-mood. That being said, he certainly isn't the kind of guy I want to have over to a dinner party, LOL.

I certainly understand the reasoning of those who refuse to deal with him.

All the best.

I totally agree with your assesment of Tony.

I met the guy years ago doing his thing.

Like you say, once you raise the BS flag at him and don't take his mierda, he kind of respects ya and he can be quite helpful.

I'm sure he's taken advantage and gotten away, with lots of tourists, so until he knows, that you know the game, he'll take what he can from ya.

[Hilltopper]

Atw, I can't disagree with you, LOL. I think that's the main reason I find those occasional days when Tony is absent from Playa Hollywood to be quite refreshing and relaxing.

A guy shouldn't and doesn't have to go to so much trouble. But alas, he is what he is and I do what I do when we're around each other to counter-balance some of his ways. While I'm far from being a control-freak, Tony is one of those guys that I have to find some form of leverage with or otherwise I wouldn't be able to tolerate dealing with him.

After being around him so much, I've reached a comfort zone that is manageable. I like him well enough for the effort he gives in seeing to it that I have what I want when I'm in Playa Hollywood and I do enjoy a few jokes and drinks with him when I'm in a light-mood. That being said, he certainly isn't the kind of guy I want to have over to a dinner party, LOL.

I certainly understand the reasoning of those who refuse to deal with him.

All the best.

Hilltopper: That is far too much like hard work.

[AddictedToWomen]

Hilltopper: That is far too much like hard work.

[Hilltopper]

Hello, Hoser,

Hope all is well your way and that you have a healthy and prosperous 2010. Happy New Year to you and yours!

Well, when it comes to Tony, as I've said on here before, he can be very helpful at times, but you have to continually remind him that he does not need to add his propina into the total price one owes him for renting a carpa, chair and buying beers.

For example, on many occasions I've spotted a chica (typically she's with a group of friends) on the beach who attracts me and mentioned it to Tony. Even though he doesn't know the chica in question and has never seen her before, as soon as I mention to him that I find her attractive he'll almost immediately go approach the chica, say a little something to her and next thing I know she's walking over to me to introduce herself. I've learned to wait to inform him until I'm ready for some company, LOL.

These will be different chicas than the ones Tony has in his cell phone or has met before, or who are obviously there trying to make eye contact. Many times the chica in question has just arrived to Cartagena and is there vacationing for the weekend or has just arrived in Cartagena to make some dinero while on break from university or has come with the intent of making some dinero before going back to help out at home.

I've ended-up meeting and coming to know (in the biblical sense, LOL) many attractive, unhardened chicas by spotting one of interest and then asking Tony if he knows her. It does not matter that he doesn't know her, he will go up to her, say whatever he says, and she will be greeting or waving/smiling at you in a matter of a few minutes.

He's also been helpful when I've met a group of guys who are new or somewhat new to Cartagena and the group would like to meet chicas during the day, but are unfamiliar with where to look and don't speak much, if any, Spanish. I'll have them meet me or walk with them to Playa Hollywood and if there aren't any chicas around that day, Tony will get on his cell and within 45 minutes or so there will be more than enough chicas for the group. Doesn't matter that there are 4 or 5 guys, I'll just tell him to have 7 or 8 to come to the beach so the fellas can hopefully find a chica that vibes with them.

Doesn't matter if the chica or chicas who show-up don't interest you, just tell him that you don't have any interest and he'll be on the cell dialing some more to come meet his gringo friends, LOL. If you want, he'll also handle the dirty work of informing the chica who doesn't interest you that it is time for her to move on, LOL.

He's never asked me for propina for introductions. He typically gets 20 mil from the chica for introducing her to you. What he is notorious for doing is inflating what you owe him for beers, tent, chairs, etc. He'll inflate his math in counting the number of beers and price for various items. Many times the number he'll say you owe for your tab is based on what he needs to make that day. If it has been a good day for him, then his inflated math won't be as bad. If you're the only business he's had for the day and he needs to make some money, then his math invariably gets worse.

Early on in my trips to Cartagena, Tony and I would always get into a disagreement about what my tab comes to at the end of the day. I'd have to review with him the number of beers and other items times their individual price and then tell him that's all he is getting and oh by the way, since he wanted to inflate things, I wasn't giving him any propina for that day. I'd just say hey, you'll get some propina tomorrow if you don't try to gouge me.

Now that we've been around each other so much during the past few years, he usually just says "how much you giving me today" when I go to leave. If he's had a bad day, he'll try to ask me for a little more than what I hand him. If he's had a good day, he won't say anything other than "see you tomorrow, buddy. "

The other part about Tony that I've had to work on is when he gets my cell number or finds out where I or a group of guys I've introduced to him are staying. If he hasn't made any money and I haven't been to the beach that day, he'll call or drop by unannounced asking you if you are coming to the beach that day or if you can front him a little money and he'll "take care of you" tomorrow. You don't answer your phone, your cell will ring all afternoon, LOL. The best thing is to not give him your number or let him know where you are staying. With me, I got a SIM card from him for 10 mil so he knows the number, LOL, and he pretty much knows I stay in either one or the other building in Laguito when I'm in Cartagena.

