Cartagena Reports

[Npaul1]

Alot of girls with tatoos, just for the money. a couple years ago the girls were more non-pros.

[Surfer]

Zippy:

IMHO Cartagena has become better for real estate speculation (45% annual appreciation is bandied about) than mongering. Your observations confirm the sad state of LDV and how preciptious its decline has been. What a change from just 2 or 3 years ago. Hope you'll show Nextrip places outside Laguito so he gets a better sense of Colombianas (though he got some good ones in Medellin last time).

This change is happening in Medellin now too (though not quite to the xtreme as in CTG). Even in Cali, the novelty factor (of being a gringo)is wearing off. Gotta get further and further away from the famous cities to find las Colombianas verdaderas.

[Zippy]

I was in LDV Sunday night and there were WAY more gringos than chicas. It was a very sad state of affairs. The other 2 nights I´ve been there in the last few weeks the girl/guy ratios were poor, chica attitudes (in general) were terrible, and I personally talked to several newbie Cartagena mongers fresh from places like the DR and Costa Rica who were happily paying 250,000 COP for toda la noche. I just listened in disbelief as they bragged about how smart they were because they negotiated the fees down from 500,000 COP.

I´ve been mostly avoiding LDV this trip since any chica OF QUALITY (and I emphasize "of quality" because throughout LDV´s existance you can always bank on the fact that on any given night 20-50% of the chicas will be way past their prime, overweight, or just plain fea) will try to get 150-200 COP short-time (or more for toda la noche). You can possibly get the "lower end of the spectrum" chicas for the low prices but I wouldn´t do them for free so it is irrevelent information for me.

In a few short years, LDV went from a quality mongering establishment to where it is now- WAY overrated! You get little value for the money you spend there.

So what is the alternative if you are looking for a freelancer-type disco bar in Cartagena? While Cartagena is only a mediocre mongering destination, your best bet is to get out of the gringo cocoon of Laguito and hit La Trippelitera en La Ciudad Vieja. During this trip, the chicas were overall cuter at La Trip, their attitudes were about 1000% better, you´ll usually find a more favorable chica/gringo ratio and you should be able to negotiate the 100,000 toda la noche rate. I´ve had several nice experiences there this trip. There is a 10,000 (about USD $4) exit fee if you leave with one of the chicas (although I found it easy to talk your way out of paying the fee if your Spanish is strong enough).

[Tom 33]

The raids are normal. In Feb. of 2003 the police came in followed by TV cameras rolling. All the girls were checked for ID. No guys were asked for anything.

Pricing does vary with demand, but my guess is that the 80-100K was for short-time.

[TheShadow2]

Otown51,
Can you give us more details on the prices you're quoting for LDV? If accurate, that is quite a development. It's been a while since anyone reported an LDV girl going anywhere for 80,000, or 100,000 for TLN.
Is this an average, or was it just one chica one time?
I've had a regular girl my last 4 trips or so, but from all the reports here of rising prices, this is very interesting...

[Otown51]

Anyone hear anything? a friend was in LDV on friday, he said DAS and the police started video taping & took photos of all the chicas there along with searching for drugs or other illegal items. Did not bother the men. It is still a buyers market 80,000 - 100,000 TLN.

I will post fotos when I return to the states.

[Freshc]

Many thanks Gonzo, Treeshark and Phoenix! Your feedback is much appreciated. I think I might invest in that language course.

[Xion149]

Your vote for most luxurious?

Where would you film your porno?

Gracias

[Jelly Donut]

I have had SEVERAL LDV girls say not to hang outside there by the fountain (my favorite place because I cannot tolerate the smoke inside for more than 5 minutes, plus with a clear view of the exit you can see EVERY chioca coming and going).

Surfer - The benches out LDV are great. I like them for those exact reasons. I don't understand why it would be more dangerous to hang out there than inside LDV. It seems like a lot of people do, even the chicas. Did the girls give you any reasons beyond the guys packing heat?

One thing I have seen is a drunk ex-customer come along and start verbally abusing with one of the girls on a bench. He was annoying, breaking up a nice chat with the hookers over coffee in the plaza. I was very tempted drop him in the fountain - he was twice as drunk as me and half my size. But, yeah, "I've seen better men than me killed by a small pistol".

Anyway, I don't understand why it's more dangerous there. During the first election this year, I was in LDV and an entire military patrol came sweeping into the place. Automatic rifles at the ready. That was illuminating. It got me thinking it might be safer outside.

[Cachorro]

Surfer makes a good point.

Did you ever stop to think about the reason the other Colombians tried to calm things down? They know from experience how brutal it could get. Better some kind words and smooth things over than somebody ending up dead. If the outcome was just going to be some shoving or a fist fight (as in other countries), most people would just let it roll.

Yes, I guess you could say the guy was wrong to target your girl. But in my opinion, it's a serious lack of street smarts to try and escalate it and to want to "right that wrong". If it turns into a violent confrontation, who exactly is going to jump in to help the spoiled-ass gringo who went looking for it in the first place? On the other hand, someone might well jump in to help the Colombian guy.

