Cartagena day 2

[jim c]

My driver Dario shows up at ten and we start to look around the city I haven't been there for twenty years. It is obvious that business is bad like everywhere else in Colombia. The buildings in Bocagrande need paint and there are closed stores. There is no real Mall here like Chipi Chapi, you just have to find what you need. There are also no Exito's Superley or Carrefour. There was one store that was simular to the old superley in Cosmo centro, but smaller.   We spent the day driving around becoming familiar with the neighborhoods and looking at buildings. We made contact with a friend of the driver that was a real estate agent. We were to look at property the next day with her.  

    I then thought we should stop in at A Foreign Affair and see if they had any relevent information about things in the city. The office was a ten x ten dirty room with one guy sitting a desk. He spoke good english and was very ingratiating. For some reason he decided I should meet his boss because they had 7 guys in town for the labor day tour and the boss was here. the next thing I know he is in my car and we go to the Capillo Del Mar a block away from my hotel. We go up to the room and I am introduced to a gringo who is married to a russian and is a player in the business.  He explains how he and his partner are making a movie about the MOB culture and appears to act like several of the agency owners I have met in the past, (Tired of talking to dumb guys who know nothing,newbies). I met another one in Cali whose self esteem was so bright he almost blinded me. The guy was reserved but not impolite and only seemed to be concerned that I may be future competition. He was as much in the dark as I was, as to why I was there. His Manager then said they were having a pool party on Friday on the roof of the hotel and invited me to come. I indicated that I would call and returned to my hotel for the evening.

I won't go into my dinner arrangements because CV gets too hungry. But for lunch the next day conyo(oops I mean Conejo stew.  later $35.00 to watch sardinas dance with each other. jimc

[Cali vet]

... in response to Cartagena day 2 , posted by jim c on Sep 5, 2003

I think they're peladas on the cost and hey! where's the restaurant critique?

[jim c]

... in response to Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by Cali vet on Sep 5, 2003

Hey Vet
   Peladas? do you mean pulling my hair as in pulling my leg? Actually I am giving the first price( you know the rich gringo price). I haven't tried to negotiate, but they all say make an offer. I am not committed to a plan yet as to the direction and type of property I will buy. I have looked at condos, houses in the old city and houses in manga.It will all depend on if I have a partner and whether I want a guest house or a place just for me. The house in manga could be both because it only needs decorating and a swimming pool. I have been told the property in Cartagena is about 20 % higher than Cali but since the cruise ships stopped comming the sellers are more desperate. jim c

[Cali vet]

... in response to Re: Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by jim c on Sep 6, 2003

Be absolutely hard nosed with them. If they can't find a mafioso to sell to they've got nothing. I remember reading recently about a UN official who was seeking funds from Donald Trump for a new UN headquarters building. Trump told him show me your lowest bid and I'll pay half that. Guess that why he's done well in Real Estate.

[beenthere]

... in response to Cartagena day 2 , posted by jim c on Sep 5, 2003

Jim,
You're mistaken about there not being any shooping malls in Cartagena.  They are located in the populated area of town (I believe it is the north).  You see, Bocagrande, and the Old City is just a VERY small part of Cartagena and are the least populated areas of the city.  The majority of the population live in the north, away from Bocagrande and the Old City. You will find nice malls similiar to those in Cali, Barranquilla, Bogota, with the same stores.  I can't believe that your driver hasn't told you this.

[jim c]

... in response to Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by beenthere on Sep 5, 2003

please elaborate!!! I am aware of the other suburbs, but had no time to investigate them. I have area street maps and could see them spread for miles from la Popa but I had limited time and my purpose was  to look for real estate in the tourist areas. If YOU have experience in the suburbs please join in and comment on what YOU saw there. I can only comment on what I saw in the main city.  jim c

[beenthere]

... in response to Re: Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by jim c on Sep 5, 2003

As I said, in the old city, you won't find any shopping malls......just ask your driver to take you to the malls on the north end of town. They will be about 30 minutes from bocagrande in taxi.  I could make some phone calls to friends there and give you more specifics, but since you're there, it wouldn't hurt to ask.  Not sure what the significance of capitalizing the word YOU was, maybe the Cartagena sun is getting to you.

[jim c]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by beenthere on Sep 5, 2003

Actually, I am back in Key West and quite accostomed to the sun. I just asumed that by the corrective tone of your post YOU actually may have been to these malls and could describe them for us. It is not necessary to ask your friends about them. I will investgate by actually going there for myself next month. Thank you for enlightening me. jim c

[beenthere]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by jim c on Sep 5, 2003

Great idea Jim!!!  Sorry if my tone was corrective, but if you post bad info, I'm going to have to correct it.  Seems like you're one of the many on this board that can't handle correction.  Sorry if I didn't know the names of the malls off the top of my head, but when I travel to Colombia I don't carry a notebook with me as if I was a writer for Conde Nast magazine.  But hey, do what I do, just ask, don't depend on this forum to give you all of the info on Colombia.......the best part is finding out things on your own.  Just go to the front desk at the hotel you're staying in, ask them for the names and addresses of any malls, give the name and address to the taxi driver, and he'll take you there.
Good Luck!!

[jim c]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by beenthere on Sep 6, 2003

Well professor you have enlightened me even more. In 106 posts in four months and a purported 27 visits to Colombia. YOU, have not in one post, given personal information about any of the citys you have visited during your long career of finding a replacement for the first latina. In fact, in my estimation, 80% of the 106 were only correcting or disagreeing with other members.

   Your excuse of not carrying a notebook and not being a conde nast journalist is real weak. Selling wolf tickets won't get you by here either. Telling me that there are malls, with out describing them or adding generally what stores are there or even where the malls are located when you correct me is not a positive entry, it only shows your insecure need to correct others. Yelling your wrong is not enough. I don't know where you got the red pencil but it is obvious that you don't have the weight to push it. I accept correction when the source is from someone who knows personally what they are talking about. I really don't care if there are malls in the suburbs of Cartagena, I am looking for information from experienced people not correction. I have travelled all around the world and was in japan when you were in diapers. I have always related my experiences and information to the members, that is why we are here not so you can correct other members spanish grammar. You are obviously bitter and insecure as evidenced by your need to post how many times you have been to Colombia(without learning anything, I may add) jim c

[beenthere]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by jim c on Sep 6, 2003


Great Post Jim!!!  And great research!!!  Fish weren't biting today??  A little lonely, too much time on your hands???

[valuedcustomer]

... in response to Cartagena day 2 , posted by jim c on Sep 5, 2003

When I went to Cartagena, the taxi drivers told my novia that Cartegena does have malls, but they are a few miles inland from the beach.  I didn’t get a chance to check it out though.

[jim c]

... in response to Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by valuedcustomer on Sep 5, 2003

I was told there was a mercado centro but it is very dangereous and abounds with thieves and pickpockets. There is a mercado central in Cali as well. it has the same reputation but around it there are small shops that serve the best cerviche in town. jimc

[JSlo]

... in response to Re: Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by jim c on Sep 5, 2003

I just returned home from Cartagena and I did visit a mall while there. It wasn't impressive as far as size goes, and I never felt threatened at all. It was about a twenty minute taxi ride from Boca Grande. I will contact my girl there and follow up with the info later.
L8ter,
JS

[jim c]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Cartagena day 2 , posted by JSlo on Sep 5, 2003

Thanks JR, All new info here is received in the spirit it is given. I am looking foreward to what you can add to our knowledge. jim c