Cartagena Colombia

• Summary: If you want to meet Hot Colombian Women and Beautiful Colombian Girls

Cartagena, as far as being a place to monger, has a cornucopia of beautiful women, most of whom are more than willing and eager to please. Most are warm, affectionate, not the least bit modest and would die for the opportunity to become the girlfriend of a wealthy Gringo (even if only for a week or two)

(Julieth and I spent several days together. She absolutely adores DATY and will O in high pitched squeals like a kitten.)
or even possibly find a marriage minded person to take them away from their plight in life. I think it is interesting to point out that the average minimum wage Colombian income is designated by their consulate at $169.00 US per month. Many are poor although there is an abundance of very wealthy Colombians as well, and they are not all drug lords. Many are successful business men, doctors, lawyers and other professionals.

Most Colombians have learned to live by their wits and are very street savvy. They know how to stretch a peso and get pesos out of you. Most have something to sell or can show you where to get just about anything you want. I found their cunning for business quite impressive (although the touts still drive you crazy) and they have a knack for knowing how to satisfy your needs.

Now, I am a real Brasilian fan but unlike Rio, where you walk into Help and all the Chicas are 100% available, in CTG it helps to have a little game and you may have to look around more. Of course, the casas and LDV are target rich environments but so are the streets, shops, beaches, banks, grocery stores, internet cafes and restaurants (just remember to make eye contact, smile and start a conversation). In the Termas of Brasil, the prices are fairly fixed as is the time involved. The prices in CTG are much lower, more negotiable and for usually a much longer time. Plus, it is much easier to make a long 4 day weekend visit to Ctg. than to Rio because of the flight times involved. The girls in Rio are pretty hardened for the most part, whereas the girls in CTG (many of them non-pros) are mostly working part time to earn tuition or help their families, support their children (and yes, some are supporting their boyfriends or drug habits) or meeting other needs.

As others have said, CTG has long been a hot spot destination for mongering. Don't spoil it by overpaying. Negotiate everything (and they will respect you more when you do), treat the ladies with respect and kindness and keep it a haven for those of us who are mongering minded.
A couple of special tips for first time visitors;
• It is safe to walk around during the day but always take a taxi at night (unless you are in LaGuito and just walking to LDV);
• You can drink the tap water but I still prefer bottled.
• Leave the gold jewelry at home and do not flash a lot of cash; Hang onto small bills whenever possible. Few people ever have change for larger bills, including the stores.
• If someone says Amigo, keep walking. They are not your friend.
• Keep your eyes on the sidewalks when you walk. Many are uneven, broken and have large cracks or holes;
• The girls will not like nor be accustomed to your air conditioning but will enjoy the hot water in your shower. It is a special treat to them to have hot water;

• A few words about drugs. Yes, they are everywhere, in abundant supply and very cheap. If you are inclined to partake, be very careful with whom you deal. Make sure you know them well or at least trust them. One frequent scam is to sell you the drugs then turn you into the police for a reward (or a share of the bribe). In most cases you will be able to buy your way out of trouble with the police but you never know when you are going to run into one that is looking to promote his career instead of his income for the week. Also, there are frequent police roadblocks (especially coming into BocaGrande and LaGuito from Centro or the Old City) where they search for weapons and drugs. Gringos and tourists are not exempt. Never carry it on your person. Do not under any circumstances try to take anything home with you. You will be thoroughly searched at the airport, several times, before you leave. They have dogs at the airport that sniff bags and they have even been known to X-Ray suspicious looking people's stomachs. You will not buy your way out of trouble at the airport and will find yourself in a very distasteful Colombian jail.
• Treat the girls well and you will be amply rewarded with affection and off the chart sex. You may even find yourself losing your heart a couple of times.

You can see photos and videos of Julieth and other beautiful Colombian women at www.4womenoftheworld.com

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Other Things to do in Cartegena:

There is some very good diving off Isla Rosario or you can just make a day of it with a date at their resort (Coco Liso Isla Resort)

which has some pristine crystal clear beaches and a fresh water pool. The food is above par and your date will have a great day.

You must plan a day visiting the Old City, tour the fort, walk the cobble stoned streets, sit in the parks and people watch or visit the Gold Museum or the Museum of the Inquisition. It is really a unique experience and one that should not be missed.

The Gold Museum in the Old City

Simon Bolivar Statue (Museum of the Inquisition behind)

If you happen to be there in January, make sure you take in a local bullfight. It is as much a sporting event as it is a social statement (and a fashion statement as well). Your eyes will be dazzled by all the eye candy and cleavage. Take a date if possible because you are not likely to understand all that is happening.

She was very easy on the eyes!
Of course, you can make a day trip to Barranquilla, make a stop at Baquillo Volcano or even a short boat ride across from LaGuito beach to Playa Branco. There is even a Botanical Gardens if you are into those kinds of things.