I've had to tell him "not to drop by", be it my place or on others that I've introduced to him. On one occassion he still dropped by on a group of guys who didn't really know him without me being there and I had to really verbally tear in to him and let him know that I didn't appreciate it, that he needed to show more respect and not be so obnoxious, and that his doing so just cost him his propina. Hell, sometimes you feel like your dealing with an adolescent and you have to scold, punish, reward, teach lessons, etc, to encourage/discourage certain behaviours, LOL.

I know some guys can't stand him and won't have much, if anything, to do with him. He can certainly rub some people the wrong way, especially when it comes to his accounting and math. Me, he and I get along fine. I just let him know when his math is fuzzy and give him what I feel is fair, remind him that I prefer he act like he has some manners around me (he knows I don't praticually care for him shouting "fuck you". I tell him to save that language for the gringos who taught him that and to not to be loud with that language around families or me), and implement a reward/punish system based on his actions/behaviour.

Should a guy have to go to all that trouble, or does a guy have to go to all that trouble? The answer is a big "NO". That's just the way I choose to do it as I like the guy well enough and he does work pretty hard to make my time more enjoyable when I'm hangin' out at Playa Hollywood. He is what he is, and I enjoy some laughs with him and he's made some favorable introductions to me that I would have otherwise not known.

Hope our paths cross again some day down in Cartagena.

All the best to you,

Hilltoppper

Hilltopper, thanks for the great report on LDV. I agree that when you build some rapport, speak a little Spanish, and put on some aftershave, there's no need to pay 300-400K. (150K works for me) You are also a very nice guy so I'm sure that gets you extra mileage too.

I will say that one night over a year ago, LDV was packed with a team of Brazilian guys that were staying at the Hilton and the ratio was 3:2 guys. I'm very glad to hear that would be exceptional.

I know you have a good rapport with Tony, I'd like to hear your tilt on old T#1?

Thanks,

Hoser

[Manizales911]

Hey Manizales,

Did you go to pley club during December to find her? :P

Nope, I had other lands to conquer,sorry.

[CrazyColombian]

Hey Manizales,

Did you go to pley club during December to find her? :P

[Member #4258]

Hilltopper, thanks for the great report on LDV. I agree that when you build some rapport, speak a little Spanish, and put on some aftershave, there's no need to pay 300-400K. (150K works for me) You are also a very nice guy so I'm sure that gets you extra mileage too.

I will say that one night over a year ago, LDV was packed with a team of Brazilian guys that were staying at the Hilton and the ratio was 3:2 guys. I'm very glad to hear that would be exceptional.

I know you have a good rapport with Tony, I'd like to hear your tilt on old T#1?

Thanks,

Hoser

[Nyc Expat]

Has anyone met a woman in CTG named Belen aged early 50s. Looks early 40s, great body with a teenage son and four daughters, one of which a member has encountered and posted her on this thread. I knew her six years ago and was wondering if she's still playing her games.

[Fabone]

Well, I've basically been echoing people like Ricker for the past five years; I plan to keep doing so. He knows what he is talking about. If you've crossed out of the sweet spot of male demographics (18-35) and are finding the game a bit harder, investing some time in Spanish (or one of the other great mongering languages) will let you keep yourself in play for many years to come. Living a relatively healthy lifestyle does not hurt. I'm over 40 and young women flirt with and are generally curious about me when I'm in Cartagena.

I've never been in Colombia through Christmas, but I'm thinking about it. I'd figure everything is going to be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Any insights? I can't imagine LDV and many other venues are open in Cartagena on those days. At least, I'd guess the numbers of WGs is very low. I'm trying to decide if I should take up an offer to spend Christmas Day with a girl and her family (downside - no sex likely, implied promise of future together; upside - nice people, etc.). Right now, I'm thinking I'll just seduce some young mother looking to buying gifts for her kid; I know you can find these women around this time of the year.

You guys are excellent.

Guys,

The beauty of Colombia (Besides the obvious) is that Colombianas don't have the USA social programing holding them back. They don't have many of the same stupid beliefs like "Gross, he could be my father" or "Older guys who like young women are sick". That's a small sampling of the American BS that is circulating in our society's belief systems. Don't get me started.

I know girls in their early 20's who prefer older men and will NOT date guys less than 30+. True, true, true.

If you are in your 40s and above, work out, dress fashionably, speak Spanish and have a little animation in your game, you will bury the kids out there. I know first hand.

As to Christmas, I stayed about 3 years ago but stayed with my girl & her family. I did not go to any LDV type places so I can't verify your concerns but have to think you're right.

I had a great time, had plenty of booty and would definitely do it again.

[Mule69]

Hmmm. Scratch the "below 40" comment.

Basically, if you're generally a cool guy AND you speak spanish it's not that difficult.

I don't care if you're 21 or 55 or more even, if you can mix it up a bit with the chicas, make them laugh, speaking at least OK spanish, you'll do OK.

If you don't let age become a factor, and you have a young attitude, you'll be fine.

Good luck!

Es la verdad amigo! Spanish with an older guy versus zero spanish with a younger stud. My money is on the old player!