BajaNomad - Northern Colombia from the eyes of a Baja Traveler

Northern Colombia from the eyes of a Baja Traveler

Ken Cooke - 11-10-2007 at 06:49 AM

¡Buenos Dias desde Barranquilla, Colombia! Estoy en el Atlantico de Colombia, visitando mi novia Onelis Pinedo, viajado por todas partes y comiendo los mejores mariscos del mar Caribe.

I had to get that out of my mouth before proceeding. Barranquilla is an incredible place. Situated on the northern fringe of this equatorial country, Barranquilla is incredible. From music bandstands set up at gasoline stations with full-scale bands performing for customers as they fill their tanks, sounds of Valliento and Cumbias float through the air along with gasoline and diesel fumes.

The food is what you would expect anywhere south of the border, and that includes fresh fish, ceviche, mariscos, pulpo, camarrones, and everything is fresh. Nothing tastes old like it was prepared yesterday like in Lima, Peru. The climate is nice and warm. Take the daily chaos of Tijuana and transport it to La Paz in the late spring. Combine that humidity with late summer cloud cover and occasional rainstorms and you have Barranquilla.

Yesterday, Onelis and I traveled to Santa Marta - the birthplace of the Colombian drug cartels. There, we did not see evidence of this citys sorid past. Instead, hoards of Colombia tourists out for an afternoon on the beach. Enjoying the sand and calm surf. Vendors passed up and down the main avenue selling what you would expect to see sold in places like Rosarito or Ensenada. And yes, they were quite persistent. As Onelis and I dined on fresh fish, and a Mariscos platter, an elderly woman lamented that she was not making any money from tourists today, and that she was so hungry. So, I presented her with a warm plate of freshly prepared deep-fried Plantains, and she gladly accepted.

The topography here is flat, however just beyond the sand of Santa Marta and Taganga to the southeast, lies the alpine region of La Sierra Santa Marta. There, green vegitation grows alongside green euphorbia, making a tropical but deserty mix that is not expected, but endemic to the northern reaches of this continent. Just like the desert north of Lima, Peru you see prickly pear cactii sharing the coastline with salt water.

What do I have in store for the rest of my 5 day vacation south of Mexico, but north of the Equator?? A nice trip to Cartegena where the city will celebrate its independence from Spain and I will witness the widely known CARTEGENA BEAUTY PAGENT!! Not to be missed. Stay tuned Nomads, because photos will surely follow.

Signing off from lovely Northern Colombia,

¡¡BAJA KEN!!

[Edited on 11-10-2007 by Ken Cooke]

Diver - 11-10-2007 at 06:58 AM

Are you saying that you are in Columbia and you can't score any "Columbian" ?
What are you wearing ? :lol:

Sounds like a great trip - can't wait to see your photos !!

.

Ken Cooke - 11-10-2007 at 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Diver
Are you saying that you are in Columbia and you can't score any "Columbian" ?
What are you wearing ? :lol:

Nah, the outskirts of Cartegena where I visited today is a well-known pharmacy. I just choose to keep my nose clean. :yes:

rogerj1 - 11-11-2007 at 12:51 AM

My cousin just married a girl from Columbia. She's absolutely beautiful. My single friends are intrigued by this. Should I send them down there Ken? She's getting accustomed to living in the US but had a hard time adjusting to the temperature in the Sacramento area, too cold.

Ken Cooke - 11-11-2007 at 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rogerj1
My cousin just married a girl from Columbia. She's absolutely beautiful. My single friends are intrigued by this. Should I send them down there Ken?

Absolutely send the guys down. The security is improved, you see gringos walking alone and taking the bus, not getting harassed or threatened, teaching at bilingual schools, living here full-time, etc. So, things are definitely safer with President Alfaro Uribe at the helm. I am spending time on the Northern coast as Onelis comes from Barranquilla. Bouncing back and forth between Santa Marta and Cartegena is as simple as taking a bus for $5 each way to your destination.

Tell them to check out www.loveme.com this is where I met Onelis.

If they prefer the look and the vibe of Colombian women, along with the sincerety and non-hyper complexity, they will be thoroughly satisfied.

As for temperatures, I come from Riverside where November here reminds me of July and August in my hometown of Riverside.

I have a gazillion photos I will post on my website and link here to BajaNomad.com, but I left all of the login info back at home. Check back here later in the week, you will see photos of the Cartegena BEAUTY PAGENT we attended yesterday. LOTSA FUN! :yes:

BAJACAT - 11-11-2007 at 11:06 AM

Thanks Don Ken, loocking foward for your pictures,and trip report..Have A SAFE RETURN HOME..