Whatever kind of side trip you plan, do not be surprised if your date has never been to them. They also love to go to the movies. Of course, a little shopping spree at Paseo de la Castellana shopping mall in Centro, a day on the beach or an evening out dancing will delight your prize. You should also go alone to the mall someday and check out what is available. Most girls working there will accept a date with you. They may not sleep with you on the first date but if you have time to get to know them, anything is possible.

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Restaurants-There are many to choose from ranging from Mcdonalds to very upscale dressy places. I won't name them all, just a few favorites;

I am a big breakfast eater and one of the best places I have found in Boca Grande is Crepes and Waffles (Cra.3 in the #40 block). They serve a wide variety of both C's and W's, as well as a full menu of omelets, eggs, meats, cereals, fruits, sandwiches and bread (all freshly made daily). Portions are large, prices are fair and there are always lots of women in there early in the morning having breakfast before they return home or go to work at their day jobs.

There are tons of small eateries in Boca Grande serving a wide variety of food from Pizza to very good Chinese and everything in between. I like to explore these places for lunch and generally try to do a different one each day. The local Colombian dishes range from downright bland to burn the roof off your mouth spicy. Always ask!

For casual dinners, I like Riquismo in LaGuito.

They serve freshly grilled meats, chicken, (shrimp, chicken and beef) kabobs at very reasonable prices. Their baby beef is excellent and highly recommended. You will only need to use your fork! There is also a little eatery close to Riquismo called Julias that serves an excellent fried Pargo (snapper) and a Sanchoco de Pescado seafood soup that is excellent. Julia is a sweetie and will make sure you have a good dining experience. She may even bring things out of the kitchen for you to sample.

When I have a date I want to impress and want something a little more upscale, I recommend La Victrola or Quebrancho in the old city. Don't go in shorts but jeans or slacks are fine. Both have excellent selections of wines at affordable prices (especially their Chilean brands), A+ service and a varied menu. La Victrola specializes in seafood dishes (the shrimp in coconut milk is exquisite) and Quebrancho specializes in Beef, especially their Argentine beef. Prices are very reasonable compared to American high end restaurants and the ambiance of both places is stellar. They happen to be two doors apart from each other as well. Any taxi driver can get you there in a matter of minutes from LaGuito. Close to the marina in "the Sleeves" district is a restaurant called Club de Pesca. It is actually located at the private yacht club but is open to the public. Very upscale and delicious seafood is served here. Also, in the Old City are numerous casual restaurants in the main Sta Teresa square of the Old City including the famous Pacos and others.

Pacos with the Botero (very famous Colombian sculptor) sculpture in front.

The Sunday Brunch at the Hilton is a gastronomic extravaganza that will satiate your pallet and not deplete your wallet too much. At $25K per person, it is a little on the high side for Ctg. but well worth it. Everything from eggs, omelets to roast beef carving stations, seafood, fresh fruit, breads, desserts, cereals, vegetables, salads, juices and more.

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Cartagena Beaches-The beaches are generally crowded on weekends with both tourists and locals. The beaches in Boca Grande are more family oriented

while the beaches at LaGuito are more for the younger crowd and the working girls.

There is also a stretch of beach called, Playas de Castillo Grande on the backside of Boca Grande where many locals congregate. Great place to scout out non-pros.

The best place I have found is in front of Las Velas hotel in LaGuito.

There is an infamous chair guy there named Tony who will get you a chair, umbrella or cabana and chase or call girls for you. Many think he is a royal pain in the ass as he will constantly bug you to buy him beers, pushes expensive Pina Coloda drinks on the girls, pads your bill, overcharges newbies for cabanas and chairs, is well known for shortchanging gringos and can generally be a pest. That is the downside of Tony. Be firm with him and let him know if he tries to rip you off, you will take your business elsewhere the next day. The best thing about Tony is his ability to produce.

He will track down girls on the beach (he will literally approach any girl on the beach, that is not underage, that catches your eye) or reach into his extended directory on his cell phone and have them there in minutes.

Don't be surprised if he over embellishes a bit on his description and you have no obligation to accept any of his offerings. Just tell him no and to look some more. Describe what you like and if he doesn't get it right the first time, send him back out again. I have turned down as many as 5-6 in succession only to have him round up a jewel for the afternoon. Once, he approached a girl that was there on vacation. She was not a working girl but was short of funds to get home. We spent a very pleasurable afternoon together and she returned home the next day with extra spending money in her purse.

Tony gets a commission from the girls he provides, so you may wind up paying a slight premium. The other good thing about Tony is that he is always broke and needing money. If he tells you $10K for a cabana and chair for the day and you are going to be there for 7 days, offer him 35K for a cabana and 2 chairs per day for 7 days in advance, he will likely jump on the offer. Your alternatives are to perform the search yourself or: Check with Emily, one of the regular massage ladies.

