Cartagena Reports

[QUOTE=Hoser352]What's the odds of a very obvious gringo sucessfully driving in a rental car from CTG to Caracas? Would I have any problems on the way? I speak only the most basic spanish.

Hoser[/QUOTE]Man that's a long drive, and irregardless of Colombia, Venezuela is not exactly the friendliest and safest place to be driving, especially for a non-espanol speaking, obvious gringo, driving thru the no man's land between Maracaibo and Caracas.

Venezuela, the government, isn't exactly gringo friendly like Colombia.

I've had my share of trouble with unfriendly officials there.

Good luck.

[QUOTE=Hoser352]What's the odds of a very obvious gringo sucessfully driving in a rental car from CTG to Caracas? Would I have any problems on the way? I speak only the most basic spanish.

Hoser[/QUOTE]Sounds like a death wish.

[QUOTE=World Travel 69]Sorry to say LDV is the only place where you can meet a chica and do not have to worry toooo much about your things.

If you meet one on the beach go to a short time hotel. Such as the one near the Hotel Playa. See the List. Updates coming shortly.[/QUOTE]In my experience, I saw pretty much the same chicas working the beach during the day that I saw in LDV at night.

[QUOTE=Hoser352]What's the odds of a very obvious gringo sucessfully driving in a rental car from CTG to Caracas? Would I have any problems on the way? I speak only the most basic spanish.

Hoser[/QUOTE]Aside from concuring with the guys who think this is a bad idea, I'm wondering why you want to do this? Are you are interested in checking things out along the way, as a classic motor tourist?

You could rent a car and check out many places along the Colombian coast, with more safety than would have been possible, say, just a few years ago. However, there are some problematic places along the way and if you are traveling alone with little knowledge of Spanish, you are taking on some significant additional risk. If you break down in Cienga, it's not the same thing as breaking down in Santa Marta.

There are some great people and safe places to hang out between Cartagena and Rioacha, and I know at least one operator who could tour you around La Guajira, some of the Colombian coast is fantastic and worth checking out before it becomes over developed - there are streches of beaches on the far side of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta - just really wonderful natural stuff. But there are a lot of armed and desperate people out there.

Risky. And more so toward the border.

If I had to drive, I guess I'd try to befriend vacationing Venezuelans in Cartagena and head back across the border with them. Not sure if you could work that social engineering; esp. without Spanish. But, really, that's not much of a plan.

So, if your just trying to get to Caracas take a plane.

Here's a report which covers a different part of Colombia, but gives you a sense of what parts of the country can be like; be mindful that unlike this dude you don't speak much Spanish and it sounds like you can't "implement the pakman".....

"That one-second of eye-contact refined my take on Colombia"
[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showthread.php?p=740398#post740398[/url]

[QUOTE=World Travel 69]Did you not read my post about the taxies from the airport?Not to worry.

[url]http://www.internationalsexguide.info/forum/showpost.php?p=812262&postcount=361[/url][/QUOTE]
Yes, I read it. But I think that maybe you misunderstood my reply post to that tourist?
I wrote that if you pay 70k COP for a taxi in CTG, then the driver fooled you.
(I was talking to the guy off from the cruise boot)
I know how much a taxi costs in CTG: 5k for short rides like Bocagrande-Centro.

[QUOTE=World Travel 69]BP, right do not take any taxi off the street.
Read what we did. No problem.[/QUOTE]
I spent overall more or less 20-25 days in 4 times I went to Colombia (visited Bogota, Medellin and Cartagena). Overall, during my stays, I maybe took 50-100 taxies from the street, day and night (till 4am or so). (I am estimating about 2-3-4 taxi rides per day)
I never had a problem, except some overcharge (or attempt to overcharge me), neither anyone of people I knew had problems.

I don't say it is impossible to be robbed. I just say it must be not so common as it seems reading some posts here.

[QUOTE=Tom 33]Vector's statement was a little over the top, but your rose-colored glasses don't do any favors, either.

Taxis aren't dangerous in the tourist zone in Cartagena. But, when you try to expand that to all of Colombia, you are wrong. A friend was kidnapped by a taxista coming in from Rionegro in Medellín. Why do you suppose that natives call for taxis outside of the tourist zone? Why was I warned by Colombian friends about city buses being robbed in Cartagena recently? Why did my Paisa novia warn me to be careful at any ATM?
The FARC has been weakened, but they are far from gone. And you have the remnants of the AUC reorganizing. And then there are the gangs.
Natives know what to look for, we do not except maybe for Tung. The vast majority of readers here do not have Tung's experience. They ought to continue to be very careful. And avoiding bus travel between cities is prudent.[/QUOTE]Tom, I think your post is very balanced and I agree with you.
Rose-colored glasses may be dangerous. I was actually speaking about taxies in cities, not outside.
Besides that, you are right. Most readers here are not so experienced as Tung. Therefore, I invite everyone to be not naif when travelling abroad (that is, places where you are not used to).
I believe that the most dangerous places I visited in my last 5 years were not in Colombia but in USA (e.g., East St. Louis, crossed by car at night. I would NEVER go there on foot! Not to mention many areas in Washington DC, etc. etc.), but shit happens, so better be too prudent than sorry.

[QUOTE=Jelly Donut]Aside from concuring with the guys who think this is a bad idea, I'm wondering why you want to do this? Are you are interested in checking things out along the way, as a classic motor tourist?