BAJACAT - 11-11-2007 at 11:42 PM

Also Ken say Hi to SHAKIRA for me if you see her.. :dudette:

arriva COLOMBIA....

Ken Cooke - 11-12-2007 at 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJACAT
Also Ken say Hi to SHAKIRA for me if you see her.. :dudette:

arriva COLOMBIA....

Estas equivivoca...I was dancing with Shakira last night at La Tormenta.

That is, until Julie got into a beer-tossing fight with a jealous boyfriend who couldn´t stop checking Julie out. Of course, I was in the middle of this quickly-escalating fight since Julie is Stephanie´s friend, and Stephanie is Onelis´kid-sister. :no:

And, yes, I danced to Banda music in Colombia and I was the only one who knew how to do the Quebradita with Stephanie (who happens to be young, single, and looking btw)...

I had too much fun. Avenue 45 is just like Calle Revoluccion in Tijuana, hot dog carts included. The food here is vastly superior to anything I tasted in Peru, and it quickly rivals the Baja Gold Coast. The prices were rock-bottom on alcohol, and the food was offered at a fire-sale price. But, it was fresh, good-tasting, and you didn´t need to worry about getting sick. Even the tap water in the hotel was safe to drink.

I wish I could find something bad to say about Colombia, but I really can´t.

I also took pictures of the Colombian beauty pagent participants in Cargegena 2 days ago, and I will post these up when I get home late tonight.

ATTENTION BAJA NOMADS: COLOMBIA IS THE NEXT BAJA!!!
PACK YOUR BAGS, THIS PLACE ROCKS!!!

Bajafun777 - 11-12-2007 at 09:20 PM

Ken, I am glad your having fun amigo but remember "Easy on the Easy," as Onelis may become a Cook and then your eyes will have to be reset to just one. Like you to also know that everybody I gave one of the Baja4x4 shirts to really liked them. The size for my buddy in Carlsbad was also as your predicted it fit right on. Have fun and when you get back email me some of your exciting moments. I may very well have to take that trip also to check out Colombia, as Costa Rica was definately a fun place just the roads were really really bad. Pop a cold one for me and then spin Onelis around on the dance floor. Have Fun and then more Fun!!!! bajafun777

gibson - 11-13-2007 at 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
I also took pictures of the Colombian beauty pagent participants in Cargegena 2 days ago, and I will post these up when I get home late tonight.

... waiting ... :lol:

Ken Cooke - 11-13-2007 at 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajafun777
Pop a cold one for me and then spin Onelis around on the dance floor.

At La Tormenta in Barranquilla, we spun around on the dance floor to Salsa and Vallenato music for about 10 minutes. Then, I felt something wet hit me on my back. One (oh-nay) and I kept dancing, and then I saw this big splash of beer cover Julie, making her soaking wet. Then, I watched the beer cylinder being emptied, and Julie poured beer all over this "someone" at the table next to us. Then all of a sudden, all of the women at the other table stood up, and then Onelis and sister Stephanie stood close together with Julie in the middle getting ready to scrap with all of the girls at the other table. Back and forth, I heard yelling in the fastest, highest pitch of Spanish imaginable from the two tables. Then, the boyfried walked up to me, pleading not to get involved and that he was sorry for the trouble that was being caused. I told the boyfriend that I didn't want any violence, because coming from the L.A.-area, that's all we see. Plus, with 4 women soaking wet with beer, it didn't look like things would deescalate. With my back soaking wet, I took off my shirt - I wore a "wife-beater" underneath. Everyone at the other table noticed that I had probably been working out for quite some time, and they all decided to quickly sit down. Onelis, Steph., and Julie noticed that I stopped the fight by merely taking off my shirt! Talk about 1 trillion brownie points earned in mere seconds. :bounce:

Colombian Partners in Crime

Ken Cooke - 11-13-2007 at 11:26 PM

Onelis and I on the day of my arrival to Barranquilla:

Ken Cooke - 11-13-2007 at 11:27 PM

Onelis' kid-sister Stephanie:

Ken Cooke - 11-13-2007 at 11:28 PM

Onelis and I at sunset in Cartegena on the Atlantic:

Nice

Stickers - 11-13-2007 at 11:52 PM

Well Ken (Mister Grande),
Onelis looks like a sweetheart and I sure hope you are bringing her home from Colombia so we might meet her (and maybe her sister) bumping down the roads of Baja with you.

I guess I will have to add Colombia to my travel list. Who woulda thought?

:lol:

[Edited on 11-14-2007 by Stickers]

ok

gibson - 11-13-2007 at 11:57 PM

yea that's sweet n'all BUT what about the pageant pics?? :lol:

Ken Cooke - 11-14-2007 at 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gibson
yea that's sweet n'all BUT what about the pageant pics?? :lol:

Ask and you shall receive...

