Cartagena

While the cocaine barons attempted to move into right-wing politics with dirty money, left-wing guerillas started to produce and smuggle the drug to finance their war with the government. The police with machine guns, and constant army checkpoints along the Caribbean coast and roads to the capital, were supposed to restrict the effectiveness of guerilla movements. But backhands were given for certain things not to be seen. The checkpoints also forced the faster air-conditioned coaches to stop at the food-stalls of the poor. Understandably there is a nervousness in the young lad with a gun and army fatigues; the week I arrived in Colombia, a checkpoint ...  Read the complete review

Ignore the warnings, don't worry about narco-terrorists, forget about being kidnapped, and go to Colombia. Quite simply it's the most beautiful country in South America. There's something about the people and the place that set it apart from other Latin countries, and all the danger surrounding the place only adds to the mystique. Cartagena lies on the Carribean coast two hours west of Barranquilla, about 24 hrs by bus from Bogota if thats the way you're coming. Their are three parts to the city; the new part, Bocagrande is a long spit of land with all the hotels, cheesy bars and tourist tat. Avoid except when necessary unless of course you're staying ...  Read the complete review