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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Northern Colombia from the eyes of a Baja Traveler
ĦBuenos 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,
ĦĦBAJA KEN!!
[Edited on 11-10-2007 by Ken Cooke]
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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Are you saying that you are in Columbia and you can't score any "Columbian" ?
What are you wearing ? 
Sounds like a great trip - can't wait to see your photos !!
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
Are you saying that you are in Columbia and you can't score any "Columbian" ?
What are you wearing ? |
Nah, the outskirts of Cartegena where I visited today is a well-known pharmacy. I just choose to keep my nose clean. 
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rogerj1
Nomad
Posts: 265
Registered: 4-29-2004
Location: Gig Harbor, WA
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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.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| 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?
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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!
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2902
Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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Thanks Don Ken, loocking foward for your pictures,and trip report..Have A SAFE RETURN HOME..
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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BAJACAT
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 11-21-2005
Location: NATIONAL CITY, CA
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Also Ken say Hi to SHAKIRA for me if you see her..
arriva COLOMBIA....
BAJA IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE, FUN,DANGEROUS,INCREDIBLE, REMOTE, EXOTIC..JUST GO AND HAVE FUN.....
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BAJACAT
Also Ken say Hi to SHAKIRA for me if you see her..
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. 
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!!!
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Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
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Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
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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
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gibson
Banned
Posts: 250
Registered: 2-6-2007
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| 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.
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... waiting ...
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| 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. 
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Colombian Partners in Crime
Onelis and I on the day of my arrival to Barranquilla:
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
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Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Onelis' kid-sister Stephanie:
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Onelis and I at sunset in Cartegena on the Atlantic:
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Stickers
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 4-12-2006
Location: SoCal
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Nice
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?
[Edited on 11-14-2007 by Stickers]
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gibson
Banned
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ok
yea that's sweet n'all BUT what about the pageant pics??
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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| Quote: | Originally posted by gibson
yea that's sweet n'all BUT what about the pageant pics??
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Ask and you shall receive...
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Cartegena modern skyline:
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Cartegena from 20,000 ft.
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8948
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Cartegena at night:
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