Cartagena Reports

Here is some more info on the attacks:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/05/24/colombia.40.years.ap/index.html

Please be safe!

$Bill

Bombs in Cartagena this week? Anyone there right now? Tell us what's happening pls. Tourist areas affected?

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Hello,

I've been trying to figure out from reading previous posts but unsuccessfully where should I stay for more action (beach, parties, clubbing, safety) Bocagrande or Old City?

Also if arriving in July are hotel reservations recommended? Any good (chica friendly) mid-range hotel recommendations?

And finally I'd ideally want to get an apartment. Will be easy once we've arrived?

Thanks!

Sean

Stay in Bocagrande because the lodging will be cheaper than in the old city. Everyone in Cartagena knows that Bocagrande is Tourist Central. The happening clubs are in the old city.

Footprint's Colombia Handbook will be useful.

If you just want to hang out at La Dolce Vida then lodge near, or at, Las Velas.

You can go to the Gold Museum, then walk next door and buy a pair of happening gold cufflinks.

Ferolga

Sean EZ

The one bombing sounds as if it is not FARC related.

I will be in Cartagena 05/27/2004, and I will post what I find out!

hey how are the other spots in cart. la dolce will always be there what about that pick up spot in old town is that gone .yes please share about any trouble in paradise cuz of farc

There is a high season from about 6/15 to about 7/15. During that time reservations are a good idea.

Mr. Babilla's, Tu Candelas, and Giro Matto are some other clubs to try. They are all in or near the old city. B and Tu hop between midnight and 3. GM hops from 2:00 am to 5.

Dear people,

Regarding the concerns recently posted over the bombing in cartagena; I have come across some inormation that suggests that there was no bombing in Cartagena, hence the story as reported by CNN may not be completely accurate.

The following was posted by experienced travellers on a Colombia travel website:

"News

Author: ColombiaBoard | Date: Wed, 05/26/2004 - 10:58 | login or register to post comments

The whole story was false, it seems it was a brawl at a small fisher town 22 kms. away from the city and a boy was killed. The city Mayor (of Cartagena) denounced the report as false.

Cartagena is considered safe, that´s where the US-Colombia free trade agreement negotiations took place last week, with the usual anti-globalization protesters and now there are trade negotiations with european companies.

Apartado in a small town in the northwestern tip of Colombia, bordering Panama (for those who keep asking if crossing the Darien Gap is safe). That area is considered unsafe and therefore we always recommend not to attempt to cross the Gap."

Another report:

"Not Quite What Really Happened.

Author: Gator | Date: Wed, 05/26/2004 - 09:14 | login or register to post comments

Apparently the incident occurred, according to the police and reported on Radio Caracol, not in Cartagena as reported by the AP(what else is new) but outside the city. The death of a 18-year old in a billiard parlor happened in little fishing village, Arroyo de las Canoas, about 22 kilometers out of Cartagena on the hightway to Barranquilla. If you have made the drive and happened to sneeze at the wrong time you missed Arroyo de las Canoas. Population is 95% very poor black fisherman. A couple of reports now say there is every possiblity FARC/ELN was NOT even involved."

These reports were sourced from : http://www.poorbuthappy.com

Perhaps this is another case of the Western media over sensationalising the troubles in Colombia. However the prudent monger should always be careful and aware of their behavior and personal security, this is true whether you are travelling in Colombia, Thailand or Madagascar.

I wish you all safe and enjoyable travels.

Sean: Rent an apartment from Mery Salence. She is VERY reliable, trustworthy and speaks great English. PM me for her email address.

I also liked La Tripleteria which is about 200 feet from Tu Candelas in the old city. It is very much a pick up scene for free lancers and is more fun in my opinion than Tu Candelas. Also Tu Candelas only serves Heinekien beer as opposed to the awesome Colombian beers.

Bomb Explodes on Roof of Hotel Capilla del Mar in Cartagena yesterday. A friend who is there sent this:

Actually, one went off at 10:30 am thursday morning on the top of the hotel Capilla Del Mar in Boca Grande.I can verify this as i am in the building next door, and the blast awoke me from my slumber.Very quickly i might add.Other than a pair of soiled drawers,no damage on my part.The bomb was in a block utility building next to the pool on top of the hotelNo one was injured that i know of.There was some kind of Govt meeting going on there.I watched as they loaded the people on a bus and transported them elsewhere.Watched them inspect the damage from my balcony(approx 100 yards away)Will post some fotos when i return.My first bombing.Remember, this is Colombia.

Goes to show that while Cartagena is MUCH safer than the rest of the Country, it IS, after all, still a part of Locombia!


Do a google search to find the whole story.

Surfer

There was a suspicious device but it was detonated in a controlled explosion. This does not make it any better but it assumes there is some level of vigilence.

Take care


Latintraveller

05/31/04 01:00

Just touched down at LAX:

I was in Cartagena for four days, did not see anything that one would consider adnormal. this time my trip took me all over Cartagena, the mall, the ghettos, all over the city.

The only thing that was different this trip, I was riding on my friends motorcycle and we got stopped by the cops, found out I was an american and wanted 100,000 for not wearing a helmet, I laughed out loud and he settle for 2,000 pesos.

A friend of mind told me that he had heard that a bomb went off but he thinks that it is just a rumor, or they just do not know for sure what it was, he told me that they did close the the airport for two hours last week just as a precaution.

info deleted - see "General Info" Section for news info on killings

Gee Dollar Bill, thanks for the one man terror campaign. ;> )

Should I post this response only in the General section, or, should I respond in every section so that everyone can enjoy my jaundiced view of the world?


Cheerio,
Ferolga