Finished my breakfast and Dario arrives. We have seen several interesting buildings with the same real estate company sign and so we go. I am introduced to the agent Esmeralda 5' late forties very business like. but immediately likable. Good english and away we go. We are concentrating on the old city San Diego. These are the buildings you see in the photos, balconys with flowers, large wooden doors, central courtyards with flowers and birds. There are three main barrios in the old city--Centro, San Diego and Getsemani the first two are well developed with guest houses, restaurants and shops. We see about 8 different houses in different states of repair. There seems to be no understanding of a base price for property. Everyone starts at three hundred milliones to tfour hundred milliones regardless of the condition or size.
As we came out of a small house with four bedrooms and dirty courtyard (350 milliones), the lady accross the street informed Dario that her house was for sale. Guess what? It had two floors and two balconys. each floor had four bedrooms. There were huge salons on each floor and a small central courtyard. I noticed that there was a large concrete slab there and the lady informed me there was a cistern under it (instant swimming pool!!!). The house was filthy and hadn't been cleaned or painted in at least twenty years but the old tile floors were still in great condition. She wanted four fifty for twice the property. By the next day the price had dropped to Four hundred. The location was fantastic and most of the neighboring homes have been renovated. Looking at these properties took most of the day. Ps CV, lunch was Casuela Mariscos in a little restautrant in Getsemani. For those who don't know, that is shrimp, lobster, crab, conch and squid cooked in Coconut milk. Its the favorite there.(18,000p or $6.00).
I go back to the hotel early and called AFA. He informs me that I will have to pay $35.00 to attend the party and pay for my drinks. I remind him that he invited me and he tells me the boss said I had to pay. I ask if there will be food served and he says there will be pizza. I said I will stop by and have a drink to see if I like the party. The party started at 5:00. I arrive at 7:30. There are about 20 Sardinas ranging from 19 to twenty five and five guys two of which have girlfriends. It is the usual, poor girls dressed to look like Britany clacking gum or smoking, laughing animatedly while conversing with each other. Girrrls just want to have fa unn. I hit it off with a guy from Las Vegas and stayed without paying. We adjourned to the revolving bar with six girls who were typical Cinderellas, hoping to find a twenty something Brad Pit with money. They had no interest in speaking with me. These actually were a little rude, a total turn around from Cali where the girls will have fun dancing and talking to the guy paying the bill. I noticed that in Cartagena the girls were not as attractive as Cali and were on the shy side, not rude but not overly friendly. I just don't think the agency situation has been perfected here and AFA is into selling addresses and a few tours a year. I decided after this party, I will try to establish myself and find a normal social situation there rather than mess with AFA. I was not impressed. Got loaded and walked home. jimc Tommorrow turtle stew!!!