So, if your just trying to get to Caracas take a plane.[/QUOTE]Thanks guys,

I guess it's no route 66. I had met some Venezuelan ladies in Curacao and they invited me to Caracas. I'd better fly. I hear even the airport is dangerous in Caracas!
Hoser

The officials in the airport in Caracas try to extort money from Americans and are nasty little fuckers, as is the majority of the Venezuelan people

I bought 2 bottles of Scotch from Panama airport on my way to CTG. I made sure at the duty free that I am allowed to take 5 one litre bottles.

On my arrival the CTG customs stopped me and after checking my bag he opened my duty free bag and (I don't speak spanish) with customs officers body language and word uno, I know he is telling me that I am allowed one bottle. And with my body language and a little loud voice I demanded to see a supervisor and within one second he let me go with a fear in his voice.

[QUOTE=MJG Dogs]The officials in the airport in Caracas try to extort money from Americans and are nasty little fuckers, as is the majority of the Venezuelan people[/QUOTE]Does not sound good, but everything is relative. Probably their salary is not high enough to make a living. This "extortion" and bribing is "normal" in some countries, for example in the FSU. When you have a family with kids there is no other way to feed them.

And if you compare to how money are taken from people in the USA, Venezuela sounds like a joke. Did you lose $100K-200K or more in Venezuela? Maybe they a little fuckers, but in USA people get fucked big time by big fuckers. It's interesting when you hear complains from guys of losing extra $50 in "3rd world countries" but at he same time they give out voluntarily $100K's to some real jerks in their homeland. I've given out more than enough.

Sitting at Riquisimos today and who do I see walking by looking for gringos. Tony! With the constant rain Hollywood playa is deserted. The roads are washed out all over Ctg. Guess Tony took it to the streets looking for clients. Same old same old at LDV. Wish it would stop raining! The flooding in all Colombia is terrible, many are suffering. Hopefully tommorow the sun will come out.

Mule

[QUOTE=Mule69]Sitting at Riquisimos today and who do I see walking by looking for gringos. Tony! With the constant rain Hollywood playa is deserted. The roads are washed out all over Ctg. Guess Tony took it to the streets looking for clients. Same old same old at LDV. Wish it would stop raining! The flooding in all Colombia is terrible, many are suffering. Hopefully tommorow the sun will come out.

Mule[/QUOTE]October is the worst month of the year for rain in Cartagena. Sometimes that spills over into November. Usually by the middle of December the rains stop until April or May.

I remember a couple of years ago wading down the streets of Laguito in water above my knees.

The rain in general has been difficult for the whole country over the last several years. Those landslides in the mountains are horrendous.

[QUOTE]All,

I'm a long time ISG subscriber and am very appreciative of all the useful information dispensed throughout this website. I'm heading to Colombia in late December/early January and will be traveling with a group of 5 buddies. Each of us are in our early 30's. It goes without saying that we're looking to have the best time possible. We have an apartment rented in Castillo Grande during the nights of December 28. January 2.

I've mongered throughout the world and I'm no stranger to the trade. However, there are some very experienced mongers on this thread and I'm hoping to get some feedback on how we should go about maximizing our time in Cartagena. If you had only 5 days/nights in the city, how would you spend it?

Where do we find the best beach action?

Should we arrange to hire a guide?

Is our mongering time best spent in the casas or in the discos?

Any idea where we should party on New Year's Eve?

Are there things you've done in the past that you might have done differently if given the chance?

Any useful info you care to share is certainly appreciated. Additionally, if you plan to be around during the time that we're there I'd be happy to hoist a pint with you.[/QUOTE]You hit the peak of the busiest season. There will be parties and people all over. All beaches will be packed. All clubs will be packed. Don't bother with a guide. I wouldn't waste time in any casa. If you can't score by midnight, head over to the LDV.

Lol. After you saw him walk by, he stopped by the building where I stay and had building security ring me up. I went downstairs and joked around with him a little. Of course, he hadn't eaten and hadn't made any money all day. Nor much for several days. So you know he asked, and for the first time ever I said ok and spotted him 25 mil pesos.

No, I don't expect it back, but given how well I've come to know Tony over the 7 trips in the past 13 months, I do expect to have to remind him when he goes to gouge me, LOL.

Mule, you and I probably bumped into each other yesterday at Riquissimo's. I stood outside smoking a cigar while waiting on my to-go order. We both shared a chuckle over the vendor who wanted to sell you some Winstons, LOL.

[QUOTE=Mule69]Sitting at Riquisimos today and who do I see walking by looking for gringos. Tony! With the constant rain Hollywood playa is deserted. The roads are washed out all over Ctg. Guess Tony took it to the streets looking for clients. Same old same old at LDV. Wish it would stop raining! The flooding in all Colombia is terrible, many are suffering. Hopefully tommorow the sun will come out.

Mule[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Hilltopper]Lol. After you saw him walk by, he stopped by the building where I stay and had building security ring me up. I went downstairs and joked around with him a little. Of course, he hadn't eaten and hadn't made any money all day. Nor much for several days. So you know he asked, and for the first time ever I said ok and spotted him 25 mil pesos.

No, I don't expect it back, but given how well I've come to know Tony over the 7 trips in the past 13 months, I do expect to have to remind him when he goes to gouge me, LOL.

Mule, you and I probably bumped into each other yesterday at Riquissimo's. I stood outside smoking a cigar while waiting on my to-go order. We both shared a chuckle over the vendor who wanted to sell you some Winstons, LOL.[/QUOTE]Fuck Tony, he has plenty of money in his matress from ripping off tourists.