BAQ trip report

[Kalel21]

I stayed at the Royal Hotel. Its about a 2. 5-3 star hotel, depending on what room they give you. I felt a little cheated, because they did not give me the room I deserved. According to their website, they have a business center with Internet access. However, the Internet was constantly down. It was never available. I stayed at the hotel for 7 days, and the Internet did not work, even once. I had to walk down to the Prado for use their Internet. Whenever, I asked the Hotel staff about the Internet, they seemed to look puzzled as if they were saying 'duh. Of course there is no Internet silly! ' The basic room at the Royal, is equivalent to a motel 6. If you get a suite, it is much, much nicer - like a Holiday Inn. I am not sure who built to Royal Hotel. But nothing seems to work there. Never, had any problem with women at the Royal. Which you would expect from a lower-class hotel.

I took a trip to Cartagena. Cartagena is a beautiful city. It is also very, classy, clean and safe. Totally different from the dirty & tough streets of Barranquilla. Cartagena is very tourist friendly, with many shops, Internet Cafe's and banks. The hotels in Barranquilla, don't even know the basics of what a tourist needs. For instance: At the royal hotel, they cannot exchange money. They also don't have an ATM machine. There is no convenience store, for shopping for items you might have forgotten. The Prado doesn't even have an ATM machine. In terms of tourism, I guess one simple statement can sum things up. I was in Barranquilla for 5 days, and did not see come across a single American/european. Barranquilla, is not supported by tourism. There isn't much American influence there.

What BAQ lacks in the look of the city they make up for with the women and my assessment is based on a number of factors:

1. Percentage of beautiful women. I don’t know, how many times have you seen two perfect 10s within 5 seconds passing two 9+s in the street? It happened to me on my last day in Barranquilla, it was absolutely unbelievable. More of this, and I would have come home with a broken neck and cross-eyed. In this respect, Colombia even topped Brazil and the Dominican Rep for me, and I thought that this wasn’t possible.

2. Sexiness. Just to see Barranquilleras wear the **** out of a pair of jeans is worth the price of a plane ticket. You might reconsider everything you ever learned about female anatomy afterwards.

3. Variety of looks. Barranquilla has it all, blonds, brunettes, redheads, jet-black hair, white girls, morenas claras, morenas oscuras, mulatas, black girls, tall, short, slim or not so slim. The only thing Barranquilla seems to have preciously little of are ugly girls. So unless you're into that or totally focused on Asian chicks, I can’t see why you wouldn’t find something to your liking in Barranquilla. IMHO, of course, Barranquilla even beats Rio de Janeiro in this respect, and Rio is pretty damn good in terms of variety of looks. Only other place to compare to would be my last trip to Venezuela, which again is an entirely different experience and I shall report on this later(and Sao Paulo, a place I have been to but doesn't really rank against Rio). For ugly chicks, I can highly recommend Bhutan.

5. Attitude. Colombia is "latinas made easy". nearly anyone can be approached or networked. The girls I’ve met were simply sweethearts, very approachable, very friendly and uncomplicated, and quite flirtatious. Peruvians are probably the only country where the women were are as friendly and approachable, if not friendlier. Brazil and Ecuador being harder. Venezuela was the hardest place to meet women (I enjoy the hunt). I will report more on Venezuela later. Goddammit, I got hit upon by 18-19 year old women who couldn’t wait to hang out with me in BAQ. But I had my hands tied because of my girlfriend in the DR. I couldn't do anything explicit with these women. I need to be single again. The first girl I passed on the street told me "Hola, adonde vas, gringuito lindo?". I should have told her "A la cama... contigo!"

Of course Colombia has down sides to it. Columbia has different classes of people. Easy peasy starts with the working class. The further up the food chain the harder the women get. The upper class women are a little snooty. You will have to work extra hard to get one and I would imagine age being a serious problem for the older veterans unless you are substantially well off and have good connections. Probably be a bad idea to bring these kinds to the US as they would leave you quickly. Colombia is a different story. The poor folks, don't give a damn. But, I can never forget being Senor Frogg legs and asking one of these high-class, superfine chica's to dance. She looked at me and waived her finger at me, like I was a dog. Maybe its a cultural thing. But I've never felt more humiliated. Waive your finger at me? Damn. A simple si o no, would due.

Yep, there's definitely snooty people here, who think they are better than everyone else. But, getting a woman in Columbia is just like getting a woman in any Latin country. If your persistent and show them that you are sincere, you'll get them. I have rarely met a Latin woman, who would not go out with an American guy, who is sincere, honest and persistent. The only question is, how much time do you want to put in and how much money you have or want to invest.

Every woman I met in Barranquilla, asked me one particular question "Why am I in Barranquilla, and who am I seeing"? The woman are not just jealous, they are competitive. I would meet a woman, and then her so called "Prima" (best friend) would hit on me. The man with more time in Colombia has the most advantage.

I totally agree, that Columbia is for the experienced, fluent traveler. You can't go stumbling around out here, unless you want trouble. On the way back from Cartagena, we were stopped by a group of military police with M16 rifles. They required that we get out of the car, so they could search us and our car. We got through, without problem. But again, not exactly tourist friendly. Totally different experience, when compared to Rio & Dominican Republic. I've walked to streets in Dominican republic at night, never felt threatened.

Barranquilla, isn't a tourist spot. Not many Americans go there. It is easy to understand why. Hot weather, ugly beaches, nothing to do in the day.

Venezuela trip report to follow later....