(my buddy getting a pedicure)
I've known Emily for over 7 years now. I regularly get full body massages from her in the privacy of my Apt. for less than $10 US for an hour. I also get manicures and pedicures from her on the beach, will buy her an occasional beer or just sit and chat. Emily abides Tony but doesn't really like him. As such, she will also scout out girls for you but will not flaunt it in Tony's face. Have your cell phone ready as she rarely has credits but has a lot of numbers and she doesn't get a commission from the girls so your session is usually less expensive. I generally tip her nicely if she produces a new, fresh one that hasn't become hardened or jaded and promote her massage and manicure services to others. None have ever been disappointed with her massage! It is not a FS massage, just a deep tissue, firm full body relaxing experience. Tell her Mimo (my nickname in CTG.) sent you and she will accommodate you nicely!

NOTE: Be prepared to be pestered by more beach touts that you can imagine, selling everything from sunglasses, jewelry, fake Rolexs, ice cream, shrimp, oysters (and I don't recommend eating either of the latter two) to T-shirts. They are unyielding, do not care if they are interrupting a conversation or other activity, sometimes will not take no for an answer and continue to press for the sale. There are two schools of thought. Merely say, No quiero!, No gracias; to even being brash with the unyielding ones and saying scram (vamos). Here is another tactic I have used successfully on occasion with real pesky ones; Spend 15-20 minutes looking at everything they have to sell, then tell them, no, they don't have what you are looking for. Sure bet they will not bother you the next day.

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Where to find the Colombian Girls: (Note: If you are a chestnut, you will find yourself in cleavage heaven. Sure, there are a number of A and B cups walking around but there are a significant number of full C's and D's as well)
Casas: The casas in Cartagena take on many different forms and different venues. Some look like normal homes in residential areas, others look like your run of the mill neighborhood bar while others look like armed and guarded compounds surrounded by high walls and tight security. Most are located in the Bosque area of town. You may feel a little queasy on your first visit to this area as it is very seedy and poor looking (also good to have a friend along). Make sure you take a taxi and you might just want to hire them for the evening (usually $12,000 per hour plus they make a commission on everything you consume so your bill may be slightly higher than a locals).

Casa Marino: Nuevo Campestra St.10 #56B-51; 657-3624. Manager is Jacklyn;
One of my favorites and probably the best line-up, this place looks like a walled armed encampment when you first arrive. Once inside the bar area, you will see a large dance stage surrounded by tables. The girls are all in bikinis or lingerie and some will perform a striptease throughout the night. They may speak to you or call out "amigo", "amor" or some other form of endearment but none will approach unless you motion for them to join you. They will constantly be getting up and moving from table to table in an effort to present their wares as they pass. Weekdays are rather slow with usually less than 10-12 men and normally 25-35 girls in all shapes, forms and sizes. There are ST rooms available on premise or you can take the girl LT back to your Apt. Barfines to the house are $35-$50kCP depending on the day of the week. You negotiate directly with the girl for her services but expect to pay a minimum of 80-100K for ST and 150-200K for TLN (all night) plus taxi. Locals pay less and if it is a slow night, and your negotiating skills are good, you can get that down to $60,000CP for ST and $120,000 for LT. While there, the ladies drinks can get expensive (10-15K each) if you let them get carried away. Beers are usually 3K apiece and mixed drinks are 7-10K for rum and other local varieties of alcohol. If you order Scotch, Bourbon, top shelf Vodka or Gin, expect to pay almost double.
The music is loud and non-stop Latin although an occasional American song gets added to the program if there are gringos present. Girls will dance by themselves or with each other and if you are so inclined, they will be happy to have you join them (better know some salsa or meringue though). If you stay a while and get to know a particular girl, groping is quite common and part of the evening activity. Many girls will grind in your lap or grope you under the table while your hands are exploring their nubile young bodies. Most girls are in the 18-25 age category. There are a lot of 5,6 and 7's here but there are also a fair share of 8's and 9's. Only seen (1) 10 in my opinion and she has moved on to greener pastures at LDV (La Dolce Vita). You can call Jacklyn and have a girl delivered to your hotel or Apt. 315-776-1768
Casa International: Looks like a rather seedy local neighborhood bar but I was surprised by the talent. Seems many of the ships crews that dock in Ctg. go here for ST relief due to its proximity to the docks. Drinks are cheap, lots of girls, loud music, take out barfine of $25K and they do have ST rooms on premise.
A little on the downscale for ambiance, settings, furniture and fixtures etc, but always crowded and a good selection of girls. I only Short Timed once there and was actually in the room where the girl lived so I can't speak to the quality of the other rooms. I think for most gringos this is a good place to do a LT take out back to your room or Apt.
Note: You will be patted down upon entry.....thoroughly, including a crotch brush!

