Planet-Love.com Searchable Archives

I am considering spending several months soon in LA, and have gotten an excellent price quote to Caracas from Madrid. I've been to Mérida, Venezuela, and would love to go back for a while. San Cristóbal, a fairly big city, is not far away. In order to do a little visa-extension dance, I am toying with the idea of taking a bus and spending a few months in Bucaramanga and/or Cúcuta. Is this a death wish, taking a bus there? Better to fly? It is only 75 miles from San Cristóbal to Cúcuta or Bucaramanga, I forget which. What would be the cost of renting a room for a few months in these cities? Opinions? Experiences?

... in response to Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, Colombia, posted by Bueller on May 5, 2001

Bueller - about a year and a half ago I had a Colombian girlfriend who was living in Caracas.  She had to go back to Colombia to obtain another visa to be in Venezuela.  So I went with her.  She has family in Cúcuta and it is right over the border from Venezuela.  We took a bus from Caracas.  The bus ride was alot more comfortable than I initially thought it would be and I seem to remember it took around 10 hours.  It was a Mercedes coach type bus.  I remember the bus ride actually ends at San Cristóbal.  From there we hired a car/taxi to take us to San Antonio which is right across the border from Cúcuta.  Of course the country is beautiful because you are getting into the Andes. I remember we were delayed for awhile between San Cristóbal and San Antonio because there was a bicycle race.  It was hilly, mountainous country and I think the ride was about an hour.

As far as the Cúcuta - San Antonio area for a destination area to stay a few months.  The whole area is fairly good sized so it is not like going to a small pueblo, but then again, it is not like going to  a city like Cali.  I would hazard to guess the population is around 50K. I have been trying to remember the name of the hotel we stayed at.  I kind of liked it.  It had nice grounds, nice pool and the rooms were cabana style but good sized.  I think we paid around $80/day with breakfast and it was around a 3 star so it was a little on the expensive side.  I heard that Cúcuta also has a 5 star also.  You are not going to see many, if any gringos around there.  I was there a week and I did happen to see a gringo on the plane back to Caracas and from the brief conversation I had with him, he was living in Venezuela and had married a local.  Cúcuta is a hot climate and it lies in a valley along a river so the surrounding scenery is nice.  From what I understand from talking to some people, this area is kind of a tourist destination for some Colombians.  If you like kind of back water places where the people are not terribly sophisticated versus big city people, you will enjoy it.  I enjoyed my time there and I got to know her family, who were really nice, good people. The food is good, the cerveza is cold and there is good dancing. However, I met a Spaniard, Francisco, who had lived in Caracas many years and was pretty well off with a few businesses.  He told me he hated when he had to go to Cúcuta for business.  He used to stay at the same hotel I stayed at and I think the whole Cúcuta scene compared to Caracas was not what he liked.

I do not know anything about Bucaramanga.

Now, could I stay there for 2 months or so?  I am not sure, because in that time I am sure I would want to go out into the country.  That could be dangerous, at least for sure on the Cúcuta, Colombian side.  You can probably go out into the country over on the Venezuelan side, but you might have to watch crossing the border back into Venezuela many times through San Antonio.  We did it many times without a problem, but I think that technically, you are supposed to have your passport stamped, etc.

If you speak Spanish, let me know if you decide to go because I may be able to put in touch with some people who can give you more information and maybe help you if you go there.

Cúidate.

... in response to Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, Colombia, posted by Bueller on May 5, 2001

IMHO you got elephant grapefruits.  Sorry to be so negative on such a positive and worthy mission but I looked at that photo from Bucaramanga of dead young rebel guerillas on AOL last week and it made me sick. Their civil war reminds me of news photos that came out of Vietnam. Sorry but that's my sorry opinion.  Good luck.

... in response to Re: Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, Colombia, posted by buzzy on May 5, 2001

Yea Buzzy it was reminisant of Nam. Much like Nam except the end, most of the Armed Conflict happens in the Jungle(country side), not in the cities.

I think if one is contemplating going to Colombia, they need to balance their decisions based on how determined they are to find a wonderful loving wife, with a personal time frame, against the percieved risk. Once one listens to the trip reports and the amount of guys going, then one can see that risk exists, but it is low compared to the reward.

