Author Topic: My June 2011 Cartagena Visit to my Fiance (Read 3030 times)

OrlandoGringo · « **on:** July 05, 2011, 09:11:10 PM »

Hi all! My eight year-old son and I flew to Cartagena and stayed at the Hilton in order to visit my fiance and her four year-old daughter for 9 days. We had a great time and my son got to meet them in person for the first time, which was very beneficial so that he'll already know and be comfortable with them when they arrive in October (I presume).
I'm sorry to say I don't have any exciting stories to share as we mostly hung out at the pool, played xbox Kinect in our room, went out to eat and visited some local malls and took the kids to play in their "mini-amusement parks".
Can I make a recommendation? How about we have a sticky for some of the major Colombian cities entitled "Good Places to eat ____________"? I love Colombia but I can't always say that I'm thrilled with a lot of Colombian food. However, I did discover a restaurant in the walled city called "Quebracho". It's an Argentinian steakhouse. One night I got a filet mignon for 45,000 pesos ($27) that was outstanding. On another night I had a strip that also very good having been cooked on a wood burning grill. As an appetizer I had a cream of chicken soup that was excellent! Their baked potatos and french fries were all top rate. My fiance had an awesome looking shrimp cocktail (12 average sized shrimp) for about $5. It's the best restaurant I've eaten at in Colombia by a long shot.
One thing that I didn't previously know was the freaking sales tax in Carganea is 16%!!! Incredible. Is it that high everywhere?
That's all I can think of for the moment. I'll try to add some pics in the gallery. Later!

fathertime · « **Reply #1 on:** July 05, 2011, 10:46:19 PM »

Quote from: OrlandoGringo on July 05, 2011, 09:11:10 PM

I'm sorry to say I don't have any exciting stories to share as we mostly hung out at the pool, played xbox Kinect in our room, went out to eat and visited some local malls and took the kids to play in their "mini-amusement parks".

Yo Orlando, don't be sorry about the lack of exciting stories....it sounds like you had a great time with your lady...i had a very similar trip to cartagena with my fiance at the time...no 'exciting stories' but it was a great relaxing time with a beautiful lady, that in itself is exciting, nothing much else is needed.
Continued good luck with your lady!

Fathertime!

OrlandoGringo · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2011, 01:02:02 AM »

Yea, Father, I'm very happy to not have drama and excitement in my vacation. Biggest decision each day was where we would eat.

Those are the types of decisions I like to deal with. By the way, have you ever posted any photos of you and your lady?

Planet-Love.com · « **Reply #2 on:** July 06, 2011, 01:02:02 AM »

maritime04 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 06, 2011, 02:24:12 AM »

YES the VAT TAX is 16% on majaority of commerical goods, hotels and food. It makes living in Colombia Expensive especially with the [snip]ty exchange rate.

I had a Sanata marta vacation with my girl 2 weeks ago, i was very suprised to see all the changes plus the cost!!!

whitey · « **Reply #4 on:** July 06, 2011, 07:17:53 AM »

My trip reports wouldn't be too exciting either, but they are always some of the best times of my life.

Glad you and the family had a good time. Cartagena is a great place to hang out for a few days.

Alabamaboy! · « **Reply #5 on:** July 06, 2011, 11:24:37 AM »

There are lists of good restaurants on poorbuthappy.com. Even though the website is officially closed, the archives live on.

A couple of my favorite restaurants in Cartagena are: La Cevicheria, El Santisimo, and Club de Pesca.