Casa La Muneca (which means Doll House); Many locals call this place their favorite and recommend it highly. Most taxi drivers will take you here first because I think they pay the best commissions. It is a deceptive looking place in the middle of a residential neighborhood that sits on a tiny lot facing the street. When you enter, it opens up into an expansive thatched covered roof with a large dance floor and bar area. There are ST rooms available on site or you can take out with a barfine. Drinks are reasonable as are the lady drinks. The locals tell me La Muneca gets the majority of first time working girls in Ctg. They must have an amazing network of recruiters in other cities because I met girls from all over
Colombia here. On two occasions, I took girls that had just arrived in Ctg. that very day. They will not be aggressive (except vying for your eye attention) but will be delighted if you call them over. The manager speaks a little English but do not expect any of the girls to. You can drink, dance, ST on premise or just sit and relax (why did you come to Colombia again?). Anyway, they hate to see you leave empty handed or without having a session on premise. We were there with a group of 6 guys (2 locals and 4 gringos) one night. It was kind of slow and nothing was appealing to any of us. The manager told us she would buy us a beer if we would wait 30 minutes until another batch of girls showed up. Sure enough, within 30 miuntes about 20 more girls arrived and all 4 gringos sessioned. We each paid $75K CP but our friends told us if we came without a taxi, it would only be $60 (one also snickered and said that was the gringo price and locals pay even less). We kept our taxi for the night but the next time we went, we had him drop us off and leave. That is less than $30 for a 45 minute romp with a beautiful, young Colombian girl
The ST rooms are modest and I think some of the girls live where they work (so to speak) but they seemed clean and comfortable. There was no hot water for showers but in Ctg. there is really no such thing as a cold shower. Cool to lukewarm at least and very refreshing in the heat.
There were easily 25-30 girls in the place the last time we went there. Again, many 5's and 6's but a sufficient number of 7's 8's and even a 9 or two.

(the scooter gives you an idea of how tiny the front of the building is)

Manila House: Another casa in a seemingly residential neighborhood. Generally had 10-15 girls ranging from 5's-7's and some quite doable. Opens early at 2:00 PM (one of the earliest in town). They also have quite a variety of tropical birds ranging from parrots to McCaws. The place is relatively small inside and is more like a shotgun house in Chicago. There is an outside patio area in back. What I liked about this casa was the friendliness of the girls. They were truly enamored with having gringos in the place. They were cutting up and joking with us, giggling at everything we said, flashing their tits when we asked to see the goods, dancing in front of us to the Salsa and Meringue music shaking their asses. They also seemed to have a younger fresher air about them than some of the other casas. They were dressed in regular street clothes and not like Putas. When they joined us for drinks, they were attentive, touchy but not pushy, loved to play bar tricks (and were fascinated by some) and seemed to be in a constant party atmosphere.
ST was $60K CP for 40 minutes on premises. Barfine was $30K CP and direct negotiations with the girl.
We did have some trouble with our bill here. The bartender tried to charge us for 9 beers we didn't order. A short but typically energized Latino conversation ensued and finally the manager come over and tried to get us to compromise on just 5 of the beers. We insisted we did not drink them and he went to chat with the bartender. Turns out, the bartender had been charging us for beers for another table thinking they were with us. The manager apologized profusely. Two of my buddies vowed to never return. The bartender was livid because he had lost credibility ( they were his buddies and he was just trying to get their tab covered. I mean, we were gringos and they were Colombians). I did return and the manager immediately bought me a beer on the house and offered me a discount on a girl ST on premise. I accepted the beer but passed on the girl. The rooms are OK but I prefer take out at these places.

One of the newer casas called Navigator is owned by a native from Cali and he mostly imports girls from Cali. I did not have an opportunity to visit but several locals said there are some real babes there. Some other guys said it really sucked so YMMV?
There are several other casas around town that are frequented by the locals. If you are adventuresome, best bet is to go with a local or taxi driver who knows the ropes, speaks the language, knows the manager/owner and most importantly, knows which ones would not welcome foreigners. I went to a couple with my local friends but we left rather quickly at one after we got some glaring looks from guys in suits and heavy gold chains.

You can see photos and videos of Cartagena and the casas at www.4womenoftheworld.com

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Clubs:
La Dolce Vita: By far and away the best know place to find women, LDV is located next to the Perla Casino right as you enter LaGuito. It is up a set of steps atop a small strip shopping center. Just ask anyone its location. Everyone knows where it is. There have been numerous reports of people having difficulty finding it. Well, it could not be simpler. As you enter LaGuito the road forks Left and Right. Where the road forks is the Perino Gallo directly in front of you. Walk up the steps towards the Perla Casino and LDV is in the corner to the left of the casino.

