Quote: (07-11-2011 02:36 PM)MiXX Wrote:
Its like comparing apples and oranges man.
All 3 cities are 1hr apart from each other, and except for Cartagena being a tourist hub, everything else us very similar.
Best thing you can do is a recon trip, and stay at all 3, but not sure you will see staggering differences amongst the 3 other than one being VERY tourism oriented.
Mixx
Hey man,
Thanks for the response
I am planning to a do a recon trip in June (Panama is in Jan & I just got back from Costa Rica 2 weeks ago). I am tryign to do recon to figure out what cities to visit. As it stands right now I will be visiting Cartagena, Bogota, Melledin & Santa Marta. My goal is to move to Colombia in 2015. I prefer something relatively cheap / safe, something with things to do during the day and nightlife. I would prefer to be by a beach and I know this complicates things which is what draws me to Cartagena. I know I have to go to see what's what
Quote: (07-11-2011 03:05 PM)Ajiaco Wrote:
1) Safety - All are about the same, although Cartagena is full of people preying on tourists who will try to sell you stuff or steal what you bring to the beach.
2) Price - Cartagena is the most expensive. It's a city made for vacations - I can't really imagine living there.
3) Things to do - Santa Marta is probably the sleepiest, honestly the city itself is not that impressive. Cartagena has a lot going on due to all the people traveling through, especially around summer and Christmastime when Colombians flock there in droves.
4) Women - lots of pay for play in Cartagena, very hard to tell sometimes who is and isn't for sale. I thought the women in Barranquilla were pretty hot, lots of mulattas, also some Arab influence.
5) Misc - For my money Barranquilla. It's the only one that's a real city, barely. It is very polarizing though; most people think it is ugly. Its design reminded me of LA, very wide streets, and people there like a good time. Cartagena, outside of the touristy areas, is extremely poor. Santa Marta is pretty quiet for a city of its size, kind of bland overall. Tayrona is amazing though.
Why the coast and nowhere else in Colombia? Bogota, Medellin, Cali, and other Santa Marta-sized cities have their charm as well...then again, I miss the ocean.
Hey man & thanks for the response. Why can't you imagine living in Cartagena? Is it simply the price? If Santa Marta has no night life nor things to do during the day then I might visit it but i will probably eliminated as a potentail place to move. I hear mixed things on Baranquilla.
What is Tayrona? Is that another city Iam guessing?
I grew up in Manhattan so I am looking to move to a beach area so I can surf & enjoy the ocean. I am kind of over citylife however if I am forced to choose a city in Colombia because everything else does not work out I will be looking at Melledin though I hear it is gringo infested and the locals hate the gringos.
Quote: (07-11-2011 03:14 PM)redneckpunk Wrote:
I wrote an extensive list of everything you asked for for Santa Marta about a week ago so look again.
It would have been nice if you put a link but i will look up your posts and find it thanks anyway
Quote: (07-11-2011 03:26 PM)Ajiaco Wrote:
Yeah, check out Dash's data sheets - lots of good back and forth there
http://www.rooshvforum.network/thread-3832.html
http://www.rooshvforum.network/thread-3833.html
http://www.rooshvforum.network/thread-3826.html
I will def check these out thanks for providing the links.
Quote: (07-11-2011 03:43 PM)dk902 Wrote:
Can't comment on Santa Marta, however I mostly agree with Ajiaco's comments above. Especially re:
"5) Misc - For my money Barranquilla. It's the only one that's a real city, barely. It is very polarizing though; most people think it is ugly. Its design reminded me of LA, very wide streets, and people there like a good time. Cartagena, outside of the touristy areas, is extremely poor. Santa Marta is pretty quiet for a city of its size, kind of bland overall. Tayrona is amazing though. "
Barranquilla is full of hot women, they are renowned for dressing to the 9's on a regular basis, and very sexy. The salsa scene here is huge and also social circle game plays a role to a certain extent. I wasn't there long enough to get a full hold on it. However I am sure it can be cracked given enough time approaches and scoping out of venues.
Cartagena is cool city, sure plenty of tourists, but plenty of locals to be got at if you know where to go and game accordingly during the day etc.
I will probably do day & nightgame and try to build myself a social circle when I get there. Right now this trip will be recon. Once I find the city I like I will spend more and more time there till I invetiably move. I am not too worried as I do quite a bit of daygame in real life so I am pretty well versed in it.
Quote: (07-11-2011 04:13 PM)Dash Global Wrote:
What is it your looking for in a city?
That will determine which city is best for you. I will give a quick synopsis comparing all three
Cartagena - the most expensive of the 3. crazy touristy. good touristy nightlife, ok local nightlife. decent beaches. decent looking women.
Barranquilla - real colombian city. hottest women. best nightlife. beach is not good. not the best aesthetically speaking city. friendly locals.
Santa Marta - ugliest women on a whole. i loved the layout/look/ overall feel of the city. nightlife is decent. close to very nice beaches. real laid back vibe.
Where would I live? Barranquilla hands down. Simply because I like to party and dont like seeing other gringos. Plus the women are REALLY good looking!
Hi this really great information. Thank you for the response. First of what do you mean by beach is not good? Does that mean it is polluted? Not safe?
Here is what I am looking for in a perfect city. Safe (relative I know), cheap (again relative), things to do during the day and night & hot girls. If worse comes to worse and I am forced to actually go somewhere without a beach I will look first to Melledin. Right now I am still trying to hang on to my fanasty of living in an area with a beach that is cheap, safe and has hot girls. Not sure if that is possible. I am pretty dead set on Colombia because i understand the culture. Most of my friends from home are Colombian. The right way, the wrong way & the colombian way.
I suppose based on ur post each one has different advantages vs different disadvantages. I heard Baranquilla is a really filthy city that smells. I hvae no clue if this is true that is just what someone todl me. Also I have heard there is not much to do in the city itself. Thanks again I will continue to research
Quote: (07-11-2011 04:49 PM)Dash Global Wrote:
Fad3r,
The safety is pretty much the same for all cities in Central and South America. Use common sense and stay out of the problems areas and you should be fine. In other words dont be a dumb ass. I wouldnt let any perceived safety issues stop me from living in any major city in Colombia.
Im bout to hit up san slavador and guate city, two cities with notoriously bad reputations, with crazy rival gang wars going on! Is that gonna stop me from going and meeting females? Hell naw! Im gonna use precaution and hope for the best!
Haha I love it. Good look & safe travels bro