[Cap'n Jib]

Kalel,

Great report! Please keep them coming.

Dang, wish I would have come up with this one.

“Attitude. Colombia is "latinas made easy".” – Kalel

We have all crashed and burned such as your following experience.

“But, I can never forget being Senor Frogg legs and asking one of these high-class, superfine chica's to dance.” – Kalel

If I had the time and was really interested in this type of woman, I would walk up to her table with self assurance and ask her girl friend (one I was not interested in) to dance. I would barely acknowledge the hottie. Many women are competitive and while you are dancing with her girl friend, she is thinking about why you did not ask her to dance first. She knows that she is better looking than her friend and guys always ask her to dance FIRST…..ALWAYS. This distain she exhibits is nothing more than foreplay. The trick is to mess up her mind enough so she sees you as not a typical guy she can control.

I have found the one I was really more interested in, to be open and agreeable after pulling that stunt. Sometimes she even became the aggressor. Hate when that happened!

[HonkyTonk]

Nice report chap!

Interesting about the one waving her finger at you. Maybe it was best she shot you down in an undiplomatic way instead of a simple no with a smile. You'll never know, but look at the bright side. She may have had an ultra jealous narco BF who'd just love to kick your foreign ass if you didn't get her drift the 1st time.

Were you locked into the Royal Hotel? I've booked and moved if I didn't like a place.

Looking foreward to your Vz. report! We still don't have much info from there. Any chance of pecking out a few lines about Ecuador?

Carry on...

[LatinaDreaming]

I was wondering the same thing. Why didn't you move to another hotel? BAQ has several low budget hotels with internet in the room.

Nice report and of course I agree pretty much with your assessment of BAQ--the women are the attraction in the city!!!! Also agree that I put Colombian women ahead in terms of beauty ahead of Brazilian and Venezuela. It is close however. I think ol' Ray disagrees though!!!

[STM]

Kalel, who were you traveling with?

[Cubafro]

K,
That was interesting and did like your insight amigo...
After all it might have been a bit boring for you while there because you said that the only attraction is the women, when knowing that you left your lady in DR!!
Now for this woman showing you or pointing you her finger while asking her to dance, DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER REASON WHY SHE DID THAT TO YOU? DO YOU THINK IT IS JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A GRINGO' OR BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SHOW OFF TOO MUCH THAT YOU HAD MONEY OR NOT?? I mean by that in this world things happen for a reason so I'm just questionning her attitude toward you!!! It is really disrespectfull if you want my opinion !!!!
Good report and will wait the follow-up...Enjoy and keep us posted amigo!!!


CUBA

Big K -

Great report and cool perspective.

I must say I was not overly impressed with BQ and I been there many times staying a week or two at the Prado. I agree with your assessment about not much to do. If only BQ had a decent beach, then I think the place could be livable. I remember taking the route from Cartagena to BQ back in the day- summer of 2000 and it was risky! .....A two lane road out in BFE and 'not at night' the locals said! And yea, the military guys stop you with M16s and sometimes they are the FARC in disguise!

The FARC is inward from Tayrona, closer to Mycow (sp-?)

Look forward to reading more about your other trips.

Thanks for sharing.

[Kalel21]

Originally Posted by HonkyTonk

Looking foreward to your Vz. report! We still don't have much info from there. Any chance of pecking out a few lines about Ecuador?

Definitely have the Ecuador trip report up soon. I have nearly finished the VZ one. I am bit slow today as I have seriously injured my hand so I am typing with only one hand

Originally Posted by LatinaDreaming

Why didn't you move to another hotel?

Couldn't be asked to switch hotels as I wasn't going to be there too long

Originally Posted by STM

Kalel, who were you traveling with?

With an Italian amigo of mine that has been here many times.

Originally Posted by Cubafro

Now for this woman showing you or pointing you her finger while asking her to dance, DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER REASON WHY SHE DID THAT TO YOU? DO YOU THINK IT IS JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A GRINGO' OR BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SHOW OFF TOO MUCH THAT YOU HAD MONEY OR NOT?? I mean by that in this world things happen for a reason so I'm just questionning her attitude toward you!!! It is really disrespectfull if you want my opinion !!!!

I can't think of any other reason. My amigo tells me to meet those types of women like that you need to network your way into their group which isn't easy if your not there long enough. Those women normally don't speak to people outside their class nor date them except of course for really attractive young men. I can only imagine if someone tried to bring one of these to the US/europe. disastor!!!! Wasn't necessary for her to do that though if you ask me.

[Kalel21]

Originally Posted by Ray

Big K -

Great report and cool perspective.

I must say I was not overly impressed with BQ and I been there many times staying a week or two at the Prado. I agree with your assessment about not much to do. If only BQ had a decent beach, then I think the place could be livable. I remember taking the route from Cartagena to BQ back in the day- summer of 2000 and it was risky! .....A two lane road out in BFE and 'not at night' the locals said! And yea, the military guys stop you with M16s and sometimes they are the FARC in disguise!

The FARC is inward from Tayrona, closer to Mycow (sp-?)

Look forward to reading more about your other trips.

Thanks for sharing.

Agreed Ray BAQ hasn't got much to it. What did you think of the women though?

[Ciza29]

I remember reading somewhere that if the vendors are too persistent in Cartagena it was customary to shake your finger at them and they would get the hint.

Still seems a little harsh for her to do that unless she was trying to humiliate you. You did ask her with a British Accent correct? No woman I know can resist that.

Your friend is obviously a fan of BQ.

I look forward to the rest of your reports.