Julieth, an 18 year old LDV girl. Her photo and video series can be seen in the members section of WOTW. Her contact info can be found there as well. More of her later in the report

There is no cover charge and a beer will set you back about $6K CP, mixed drinks $11K and up. A good strategy here, if you are with several other guys, is to buy a pint of Ron Medellin Rum and share it amongst the table. Ice, cokes and other mixers are included in the cost of the bottle. LDV does not even begin to stir until 11:00PM with most of the girls beginning to stream in after midnight. LDV is just a gathering place to meet and greet some of CTG's finest. One good thing about LDV, if the girls are inside, you can bet they are at least 18 years of age. Girls you see outside or on the street in front, may be ID challenged or have been barred from entering LDV for some indiscretion.
Some of the girls may stroll by your table, make frequent trips to the bathroom to primp (essentially trying to catch your eye), or come over to bum a smoke but few if any will aggressively approach your table without being invited. The owner, Aldo, (an Italian guy who has lived in Ctg. for years) is pretty strict with the girls about their behavior. All are freelancers and there is no barfine to the house to take them out. Here is how the protocol of introductions works:

You see someone you would like to meet: Make eye contact; smile; and wave them over! No, I am not embellishing or exaggerating. This is how it is done in LDV (and many other places in CTG.) You can buy them a drink, sit and chat, negotiate time and prices and leave when you are ready. Many will be dancing and will gladly have you join them if you like. (good way to get an up close view of them as it can be kind of dark in LDV.) The two most strategic locations to position yourself are at the front door, so you can see them when they enter, or by the ladies bathroom. The lighting is a little better by the bathroom and there is a full length mirror where the girls will primp and make frequent trips to freshen up their looks. I normally choose a bar seat next to the bathroom as eventually, throughout the night, you will get one or more opportunities to see every girl in the place. It is also something of a ritual when every girl first enters LDV to make a bee line for the bathroom. On crowded nights, Fri. Sat. and Sun. you may find it sometimes difficult to get a girls attention. You have two alternatives: Get up and just go get her and bring her to your table or ask one of the waiters to bring her over. LDV is take out only as they have no onsite facilities for ST action. I would say the best of the best frequent LDV nightly. Bring your negotiating skills as they will always start out high but will quickly accept a lower offer. They have to, as the ratios can be 3-4:1 many nights. ST (usually 2-3 hours) will be in the 80K to 120K range depending on the quality of the girl. LT will be in the 100K to 150K range. I have seen higher and lower on both ends of these scales but these should prove to be good benchmarks. Also, when negotiating TLN, make sure....REPEAT ...make sure you specify what time the next day they will leave. I have had them leave at 5:AM when the sun comes up and had them stay until 4:00PM the next day and I had to kick them out. Many have children they must attend to early in the morning. The more time I spend here, the more I find myself gravitating to ST sessions. Saves money and there are no surprises the next day.

Ed. Note: At LDV or any other club, casa etc. be prepared for the local police, military police, Army or Navy MP's and SP's to walk in with assault or automatic weapons, stop the music, turn up the lights and separate the crowd. They will generally line up the Colombian men, do a pat down looking for weapons, check guys and girls ID's but generally leave tourists and gringos alone. If they do approach you, greet them palms facing up, show them a copy of your passport and they will generally just pass on by and leave you alone. Most important, keep you mouth shut, do not get angry or insulted or cause any kind of commotion. They are just doing their jobs and part of that is protecting you! They are also looking or guerillas, known paramilitaries, AWOL military guys, known drug pushers and other criminals. It is just a part of routine life in Colombia.

Tu Candellas: Located in the Old City near the Clock Tower and a 5-10 minute taxi ride from LaGuito, TC is a late night spot for dancing, partying and finding girls. Target identification is not as easy as LDV as you will find many couples there but many girls are there looking for action as well. Tu Candellas is where most of the girls from LDV go if it is a slow night or the ratio is against their favor. There is a cover charge but you also get a free drink ticket. If you are with several guys, you can pool your drink tickets and purchase a bottle of rum for the table. Mixers are extra here though. Many times you will find the single girls milling around outside looking for someone to pay their cover. There are also some nights where single girls are not allowed in alone so do your shopping outside before entering. The protocol is not much different than LDV. See someone you like, make eye contact, smile and wave them over. Just be a little more discriminating and make sure she is not there with a BF or date. This place is hopping until the wee hours with a DJ spinning and a lot of dancing happening. I actually had my first salsa lesson there years ago from a freelancer in the bar. She was also the first to demonstrate "salsa fucking" to me. You just have to experience it because words cannot do it justice.

Mr. Babillas: Another local favorite hangout. This place is generally jammed on weekends. I always found target identification a little difficult as there are couples everywhere and many are milling about socializing with their friends. I generally take one with me when I go

(Julieth likes Tu Candellas and Mr. Babillas) although I have had several successful evenings there going solo. It just took a little more work and culling from the herd or I found someone appealing, waiting in line to get in.