Ken Cooke - 11-14-2007 at 12:01 AM

Cartegena modern skyline:

Ken Cooke - 11-14-2007 at 12:07 AM

Cartegena from 20,000 ft.

Ken Cooke - 11-14-2007 at 12:08 AM

Cartegena at night:

Ken Cooke - 11-14-2007 at 12:10 AM

Soledad (Barranquilla) Barrio Soccer Street Players:

Ken Cooke - 11-14-2007 at 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gibson
yea that's sweet n'all BUT what about the pageant pics?? :lol:

The computer is malfunctioning and won't let me upload any more pics to my website. I have like 50 more pics of the pagent, but nothing will go anywhere. Perhaps the computer is related to that mule that Graham Mackintosh dragged all over Baja some years ago?

Check out the Baja Photo Gallery on Thursday, and I should have the bugs worked out by then. I need some sleep, amigos...zzzzzzzzzz :saint:

Ken Cooke - 11-14-2007 at 07:00 AM

Be sure to stop by the Baja Photo Gallery section to view the SWIMSUIT COMPETITION PHOTOS.

Enjoy,

Ken

CShirk - 11-19-2007 at 09:31 PM

I was in Cartagena, Barranquilla and Santa Marta for about a month at the beginning of the year. I just wanted to say how safe I felt there. Most people are terrified of the country, but I have traveled to most of Latin America and Colombia is up at the top of the list of 'Countries I Felt Most Safe In'. If anyone has the chance to travel there, DO IT! so much history, culture, beauty....

Ken, did you get a chance to visit Taganga or Tayrona National Park? Tayrona is amazing! Gives the beaches of Baja a run for their money.

Ken Cooke - 11-24-2007 at 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CShirk

Ken, did you get a chance to visit Taganga or Tayrona National Park? Tayrona is amazing! Gives the beaches of Baja a run for their money.

Not yet. I have to get my anti-Mallarial meds in Tijuana next week, and I'll be ready... Onelis really wanted to visit Tayrona, because she loves exploring and wants to see her country so much. I want to see more of these killer beaches that remind me so much of Baja...

4baja - 11-25-2007 at 06:51 AM

i thought you were on a jeep run in baja now.

juangrandebigjohn - 11-25-2007 at 01:09 PM

Thank you for photos and info,yes,it does make a guy want to head there.Last year flew to Quito from Mexico City for under $400 RT,you could esily go to Columbia via land from there.Tell me,was that marriage broker background check a real hassle for you?My background is clear,just do not like intrusions by the USA government,many feel thus.I know a legimate,helpful site marrymeinmexico,whose owner shut it down because offended by this intrusion.

Ken Cooke - 11-25-2007 at 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by juangrandebigjohn
Thank you for photos and info,yes,it does make a guy want to head there.Last year flew to Quito from Mexico City for under $400 RT,you could esily go to Columbia via land from there.Tell me,was that marriage broker background check a real hassle for you?My background is clear,just do not like intrusions by the USA government,many feel thus.I know a legimate,helpful site marrymeinmexico,whose owner shut it down because offended by this intrusion.

My next r/t flight from LAX to Barranquilla will cost me ~$450 round trip. Not a bad price since it would cost the same to visit my ex-inlaws in Michigan (yuk).

As for the Immigration lawyer, it is real easy to set everything up. I called my g/f in Barranquilla this morning to make sure everything would be FedEx'd to me by the end of the week. The lawyer does the rest. No hassles to speak of. Maybe you just need a different lawyer, that's all. There's plenty in the Los Angeles area that specialize in Immigration...

Ken Cooke - 11-25-2007 at 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4baja
i thought you were on a jeep run in baja now.

The trips were scheduled back to back. :spingrin:

I returned from Baja at 9:30 p.m. last night, and I'm ready for more fun, fun, fun!! :yes:

Ken Cooke - 11-28-2007 at 07:07 AM

When Onelis and I were dancing in Barranquilla at Club Europa - this music video played on the video screen. It really rocked:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv0n2t9xs80

As you'd expect, on the Mar Caribe, anything with the reggae sound is really popular with the people in Northern Colombia.

juangrandebigjohn - 11-28-2007 at 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Quote:

Ken,Can your please give me name of airline and how and where you found such a bargain RT LAX-Barranquila for $450 and perhaps rough dates that fare is available,I can easily go there before or after I go to Baja.My direct email is juangrandebigjohn@yahoo.com.mx I surely appreciate your help and wish to compliment on your gorgeous wife.You are obviously a true gentleman,preventing a fight rather than esculating matters,hats up to you,sir!