I'll admit that before my first trip the risk of danger loomed large in my mind. And yea the Fear was huge that first trip. After my first trip I think one realizes that the perception of danger is actually worse than the actual chances of danger. Once one has done that first recon mission and met some wonderful ladies and makes up their mind if this is for them or not, then the lure of knowing 'The Right One' is there somewhere is stronger than the fear of danger.

This is certianly not for everyone. The are loads of risk trying to find Love in this venue. And for each individual it's a matter of wieghing all the factors before making any decisions. As an aside, I have met a few guys on the planes going over that had no clue, they saw pretty faces on a web site and bought a ticket. They seemed to do fine from what I could tell. So sometimes I suppose it's possible to Analyze till we're Paralyzed.

But in the End, each guy should do what he feels he can handle. And it's all ok.

Regards, Houndog    

... in response to Re: Re: Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, Colombia, posted by Houndog on May 5, 2001

Dear Sirs:

  I got an life insurance policy before I left.  It dos not hurt to be prepared for the worst, but pray to God for the best.  I expect to be safe and sound during this third and last venture to Cali.

                                Larry in Dallas

... in response to Re: Re: Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, Colombia, posted by Houndog on May 5, 2001

As always Houndog you are right-on.  I tend to experience analysis-paralysis these days.  In my earlier days I never batted an eye.  I would go to Lima in a heart-beat.  All I needed was the time and plane ticket..and some beer and hotel money of course.  My family thought I was crazy.  I was close to  four bomb explosions by the Shining Path...did that stop me from returning?   Heelll no! When that policeman took my shoes and I had to walk to my hotel barefoot did that stop me?  Heell no!  I was hooked on the experience of adventure...and Peruvian ladies of course.  One of those bombs went off in front of my hotel, it was a small one thank goodness but the noise frightened the kigibbers out of me.  I've been pretty lucky in my travels.  But I have this sneaking suspicion that my luck has run out.  Hence my relunctance.  When I was in Caracas about two years ago I stayed at a mid-price hotel located in downtown near the Metro subway.  After about three days of partying I decided to rest  on a  quiet Sunday night.   I left my room to talk with the night manager on duty.  I approached and asked, "Say..what's it like here..in this neighborhood...is it safe here?  The desk manager turned his head looking  toward the clock on the wall and said," Well...just about this time last Sunday night this hotel was taken over by five armed thiefs." I said, "Say what?"  He went on to tell me that on the previous Sunday afternoon two male guests checked into the hotel.  At 11:00 P.M they came down from their room armed with some big weapons.  They unlocked the front door and let in three more armed bandits.  They tied everyone up, ransacked the office, took all the safe deposit box contents..and all the computers and other equipment .......and then ate dinner in the restaurant for about an hour.  He said that they never went above the plaza floor.  The guests never knew what was happening.  My stomach turned.  I felt completely vulnerable and nauseous .  I asked him about assistance from the Caracas police.  He looked forlorn.  He said that they are so underpaid that they would not arrive until the thieves are gone.  He went on to tell me that while waiting for a bus late one night the police stopped and robbed him of all his money including money for the bus.  He pleaded but to no avail.  That's civil protection in a foreign country. I didn't sleep very well that night.  You might think that the manager was trying to scare  a gringo but I read his body language as he related the experience and he was not lying!  Plus it explained why the entire staff had that eerie look on their faces at check-in when I requested a security box.  There were none!  Because the thieves had destroyed them!  Of course they failed to tell me that part of the explanation.  HaHa!...Oh well.

... in response to Re: Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, Colombia, posted by buzzy on May 5, 2001

Please post the link for the Bucaramanga photo.

... in response to what photo?, posted by Michael B on May 5, 2001

I'm sorry but I don't know the link.  I belong to AOL and I check the international news daily.. especially on Colombia.  It was a photo 1 1/2 to 2 weeks ago of a battle where fourteen or more FARC rebels were slain by the Colombian army.  They  lined them up next to one another on the ground.  It was a horrifying site to see these young men and women dressed up in military fatigues laying on the ground dead.