This place is a real party atmosphere with people drinking (and probably high on other indigenous commodities). Dancing in the aisles, on tables and conveniently located platforms. They do serve food but you rarely see anyone eating a full meal there. It is usually just table snacks. Walking through the crowd is like walking through a swaying stream of people at a football game. Elbow to elbow, and sometimes, elbow to tits makes walking through this mass a delightful experience (just watch out for pickpockets). Remember, Latinos do not value their space the way we Americans do and these women are used to being rubbed up against by the local macho Colombianos. For many, it is just part of the attraction game.

There is a small cover charge and do not be dissuaded by the long line to enter that you will encounter. Walk up the bouncer at the front of the line, flash a 10K or 20K note in his face and you will be immediately ushered into the place. Never failed! The line is also a great place to find single ladies entering who would love to have you pay their cover and buy them drinks plus take them home later in the evening. Just be sure to check their ID's or have the bouncer do it for you.

There are other more intimate clubs around town that play soft jazz, latin and even popular American music and most of the girls will know them. Just ask and they will lead the way.....so long as you are paying!

Strip Joints-Strip joints are not my cup of tea but they do exist. Just like most places, I find them to generally be an expensive rip off and seldom leave with a prize for the evening. Probably one of the better known places is the Playboy Club. I have found the line-up to be mixed at times with a lot of 5's, 6's and 7's with an occasional 8 or 9. Entry is high for CTG (last time I think it was 25K), drinks expensive (10-15K) and ladies drinks in the $20-25K range. Typical strip club set up with 1 girl dancing a set of three songs while stripping, getting tips from those closest to the bar and circling the club asking for tips after her set is finished. They will also pressure you to buy lady drinks or private lap dances behind a curtained area with security prominently positioned right outside so nothing major happens. You can take out but the barfine can be steep ($80-100K CP or X number of lady drinks) and the girl is going to ask for $120-150 or more for ST. Just never worth it in my book although YMMV!

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Clothing:
Cartagena is a tourist city and is very casual. Bathing suits, shorts and T shirts along the beach during the day, jeans or Docker type pants with casual shirts or polo/golf type shirts at night are quite appropriate. There are a few restaurants I happened to visit, that had never been mentioned before, where the dress is a little more upscale so Dockers and a nice button down collar type of shirt would be appropriate. You do not need to bring your entire wardrobe as there are several lavanderias close by that provide same day service. You will need a pair of beach shoes as some sections of the beach are rocky and the sand can be HOT! A good pair of sneakers, flip flops or slip on leather shoes will suffice for other areas. Even though the cabs are very cheap (usually $2.00-$3.00 US to most places) you will still find yourself walking to many of your destinations....most are that close.
Climate:
It is always hot and humid during the days in Cartagena but not any more so than any other Central American or Caribbean locale. Many days there is a cooling breeze off the water and always a breeze at night that makes it very comfortable. Expect to sweat a lot (like being in a steam room) during June, July and August. Also, plan to drink a lot of water, no matter what time of year you visit.

Money Planning:
CTG is one of those places where almost any budget can be accommodated. I met one young medical student who was going to be there for a month and had found an Apt. for $800 for the entire month. He was on a very tight budget, as most college students are, but he was finding it quite easy to stretch his limited funds for ample food, drink and mongering.

I read many reports from various web sites and get the general impression that one can do rather well on $100-$200 per day after accommodations (that includes food, drink, transportation and 2-3 girls per day). Many of the hotels provide a free breakfast included in their rates (always ask when making reservations) and many restaurants serve quite good food, sandwiches and other selections for $3-5 US including drinks. One Chica and I had a very nice dinner (she had a Chorrizo sausage and I had baby beef, salad, fries, I had 2 beers and she had a fruit drink). The bill? $14.50 US! Your mileage may vary (YMMV for future reference). Again, taxis are cheap by US standards. Usually around $2.00-$3.00 or $3,000-$4,000 CP s (many drivers said 4K minimum but many rides were $3KCPs' whenever I had a local with me). I actually rented a taxi for over 2 hours to take pictures of the casas, the old city, the street markets and other places of interest rarely mentioned in other reports. It cost me a whopping $25,000 CP's or less than $12.00 US.

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Need to keep in touch?-Do not expect any of the rental apartments in Ctg. to have broadband service or even local telephone service installed. Some of the higher end hotels will have business centers. You will be relegated to Internet Cafes and they exist on almost every block. Their quality of service and response times vary as widely as the weather in Ctg. One that I have found that is pretty reliable is the Café Punto Com in La Guito (across from the Avianca office). They operate on a fiber optic line, have decent response times, offer full service from faxes, making copies, to VOIP telephone service. They even serve coffee, snacks and beer at your terminal. Their workstations are equipped with headsets for making internet calls and the stations are cleaned daily. It will set you back about $1.50 per hour with other services being very reasonable in cost. The manager even speaks a little English and will cut you a deal if you guarantee her at least 10 hours of usage. Ask for a discount package upfront if you plan to check in daily with your office or e-mails. A lot of the working girls in LaGuito also frequent this café. Another target rich environment.

