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Post by gallito on Jun 29, 2016 20:21:02 GMT -5
Rodadero is party central;when it's vacation time the place is overrun with partying Colombians - drunk as a skunk.Boom boxes pedal carts and paid beach gatherings;it borders on tacky,vendors and impromptu concierges who throw a bunch of plastic seats on the beach beside a boom box;guaro and rum fuelled debauchery.When the wind whips the sand off the malecon it feels like your being sandblasted. No gracias I'll stay further up the beach;peace and quiet;a cooler of cold bevies under the carpa is a few steps away.Head to Rodadero,a bite and party hardy at Escolleras disco bar.
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Post by billforce on Jul 21, 2016 20:55:59 GMT -5
Santa Marta is the ugliest, dirtiest place I've ever visited in Colombia but Rodadero although it may be a part of Santa Marta but like night and day difference, clean, infrastructure is well laid out and the restaurants are top notch. You couldn't pay me to go back to Santa Marta, it looks like it's been "bombed". While walking behind our guide in downtown Santa Marta you couldn't even walk on the sidewalks from all the debris, like walking through a mine field. We stayed at Costa Azul Resort some 14 miles from downtown Santa Marta and it was a pleasant experience for us, good food, clean, great wide and clean beach. We did stay in the newer section of the resort though.
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Post by ozgringo on Oct 11, 2016 18:54:28 GMT -5
The problem with Santa Marta is it's filled with Paisas. At least in Cartagena you get a "little" more refined Colombian i.e Cachaco
Has anyone ever been to Tumaco in the Nariño Department?
My wife and I had lunch with someone from Tumaco yesterday and she said the FARC, ELN and Los Rastrojos are back to business as usual after the No vote. Our friend said it's not safe for a gringo to go there.
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Post by caliconnection on Oct 11, 2016 23:28:47 GMT -5
Tumaco isn't too safe at the best of times. Definitely not now. If you are in Narino, you are better off driving to Ecuador for the coast. I know Narino very well. There is a reason why there are buses/vacation weekends from Pasto to Atacames and not to Tumaco.
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Post by sphere on Jan 6, 2017 9:56:23 GMT -5
Hi everyone, I have been so far in Bucaramanga, Santa Marta, Cartagena, and juste arrive in Barranquilla. For the town/place actually i want to be near the sea (climate way better for me than inside the country or in mountains/valleys), and well i am not a big fan of touristic places, like Santa or Carta, not to mention everything goes crazy prices for hollydays and high seasons. So i choose Barranquilla. But i'm really struggling to find a place at reasonable price (<500 usd let's say 1.5 M COP), and private and quiet ! That's the big issue in south américa (well in USA or Europe too, i got some bad habits in Thailand where you find very easily a good place, no problem for monthly rental with no tons of garanties, actually none are requested in Thailand, and they do good business, never had a issue). Just saying, too, that it's a big problem for every non-tourist ! Travellers, expats, the web is full of reports about how really hard it is here in Latin América and Colombia... To find a place on monthly rental, not to mention a quiet place So... Any contact ? Any website ? AirBnB is gringo prices. Did not see any apparthotel offering monthly prices. Looking for any appart or house not shared, with a bed and wifi at least, monthly rent, QUIET (no big road, no bad windows inside a building, happens to me in Buca), 1.5 M cop max, no deposit (i mean i do not plan to loose it, with can be very easy). I'm serious, i can give "garanties" by taking or references in France. Kind of desesperate now, a quiet place is a vital base for me. Did not find ANY. Same in hotels. Help appreciated I know my best chance is via a local, but being tired and not speaking spanish, it takes time. And : any other forum with expats, or point/place/bar of rendez-vous / meeting ? For Barranquilla. À bientôt, Sphere.
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Post by caliconnection on Jan 6, 2017 14:10:27 GMT -5
You want quiet and you ended up in Barranquilla?
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Post by gallito on Jan 6, 2017 22:25:04 GMT -5
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Post by gallito on Jan 11, 2017 21:01:21 GMT -5
So... Any contact ? Any website ? AirBnB is gringo prices. Did not see any apparthotel offering monthly prices. Looking for any appart or house not shared, with a bed and wifi at least, monthly rent, QUIET (no big road, no bad windows inside a building, happens to me in Buca), 1.5 M cop max, no deposit (i mean i do not plan to loose it, with can be very easy). I'm serious, i can give "garanties" by taking or references in France. Kind of desesperate now, a quiet place is a vital base for me. Did not find ANY. Same in hotels. Help appreciated I know my best chance is via a local, but being tired and not speaking spanish, it takes time. And : any other forum with expats, or point/place/bar of rendez-vous / meeting ? For Barranquilla. À bientôt, Sphere. Scan the apartment rental ads in >> www.metrocuadrado.com/apartamentos/arriendo/barranquilla/ www.icasas.com.co/arriendo/residenciales-apartamentos-economicos-atlantico-barranquilla-2_1_5_11_0_0 Shared houses and rooms >> www.compartoapto.com/Join; a public Facebook >> www.facebook.com/groups/Barranquillaexpats/Join;a local Meetup group;these group meetups are a good place to connect with locals,beneficial if you plan to stay.Pick groups that interest you;language groups... www.meetup.com/Barranquilla-Language-Exchange-Meetup/ www.meetup.com/cities/co/barranquilla/
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Post by elexpatriado on Jan 12, 2017 7:18:36 GMT -5
I wouldnt say Santa Marta is a touristic city. Its an ugly city. You find 2 places next to Santa Marta which are touristic places: - Rodadero - Taganga All the tourists stay there, nearly nobody stays in SantaMarta itself. Bucaramanga its ugly. Stay in Giron, a beautifull colonial village next to Bucaramanga. Actually not quite true. The historical distrito nearcel centro is quite lively at night with bars and restaurantes, street musicians, lots of backpacker type hotels and hostels.Staying in One right now for 90 mil a night for 2 people. Not as Good. A deal as in Pereira but ok.
