Welcome
to Cartagena, Colombia |
Founded
in 1533, Cartagena is historically referred to as Cartagena
de Indias, to differentiate from Cartagena in Spain. From
now on everything you have to know about Cartagena is:
FUN,
HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE,
ROMANCE, FOOD, BEACH'S,
ISLANDS, FIESTAS, GREAT
PRICES, and FRIENDLY
WELCOMING PEOPLE.
The International airport (CTG) is about 2-1/2 hours direct
from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and once you arrive, a quick
10-15 minute taxi ride to your hotel. You find that Cartagena
is easy to find, but hard to want to leave.
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Colombia
has more holidays per year than any other country in the
world. Colombians are judged as the second happiest people
in the world! Why only the second happiest? Who knows, but
they all get a "laugh out of it". Maybe it's the
fiestas, the music, food, art, dancing, culture?
In Colombia, your personal safety is number one. Within
only a few minutes in Cartagena you will be comfortably
enjoying yourself. Leave your rings, expensive watches and
jewelry at home, which is always smart advice no matter
where you travel, including within your own home country!
Yes, there are Tourist Police, City Police, Military Police,
and the people themselves, all to help you enjoy your visit. |
Taxis,
for about $6 U.S., will carry you from the airport to the
historic 5 star hotels in the Walled City known as: El Centro,
or to the nearby modern hotels in waterfront BocaGrande,
Laguito, or Anillo Vial.
Public buses are everywhere, and spaced around 2-3 minutes.
Clean stainless steel bus shelters dot the area, OR the
drivers will stop ANYWHERE, just press of the buzzer, or
whistle - 60 cents, at door-to-door bus service!
Five star hotels, exclusive boutique hotels, family hotels,
hostiles, etc., range from $300 to $20 u.s. per night. Great
restaurants, night clubs, discos, casinos, bingo, night
time strolls, horse drawn carriages or pleasant chatting
with new friends. |
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ATM's
using MASTERCARD or VISA cards (along with your 4 digit
PINS), are all over the city in supermarkets, hotels,
shopping centers, banks or your arrival at the Cartagena
airport. You can withdraw up to 400.000. Colombian Pesos
which currently is a little less than $200. u.s., which,
if your thrifty, can go long way in Cartagena.
Visit
the new Home Center Store which will rival your Home Depot
or Lowe's. And adjoining is a super center, like WalMart
or Target! Supermarkets are stocked with a wide selection
of Latino fresh vegetables, fruits, meats, fish, poultry,
foods and drinks, plus many of your favorite back home
brands. As an international city, Cartagena offers great
restaurants. Even a fast-food McDonald's which is right
across to a Colombia favorite: Crepes and Waffles which
also has a second restaurant two blocks from the main
Plaza (Park) Bolivar in El Centro. The Plaza, with four
lighted water fountains, is a pleasant place to sit, visit,
or stroll nearby where you will find The Gold Museum and
other nearby favorite tourist attractions.
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Golf,
deep sea fishing, diving, and our islands clear warm waters
with romantic hotels-we have it all.
Cartagena real estate offers some good: living, vacation,
retiring and investment values. Cartagena has Colombia's
most expensive per sq. ft.properties. Dramatic ocean-front
"condo style" apartments are selling for a third
of Florida sq. ft. costs, with annual Property Taxes less
than half of Florida taxes.
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A
live-in maid is around $250. U.S. per month! Check out
a realty website, loaded with up-to-date photos, floor
plans, prices, etc., on more than 40 new "condo"
projects, plus houses, apartments, farms, lots, businesses.
Up dated daily, and in both English and Spanish, the Paul
Juan Realty website even includes FSBO (For Sale By
Owner) listings! Other quality real estate broker's Home
Pages, and rental agents can be seen at: www.Cartagenainfo.net
- Professionals - Real Estate.
Hospitals,
Doctors, Dentists, Cosmetic Surgeons, and Opticians are
of good quality. Many speak English, and maintain stateside
training. The fees: one third or so! Bedside manors, with
personal care, and loving help, date back to the warmth
of the 1950's, but the equipment and medical training
is modern.
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Our
beaches are a big draw, but the most popular attraction
is the historic Old Walled City-El Centro, which is encased
by seven miles of thirty foot thick defensive walls, and
cannons. Shops, boutique stores, street vendors, foods and
smells from carts, music, parks, museums, AND people that
are happy to see you, and will help you find where, or what
your looking for. The streets are full of hustlers, and
if you want to move on, move your finger side-to-side as
you smile away. You will not be touched and if you want
to share a joke and a smile with them, just wait for the
next opportunity where they will try their English, asking:
"where are you from?" Smile and say: "mi
madre, y tu?" It may require a second try, but as you
smile and repeat your answer, your sure they will get the
joke and both of you will enjoy a big laugh. Colombians
are a friendly lot. |
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As
Toynbee, the world-famous English historian, standing
in front of the giant San Felipe fortifications that defended
this great city from attempted invasions by the King of
England, said: "Cartagena is the reason that South
America does not speak English" Pause as you
think about this great city-one of the most historic in
the Western Hemisphere!
SPIRIT
with fast, economic and efficient on-line ticketing is
complimented with Cartagena on-line facts and figures,
including more than a thousand photographs at: CartagenaInfo.net
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