I loveeee Cartagena Centro Historico, but the last time I was there the prices were outrageous, especially if you want some drinks with your meal.

benjio · « **Reply #6 on:** July 06, 2011, 11:40:30 AM »

I agree. I've been to Cartegena on numerous occasions with absolutely nothing worth reporting. The beaches there are cleaner than the one's in Barranquilla but far from what I'd consider a preferred bathing location. Honestly, even after everything I heard Santa Marta's beaches weren't that impressive either. There are some decent discos there in Cartegena, then there's the castle, but outside of the nightlife and a few historic site tours there's really nothing to do there. Cartegena probably won't see ol' Benji again for the rest of my life.

dennislevy · « **Reply #7 on:** July 06, 2011, 12:06:55 PM »

OG
Im glad you had a great time with your fiancee and the kids. wow 45,000 for a piece of meat?

Can I go out with you? But, I am not as pretty as your fiancee.....

There are some good restautants in and aorund Plaza Santo Domingo..

If you know where the front door of Paco s is...just head directly left and there s a very good pizzeria at that corner of the sqaure...But, my favorite restuarant in that part of town is called Restautante Sante domingo just go down the street from the corner of Pacos about 10 or 15 doors down......Very good chow, dark romantic and for that area.........reasonable. I rememeber a killer cream of bisque soup for 13,000 pesos.....

But I really like some of the casual restuarants on Calle Media Luna in Getsemani....

Glad oyu had a wonderful time! What s the next step with your faincee?

OrlandoGringo · « **Reply #8 on:** July 06, 2011, 05:04:52 PM »

I almost wish I was single again just so I could go and hang with you for a while, Dennis. I'm sure we could have some good times. On the other hand, I'm very happy to have my lady and to wallow away the days with her. When it's all said and done that's a lot better than one-night hook-ups, etc. I'm 45 and well past that stage in my life.

dennislevy · « **Reply #9 on:** July 06, 2011, 05:46:38 PM »

OG
I wish you the very best with your fiancee If its what you and she want, bring her to the States, marry, blend the families and live happily ever after.
When I was 45, I had been married 16 years old and we had a 10 year old son. It is 13 eyars later, my son is grown and Im liivng out of three suitcases and traveling in South America. .
If you know who you aqre at 45.....my hat is off to you.
Good luck!
Dennis

.

jb · « **Reply #10 on:** July 06, 2011, 08:12:46 PM »

Welcome back OG,

glad you had an enjoyable and relaxing time.

the sticky idea is a great one by the way.

to those who know the tech stuff..... is there an app that we could install on the board or is it a special google thing, or?

OrlandoGringo · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2011, 09:20:41 PM »

Thanks for the well-wishes Dennis!

fathertime · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2011, 01:25:44 AM »

Quote from: OrlandoGringo on July 06, 2011, 01:02:02 AM

Yea, Father, I'm very happy to not have drama and excitement in my vacation. Biggest decision each day was where we would eat. Those are the types of decisions I like to deal with. By the way, have you ever posted any photos of you and your lady?

Hey Orlando, Yes I posted some pixs quite a while ago. I have found that when a person sometimes posts in an abrasive manner, it is best to leave the photos off the site, because immature posters often try to use the photos in a negative way. BTW, that is a real nice avatar photo, it beats the one with you in it!

It sounds like your vacation with the fiance was very similar to mine. We rarely left the suite in Cartagena and when we did it was all about eating everything in site or swimming in the pool.

Fathertime!

Planet-Love.com · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2011, 01:25:44 AM »

OrlandoGringo · « **Reply #13 on:** July 18, 2011, 01:15:12 AM »

Quote from: fathertime on July 08, 2011, 01:25:44 AM

BTW, that is a real nice avatar photo, it beats the one with you in it!

Truer words were never said!

whitey · « **Reply #14 on:** July 18, 2011, 06:47:28 PM »

Yes, very nice photo OG ... you're wife looks great and has a beautiful smile ...

Colgando · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2011, 09:55:38 AM »

OG, I am so happy for you...it is good to hear you are having a "normal" time with your fiance and kids. Sounds like regular life, which I think is good, because that is reality.

OrlandoGringo · « **Reply #16 on:** July 28, 2011, 03:25:30 PM »

Thanks for the kind words and compliments guys!

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