Language:

LEARN SOME SPANISH!!!. I can't emphasize this requirement enough. Very few Colombians speak any English, so learning some of the basics will be very beneficial. From telling a cab driver where you want to go, ordering in a restaurant, checking into a hotel, right down to negotiating with a Chica for the night or short time. Now, my Spanish is not bad. I continue to study Pimsleur CD's and always try to take some private lessons from locals when I am on an extended stay. I found the Hot Spanish book (now out of publication) invaluable for more subtle arrangements with local chicas. Every chica I showed it to wanted it for their own use in communicating with Gringos. I also found an English/Spanish dictionary or pocket translator a very useful tool when you just had to get a message across to someone.

No matter how good your Spanish is expect misunderstandings. Even when I used a translator to assist on some of the photo shoots misunderstandings occurred.

Even the smallest purchase or negotiation can lead to miscommunication. Many times, the non-Spanish speaking gringo just gives up and pays whatever the price is. The Colombians almost expect it to happen. The Gringo with some Spanish skills will know how to argue, negotiate and challenge an incorrect bill or get to the right place the first time in a taxi (it's common for a taxi to take you to the wrong place and charge you a second time to get you where you wanted to go in the first place).

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Preparation and Planning for your trip to meet Hot Colombian Women!

It is always a good idea when planning a trip to make a list of what to take, what to leave at home and what to buy upon arrival;

Sun Block-No matter where you are from, bring a very high SPF number of sun block with you or plan to buy locally (although you will find it much more expensive in CTG than a local Wal-Mart or Wall-Greens). Cartagena is very hot during the day and is close to the equator so the sun is very strong. I lived in Florida for many years and normally use number 4 or 8 for tanning purposes. I took a 30 and 50 and am very glad I did.

Medications_ other than any normal prescription medicine you might be taking, I recommend having your Dr. prescribe (or you can buy without prescription when you arrive) a broad spectrum antibiotic such as 500 Mg Cipro or a Z-Pak, Amoxicillin or other similar antibiotic. The water is generally safe to drink but the food handling and preservation methods may lend themselves to exposure to some stomach problems. I normally take 2 Cipro capsules the day before departure just to build up my immunities and usually take one per day while I am there. On this trip, I forgot to take my pills on the second and third day and sure enough, I got a case. Don't worry! if you come down with a stomach problem, it is easily cured with the Cipro and white wine (something about the acidity level of white wine that kills stomach bacteria). Do not take Lomotil or other diarrhea blocking medication. You do not want the bacteria remaining in your stomach, you want it flushed out.

No use losing a day or two of precious vacation or mongering opportunities because you are not feeling well. Of course, you should take aspirin, some throat lozenges (you are in and out of heat and A/C all day; the girls love them; and, it helps with bad breath all in one). I also recommend you take some antihistamine capsules to avoid the sniffles or colds. This is as much from kissing the women as it is flying in what I like to refer to as virus tubes. You can count on being exposed to every virus, bug and sickness in the world when you fly. Since they literally re-circulate the air in planes, anyone sneezing, coughing, blowing their nose or having any other infirmity is going to expose you to it. Another good reason to take the antibiotics before you leave. Lastly some Pepcid AC, Prevacid or other similar antacid. You will probably not be used to the amount of grease they cook with and spicy foods they serve.
If you have plenty of advanced notice prior to your trip, a regime of Echinacea is not a bad idea. I always start taking them before I travel and continue until I return.

You should also take a tube of antibacterial ointment. You will get little scratches, cuts and abrasions. No use letting them get infected. Also, several packets of Tincture of Betadine or alcohol wipes (available in drug stores). Comes in real handy for cleaning a scratch or cut.

Lastly, bring some Viagra, Cialis or Levitra or plan on buying some when you arrive (without prescription). You are going to need it!
Beverages: Beer, good Chilean wines and Rum are very inexpensive locally. If you are a Scotch, Bourbon, upscale Gin or Vodka drinker, make a stop at the duty free before you leave the US. These are somewhat expensive locally. One other note. Although most locals drink beer, rum or tequila, the national drink of Colombia is scotch and no one will ever turn down an offer for some (they refer to it as whiskey). They drink it neat or on the rocks without water.

Changing money:

Only change a small amount of money at the airport. They give the lowest exchange rate to the dollar but you will need some money for taxi and perhaps some necessary provisions. The banks are a good place to change money but the exchange rate varies from bank to bank and whether it is cash or traveler's checks (take your passport) be prepared for a long wait in line, very close scrutiny of large bills and close inspection of your traveler's checks. There is also a monthly limit to how much you can change at a given bank and many banks have a daily limit on how many US dollars they will accept. Rule of thumb. Go early! ATMs (or ATHs as they are called in CTG) are easy to find but also limit the amount of money you can take out daily (generally $300,000-400,000 per day). I did find the exchange rate higher at the ATH's. Many of the larger grocery stores (Carullo in Boca Grande) also offer money exchanging operations right inside the store. Not far off the bank rates and infinitely less time consuming than the banks.

