Okie--Barranquilla Info

[okiemike]

Thanks guys.......I have a passport that I got in 2000 so I believe its good for a few more years. Do either of you guys have any experience in Baranquilla? Is it fairly safe there? If you would like to give me some details it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.......Mike

[Kiltboy1]

I am surprised nobody answered you because several guys here have GF and Wives from Barranquilla. I will give you the best imfo I can having been there 3 times before. IMHO, Barranquilla is very safe compared to some other cities in Colombia. It is a city that is easy to get around in and the traffic is not too bad . The area around the centro comercial Buena Vista is a nice area and also the Parque Washington area near the Barranquilla Plaza hotel is nice, Henry's cafe I liked a lot to have a good cold beer or 3 dollar martini and watch the chicas stroll by. That is i parque washington. There is a beach club about 15 minutes outside Barranquilla  that has some nice beach bars , but the beach is very rocky. I think it is called Kilimanjaro, but all the taxis know it. There is some very nice Colonial, AKA Charleston SC, architecture In Barranquilla where the old money resides. Nice to take a drive or stroll. There are some seedy, poor areas like any city in the world and best avoided, but all in all i have enjoyed my visits to Barranquilla for the city, climate(dry heat) and the chicas are some of the finest in Colombia if you like a very exotic look. They are a bit flaky I found and tend to complain about there problems alot more then some other areas, but hey, we got to take the good with the bad
.
KB

[raycjs]

Okie

I spent 6 days in Barranquilla check out my trip report so i do not have to repeat myself I had so much fun and found it very safe i am going back December 27 2007 to January 2 2008. If you want to pm me i will talk with you on the phone or by email i will answer any of your questions. Buy a plane ticket and go thats all i can say once you have been there you will realize what we are all taking about.

Good Luck
Ray

[sean126]

Okie,

You'll find a wealth of information about Barranquilla in the trip reports and general section archives.  I've been there several times and I love it.  I've always felt relatively safe and I've stayed out of areas people have warned me about.  The weather feels like Miami, maybe just a little stickier.  If you sign up with latin-wife.com, Jamie will send you a list of do's and don'ts and what you should bring.  It's just like any place else.  Use common sense and try not to draw attention to yourself when your out.  Once you read some of the archives and actually make plans on going and set a date...I'm sure the others would join in and be more specific.

[fathertime]

Thanks guys.......I have a passport that I got in 2000 so I believe its good for a few more years. Do either of you guys have any experience in Baranquilla? Is it fairly safe there? If you would like to give me some details it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.......Mike

Fairly safe...yes.  For a first-timer, I would consider staying in the tourist type areas & use common sense with your attire and while flashing your cash.  As a beginner, I think having one of Jamie's people with you is a good idea, that is if you are using his services.  After a few days or upon your next trip you may not need as much hand-holding.

Fathertime!

[okiemike]

Thanks for all the helpful info guys. I have had no time to go through all the old posts yet but will do that  after the Holidays. Today I started kicking around the idea of going during Carnival but it would have to be in 09. What do you all think of that? Is it to busy during that time?..........okiemike

[raycjs]

Mike

That is a very crazy time of year for you to go and meet a nice girl to fall in love with !!!! if you want to party party party then go for carnival.... you will find it very hard to talk to girls in 08 and tell them you will not be there till 09 they will not spend a lot of time with you because they received tons of emails a day  and maybe 1 out of 500 show up!!!!!   put yourself in there shoes .... I am not telling you not to try but i am just letting you know what will most likely take place  i do not want you to get discouraged ..... i would try real hard to go sooner then later i promise you .
You will thank me later ..... Just like i have been thanking Sean,F.T. and Jamie for convincing me to go now and not later.......


Ray