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Post by gallito on Jan 12, 2017 19:27:28 GMT -5
I wouldnt say Santa Marta is a touristic city. Its an ugly city. You find 2 places next to Santa Marta which are touristic places: - Rodadero - Taganga All the tourists stay there, nearly nobody stays in SantaMarta itself. Bucaramanga its ugly. Stay in Giron, a beautifull colonial village next to Bucaramanga. Actually not quite true. The historical distrito nearcel centro is quite lively at night with bars and restaurantes, street musicians, lots of backpacker type hotels and hostels.Staying in One right now for 90 mil a night for 2 people. Not as Good. A deal as in Pereira but ok. Elex is correct,SM historic zone has gone trough a renaissance,nothing like Old Town Cartagena. Accommodations are still affordable;a good mix of hostels and cool boutique hotels...this area is a quick escape from El Centro gong show.
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Post by wildstubby on Jan 12, 2017 19:35:25 GMT -5
I attempted to get into the Casa de Isabell and the Casa de Leda but both were booked solid. When I checked out the Casa Carolina, I did a Google search of the area and found it to be a little sketchy around the neighborhood. I remember walking by it when I was at the Parque de Novios and knew I was correct in my assumption. Ultimately I stayed at the Tamaca Resort in El Rodadero. It had a nice pool, convenient beach, and a good breakfast buffet. It was also close by to night life there.
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Post by gallito on Jan 12, 2017 19:58:52 GMT -5
I attempted to get into the Casa de Isabell and the Casa de Leda but both were booked solid. When I checked out the Casa Carolina, I did a Google search of the area and found it to be a little sketchy around the neighborhood. I remember walking by it when I was at the Parque de Novios and knew I was correct in my assumption. Ultimately I stayed at the Tamaca Resort in El Rodadero. It had a nice pool, convenient beach, and a good breakfast buffet. It was also close by to night life there. Both of those hotels are nice,Villa Maria is another if you prefer nature and secluded beaches. Rodadero is more party,decent restaurants,a disco and bar/restaurant > www.burukuka.com/es/ I prefer Pozos and Bello, much quieter, taxis are cheap. Hey búfalo I believe I saw "el pirata" in that video
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Post by búfalo on Jan 12, 2017 20:40:33 GMT -5
I may see him tomorrow. Turns out a last minute trip up north.
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Post by búfalo on Jan 12, 2017 20:44:36 GMT -5
Absolutely was him! Funny how he held my crutches in his "boat" as I swam years ago and now I go back with a cane due to a knee incident, almost walking 100% again.
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Post by gallito on Jan 12, 2017 22:26:14 GMT -5
"A CANE" that sucks,full circle - la vida da muchas vueltas...
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Post by búfalo on Jan 13, 2017 7:26:40 GMT -5
Yup, it certainly does.
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Post by caliconnection on Jan 13, 2017 15:15:39 GMT -5
I attempted to get into the Casa de Isabell and the Casa de Leda but both were booked solid. When I checked out the Casa Carolina, I did a Google search of the area and found it to be a little sketchy around the neighborhood. I remember walking by it when I was at the Parque de Novios and knew I was correct in my assumption. Ultimately I stayed at the Tamaca Resort in El Rodadero. It had a nice pool, convenient beach, and a good breakfast buffet. It was also close by to night life there. Both of those hotels are nice,Villa Maria is another if you prefer nature and secluded beaches. Rodadero is more party,decent restaurants,a disco and bar/restaurant > www.burukuka.com/es/ I prefer Pozos and Bello, much quieter, taxis are cheap. Hey búfalo I believe I saw "el pirata" in that video Top bloke!
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 12:46:33 GMT -5
I wouldnt say Santa Marta is a touristic city. Its an ugly city. You find 2 places next to Santa Marta which are touristic places: - Rodadero - Taganga All the tourists stay there, nearly nobody stays in SantaMarta itself. Bucaramanga its ugly. Stay in Giron, a beautifull colonial village next to Bucaramanga. Actually not quite true. The historical distrito nearcel centro is quite lively at night with bars and restaurantes, street musicians, lots of backpacker type hotels and hostels.Staying in One right now for 90 mil a night for 2 people. Not as Good. A deal as in Pereira but ok. Santa Marta is a shit hole-including Rodadero, and especially Taganga. Downtown is ok if you like the smell of urine. And hey, aren't all those colorful plastic bags hanging in every tree just beautiful?
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Post by búfalo on Nov 16, 2017 13:34:55 GMT -5
That guy om the left is my buddy, El Pirata. Haven't seen him in 15+ years but looks the same.
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Post by caliconnection on Nov 16, 2017 22:46:04 GMT -5
That guy om the left is my buddy, El Pirata. Haven't seen him in 15+ years but looks the same. I took that photo 8 years ago I have to be careful with the dates on that one as I met my wife to be 6 months later
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Post by búfalo on Nov 17, 2017 12:13:49 GMT -5
I met mine before I got into the digital craze so there's no proof of anything!
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Post by wildstubby on Nov 17, 2017 15:22:27 GMT -5
That you know of!
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