Credit Cards: Although widely accepted in many restaurants and stores, almost no one accepted AMEX except the airlines. Others places only honored Visa so if you plan to use credit cards, better get a Visa. Even MasterCard was refused in several places.

Safety:
Even though the US Govt. still has a travel advisory for Colombia, I am not sure it should really apply to CTG. CTG is a tourist resort area and the police and military do a lot to protect that very important source of revenue for the city. Plus, most people are on vacation and there to have a good time. Now, this shouldn't be misconstrued for not being alert. There is a lot of petty theft, crime, drugs, drinking, partying etc. Never carry large sums of money and don't flash it around. Keep small amounts in one pocket to pay for things and only move small amounts from your primary cache to your spending pocket as necessary. Belly packs work very well for valuables, keys etc. and; if you are carrying a camera (cameras are prime targets) make sure it has a good strap on it and keep your hand firmly on the strap (like women do with their purses).

Don't be flashy with gold chains, rings, designer clothes or your cash. Leave them at home! Play down the fact you are a wealthy American/European (as they all think we are). I even recommend you leave your good watch at home and go for one of those water resistant Casios with rubber or leather wrist bands.

A frequently heard urban legend told by the locals is: "never be within 500 feet of a military vehicle!!!".

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Cartagena,
The Emerald Lady of Colombia

The hot days and cool nights are surpassed only by the beauty of the sea and the festive atmosphere of the Emerald Lady of Colombia.

CARTAGENA-HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE:

Cartagena was founded in 1533 by Spanish Conquistador Explorers. Within months of their landing, they had decimated and enslaved the indigenous native Calamari tribe of Indians and became the masters of this soon to be very important port. It became the treasure city of the Spanish Main and served as the primary transshipment port for precious gems and minerals destined for the coffers of King Ferdinand. Many Spanish Galleons, laden with riches from the new world, were attacked and seized by Pirates and English war ships. King Ferdinand ordered the city to be fortified to protect Spain's treasures. The fortress you see today and the Castillo San Philippe took nearly 200 years and 245 tons of gold to build.

Cartagena suffered invasions and sackings in 1544, 1560 and in 1586 (by Sir Francis Drake). In 1741, the English Commander, Edward Vernon, with 186 ships and 25,000 men laid a three month siege to the city. He was so certain that Cartagena would be his, he had a medal struck commemorating his expected victory. However, the Spaniards, outnumbered seven to one, held firm behind their walls and fortresses. The smaller cannons on the English ships were able to bombard the outer walls of the fortress seen today as you drive along Boca Grande beach but could not reach the distances and heights of Castillo San Philippe. The castles cannons on the other hand, made prime targets of the English ships whenever they ventured within range. Vernon lost over 70 ships and 10,000 men in his ill fated attempt to take the city.

Today, Cartagena is a lazy seaside city boasting great restaurants, cobblestone streets, rows of colonial-era homes and high rise apartments along its seaside beaches. Surrounding its' old city is a wall, built half a millennium ago, fifteen feet thick and topped with cannons. Amid violence in many other parts of Colombia, Cartagena lies in a tranquil setting overlooking deepwater ports and glistening seas. Its' inhabitants enjoy a slow paced lifestyle during the always present hot humid days and party atmosphere at night, fueled by the cool Caribbean breezes. Although tens of thousands of Colombians, displaced by Civil War, have moved into squatter camps less than a half hours drive from the city, very little of the strife felt in other parts of Colombia can be seen in Cartagena. The US State Department lifted its travel warnings to Americans in May of 2005 but still mentions the dangers of traveling in Colombia and did not exempt Cartagena. http://www.medellininfo.com/advisory.html However, cruise ships laden with Americans, including the US based Princess Cruise Lines, deposited over 200,000 passengers, nearly 95% Americans, in the city of Cartagena in 2000 and 2001. The mayor of Cartagena proudly asserts to the US State Department that not a single incident has occurred involving an American cruise line passenger.

There are many fascinating places to visit and explore in Cartagena. From museums in the old city, a wide variety of restaurants which boast local, American, Asian and European cuisine, to just sitting on the old fortress walls and viewing the pristine waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Because of the warnings, many people do not consider Cartagena as a possible vacation destination. That may be the reason there is a noticeable absence of T-Shirt and other typical touristy types of shops. Cartagena is truly, unsullied by artificiality and remains the Emerald Lady of Colombia.

And now, for more on why male travelers are making CTG a destination of choice:
I hope all of you enjoy this report as much as I enjoyed capturing the moments!

For photos and videos from our travels www.4womenoftheworld.com

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