Most Colombians are great people, but there are definitely some bad dudes in the mix.

yes, i did get pissed off, when I got hit without any warning and when when some asshole throw a water balloon filled with soap, or shaving cream hitting my novia in the eyes, stinging the hell out of them. i did confront the asshole, but other people pushed him away, and apologized to me, for they were too were embarrassed. Nobody threatened me, nobody pulled a gun.. they understood. maybe my esteemed collegue Surfer, would have thought well, the presence of a gringo , must have provoked them, maybe it is Israel's or america's fault..., and would have not been angry at the balloon thrower. Maybe he would have used the Bill clinton approach, " feeling their pain". sorry, but I don't play that game. The guy was wrong to target a 5'0 100 spinner.. hit me, target me, but don't hit her.

Nobody threatened to put me into the morgue and nobody wanted to bust a cap into me, the statement in the previous post, only contributes to the myth about how violent all colombians are.. What bullshit. I probably would have had a more hostile confrontation if I were an american flag bandana while walking on the streets of san francisco, berkeley or in marin County.

there is also a third parade the night before, right by the hilton....

I have not seen a single civilian carrying a piece during my times in Cartagena, only Guards, police and military, whom would be forced to disarm and wear beads if they were in the Bay Area. I did see a few in Cali.

[MJG Dogs]

Dogs: Actually, several of my closest friends are Republicans (one is Jewish, as is my law partner) and OF COURSE I did not "advocate" you getting shot because of your political views. It was a tongue in cheek comment in response to your macho attempt to belittle my suggestion that you NOT duke it out with Colombianos if you value your life, nothing more.

I will give my opinion again: making enemies in Colombia is NOT a smart thing to do, and for your sake I urge you to back down, rather than escalate, the next time you consider starting a fight. Life is cheap there.

Finally, Jackson has asked people on BOTH sides of the political divide NOT to abuse his forum by getting off topic and I have tried to heed his request. However, when my views (or city) are belittled I will respond. Your suggestion that he has censored conservatives posts but not liberal ones is unfair to him.

Now let's get back to discussing mongering in Cartagena.

Surfer;
Ok, I accept your olive branch, life is cheap in a lot of places on this planet.

I will be in CTG on 17 Aug until 28 Aug. Novia is staying in Rome, so I am free to do as I please. I am going to document my trip like an anthroplogist and study everything and write a detail summation upon return. I do want to write a psychological profile of LDV and of course of the Mr. Haney of the tout beach aka: Tony the Tout.

[Phoenix Phx]

I hadn't thought of going to Cartagena before untill I looked at this forum. It looks like the kind of place I'd like to go to! :-) Some general questions:

1) I speak English only. Is this a serious problem? It seems that knowing some Spanish is essential.

2) From some reports, it's not clear to me if the girls are pros or not? Some reports suggest just hanging around outside resturants is a good place to pick up girls? Are these normal girls or are they looking for work?

I was just there and I would advise you know at least some conversational Spanish. Check out the Pimsleur CD's, you can absorb a lot in just 30 - 60 minutes a day.

[Treeshark]

I hadn't thought of going to Cartagena before untill I looked at this forum. It looks like the kind of place I'd like to go to! :-) Some general questions:

1) I speak English only. Is this a serious problem? It seems that knowing some Spanish is essential.

2) From some reports, it's not clear to me if the girls are pros or not? Some reports suggest just hanging around outside resturants is a good place to pick up girls? Are these normal girls or are they looking for work?

Personally I think that your complete lack of Spanish would be a serious problem. I would suggest that you go to Costa Rica instead. It seems like everyone there knows some english.

[Surfer]

Dogs: Actually, several of my closest friends are Republicans (one is Jewish, as is my law partner) and OF COURSE I did not "advocate" you getting shot because of your political views. It was a tongue in cheek comment in response to your macho attempt to belittle my suggestion that you NOT duke it out with Colombianos if you value your life, nothing more.

I will give my opinion again: making enemies in Colombia is NOT a smart thing to do, and for your sake I urge you to back down, rather than escalate, the next time you consider starting a fight. Life is cheap there.

Finally, Jackson has asked people on BOTH sides of the political divide NOT to abuse his forum by getting off topic and I have tried to heed his request. However, when my views (or city) are belittled I will respond. Your suggestion that he has censored conservatives posts but not liberal ones is unfair to him.

Now let's get back to discussing mongering in Cartagena.

[Ticasonar]

Gonzo,

Did you go anywhere else in Colombia? Where was your favorite? What is your spanish speaking level? Have you mongered long? I know you have to keep your wits about you in Colombia, but did you consider it safe? Will Colombia be a fun time for a noob monger? What type of girl did you normally go after? Ie - casa / programa / SG Where did you stay, eat, etc?

Thanks,

Ticasonar