Back to reality!!

[AlexG32]

Just got back today after spending 26 incredible days in Colombia.  My trip started in Cali but I also spent four days in Bogota, six days and five nights in Cartagena and a day and a half in Santa Marta.
It is amazing how different each of these cities are.  While in Bogota my wifes Godmother loaned us her car and I had my first driving experience in Colombia.  I met several Americans vacationing in Cartagena both at the hotel and at Plaza de Santo Domingo.  If anyone wants information about any of these cities let me know!!!

[colman]

... in response to Back to reality!!, posted by AlexG32 on Sep 3, 2002

Que Hubo Paisa? I am glad you had a great time. Where do you live in the U.S.? Listen I plan in the future of going to the coastal areas of Colombia, in my opinion the sweetness/humble/beauty of the Costenas are hard to match. I was in Pereira for about 1 month most recently in 1998. My question is what would be the peak-season in the coastal areas, so I would know when to go when its off-season--thanks in advance--Colman

[AlexG32]

... in response to Re: Back to reality!!, posted by colman on Sep 4, 2002

For San Andres and Cartagena the peak season is now but it ends here in the middle of September.  We got a great deal in Cali the Wednesday after we were married, with only two days notice.  We got a package which included tickets  from Bogota to Cartagena and returning to Cali.  We arrived in Cartagena Friday afternoon and left on Wednesday evening.
All meals, snacks, beverages and tipping were included as well as the city tour and the island tour.  I paid $318.00 per person which I think is a bargain.  One thing though is that we only ate dinner at the hotel once, the rest of the time we ate out at the Plaza De Santo Domingo.  When you go let me know so that I can give you some pointers about the city.  I also recommend going to Santa Marta it's only about 3.5 hours away by bus and it's well worth the trip!!!  My last trip I went to Armenia and also spent a little time in Pereira.  I really liked Pereira it's a clean organized town.  I live just south of Houston in Webster.

[bogota vet]

... in response to Re: Re: Back to reality!!, posted by AlexG32 on Sep 4, 2002

Yes ther a lot of American milatary in Cartagena, what a great tour of service. I meet one of them on a Avaianca flight there.  They are there to train the Colombian army.

Clean , white, American soldiers, they are getting so much action from the Colombian,  They are in heaven.
Most had no idea of the women in Colombian.  But the military guy said he already has two friends married now to Colombiam girls.
The women, FARC's, the secret weapon to crush our military

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Back to reality!!, posted by bogota vet on Sep 5, 2002

Ahhh...but what a way to be crushed. My friend who was kidnapped near Popoyan for a while said the greatest torture was having to watch the ELN guerrilla chicas showering and not being able to join them.

[colman]

... in response to Re: Re: Back to reality!!, posted by AlexG32 on Sep 4, 2002

Paisa, did you check out the "viaducto" that linked Dos Quebradas to Pereira. Hey paisa not that I want to make fun of Pereira but do you know that old joke with Pereirana women?--lol, God those Colombians could be so hodidos--lol--anyway-thanks, and I will let you know when I plan on going for those pointers.  Armenia, Risaralda and Quindio use to be all part of Antiquia departamento--so naturally my mother and her side of the family consider themselves "paisas".  --Colman

[mudd]

... in response to Back to reality!!, posted by AlexG32 on Sep 3, 2002

what was Cartagena like, and how attractive were the women, short, tall, thin, a little chubby, freindly, overly friendly, standoffish?? how were they compared to bogota and cali?

[AlexG32]

... in response to Re: Back to reality!!, posted by mudd on Sep 3, 2002

Cartagena is a great city, very modern in places and very old and rustic in other places. The women are attractive and are friendly, as well as cordial. The big difference is their skin is darker on average than the women of Cali and certainly darker than the women of Bogota. I saw alot of young American Military guys and gals during the evenings when my wife and I would go to dinner at the Plaza de Santo Domingo. The one thing that bothered me most about Cartagena are the street vendors, they are RELENTLESS! There are several restaurants in the plaza and each eatery has a certain number of tables and the waiters try and get you to sit at their place. If you go the place I recommend is La Bastilla Bistro and Bar. They have excellent Calmari, the best in the city in my opinion. The service is outstanding and the food is great. We ate there four out of the six nights we were there. The owners are an American and a very nice guy from Cali. One night we ate at Palo de Carbon or something to that effect. They have private balcony seating on the second floor overlooking the plaza. The food is not that great and the service is worse.
We paid 34,000 pesos for a plate we would have paid 12,000 pesos for in Cali. On the last day of our trip we ate at La Vitrola which is one if not the most elegant restaurant in Cartagena. Their breadsticks are great but the food was nothing special. Lunch for two which included an order of Calamari a plate of Ropa Vieja for my wife, pasta for me two beverages and a superb Tiramisu cost me 90,000 pesos. One thing to note is that the tip is included in most if not all of the restaurants in the plaza. I wish I could elaborate more on the women of Cartagena, but seeing that I was on my honeymoon....you understand...

[mudd]

... in response to Re: Re: Back to reality!!, posted by AlexG32 on Sep 3, 2002

young american military???what in the H**l are they doing there? i can understand about not looking too much at the women :-) . thanks for the info though.

[JeffA]

... in response to Back to reality!!, posted by AlexG32 on Sep 3, 2002

Okay, I'm officially envious. We won't be able to go back  until next Christmas at the earliest. Glad you had a great time, and please fill us in!

[AlexG32]

... in response to RE: lucky guy..., posted by JeffA on Sep 3, 2002

Thanks N/T