User:Ritmocaribe
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Welcome to the RitmoCaribe Page, home of RitmoCaribe Productions in Cartagena in the West Indies! - TOURIST INFORMATION SECTION FYI - FREE PHOTOS AND MUSIC AVAILABLE AT RITMOCARIBE.NET ARE DESCRIBED AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE
Background - This Tourist Information section is placed here to give you some background on Cartagena in case you are thinking about planning a trip to the most impressive Colonial City of the Americas. As you may know, Cartagena was the richest gold bearing city, and was the former capital of Spain in the New World. Additionally, the rich Pirate history is what originally brought Cartagena into my attention, as I have a sweet spot for history, especially Pirate history! You will also be impressed to know Cartagena never fell to the Pirates, English, Dutch, French, Privateers or any combination there of, all of whom constantly attacked Cartagena to no avail in the quest for the richest stronghold of gold the new world has ever known. Please know what I write here is coming from the perspective of an American who really knows the ins and outs of Cartagena having conducted business for the past 3 years with a good understanding of, what it costs, the pros and cons, and what really goes on. Cartagena is not to be missed. I was smitten on my first trip!
Top Destination - Cartagena is the 3rd ranked tourist destination in South America, just behind Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires. Cartagena is the #1 Top Tourist Destination in Colombia, a country of nearly 50 million highly educated individuals, and is considered to be the center of the rich Colombian music movement of this incredibly talented nation. There are perfectly preserved castles and fortresses throughout Cartagena, including the largest castle in the Americas, (El Castillo de San Felipe), which is nothing short of an entire mountain covered by the castle. The Old City as the former colonial capital of Spain in the new world is now called, is the largest and best preserved of all former Spanish Colonial cities in the Americas. The pounding beat of music echoes through the Old City after 10:00 PM and nightlife is at the center of the Cartagena fun with an amazing number of Discos that stay open all night.
Love American Style - Colombia has gained attention as having some of the most attractive citizens in the world, and they have been dominating the super model market as well as beauty contests throughout the world. This is true of the men as well as the women and Colombians have a love for the finer things. The many discos are a magnet for the amazingly attractive Colombian tourists who come from Medellin, Cali, and Bogota as well as tourists from all over Europe, Canada and the US. Americans, while the last to catch on to the fact that Cartagena is a great destination, are loved uniquely in Colombia as the US helped liberate their people from the grip of the drug cartels some 3-4 years ago and the current President is well loved for his contribution to the safety that is now enjoyed across Colombia.
Land Rush - There is a current land rush of investors and properties have been doubling in value in less than a year. European and Asian companies are buying beachfront property and erecting luxury apartment buildings at an astonishing rate. The tallest building in South America is being built in Cartagena and is nearly finished in Boca Grande, (Boca Grande is the Miami South like hot spot and tourist area). This high rise luxury building is being built by a top Japanese firm and should prove to shed some light on just how much things have changed and it will be finished in early 2007. Good land deals are still available as the demand keeps rising, and Americans can get preferred treatment with visas, property, and business ownership paperwork. Unlike Mexico, Americans and other foreign nationals can own beachfront property in Colombia. I have a few, damn I should have bought that lot stories that still bug me daily when I drive buy the Luxury 30 story apartment building that now stands in the same location where I could have bought the lot cheap last year. Europeans always seem to beat us Gringos to the land rush, and this is no different, the most aggressive buyers are Italians, Spanish, Canadian, Dutch, and Asian mostly, but savvy Gringos have caught on and are now buying apartments to lease to tourists.
Exchange Rate - You will like the exchange rate (Nov. 2006) one dollar $1.00 = 2270. Pesos Some examples of current Cartagena prices: American Breakfast $2.00, Cab Rides anywhere in downtown Cartagena $1.80, Lobster in the Rosario Islands $3.00, Massage on the beach $4.50, Beer on the beach $1.50, Tour to the Volcano with lunch $15.00, Trip to the 29 Islands offshore with lunch, and snorkeling $22.00, Freshwater pearls $5.00 per string, you get the picture your rich when you land. Interestingly, Cartagena is more expensive than much of Colombia due to the tourist draw and great beaches, weather, and lifestyle. Most prices will be lower than what I quoted here in other cities.
Danger Most have heard Colombia is a very dangerous place and that was certainly true some years ago. As I mentioned above, billions of US tax dollars and thousands of Marines, DEA, Coast Guard, Navy, Army, and lots of Blackhawk helicopters, compliments of the partnership between the President of Colombia and Mr. Bush, have scattered the drug cartel to other countries in cases where they were not field executed. The resulting peace has caused a land rush and robust industrial revolution.
Caution - As with any third world country, common sense is a requirement to stay safe, and I recommend caution in your approach just as I would if you were going to Rio or Costa Rica, (both of which where I have seen worse danger on my last trips). Currently Venezuela is 100 times more dangerous!
Dos and Donts - Dont flash lots of money, dont go down dark alleys alone, dont wear lots of jewelry, dont over tip for service, dont accept drinks from strangers, dont change money in the street, dont make trips with unmarked taxis, dont take anything that is FREE as nothing is FREE, dont kiss another mans woman, or another womans man (some Colombians can be very jealous), dont buy Viagra on the street, dont buy drugs, dont go into the Jungle without a professional tour guide with credentials, make copies of passports and lock all valuables in your hotel or penthouse safe. Yea, I know nothing new here, (do all this if youre visiting LA or Chicago too!).
Rosario Islands - We are posting pictures from the chain of 29 beautiful islands known as Las Islas Rosario just 30 minutes by speed boat from unequalled nightlife of Downtown Cartagena. These are a must see, and some have true native peoples that the Colombian government has protected including their way of life and customs. They still love visitors and they catch amazing fish, lobsters, oysters, crab and shrimp and will make you a feast for a king right on the beach. The native peoples of Baru and Isla Grande love music and singing, and I have led a 24 person choir with nothing more than an empty bottle of Coke to pound out a beat to their favorite Champeta songs, oh yea we had a bottle of rum too.
Photos - Categories you will find in the photos sections to help you understand what Cartagena can offer the tourist in terms of great destination: Beaches, Islands, Colonial Architecture, Castles, Nightlife, Rumba (parties), Concerts, Sea Foods, Crafts, Penthouses, Dancers, Natives, Clothing, Beach Concerts, Excursions, Chicas, Volcanoes, Eco-Tourism
Music - Here is a brief guide to understand some of the original proprietary new music genres we producing in addition to Reggaeton Champeta and other mainstream music right now in Cartagena:
Champeton = Reggaeton + Champeta = HOT HOT New Genre Chameggae = Reggae + Champeta = Smooth and sexy w kick! Technoton = Techno = Reggaeton = Move all night sexy Chica ! Vallenaton = Vallenato + Reggaeton = Pounding beat w accordion! Champenata = Champeta + Vallenato = Moves the heart upward Sambaton = Samba + Reggaeton = Carnival on steroids ! Salsaton = Salsa + Reggaeton = Partner dancing fantasy!
Feel free to listen to the music streams, join the members or fans sections, check out the crazy rumba photos and videos, post a blog, send a message to a singer, and check the calendar for concerts and events. If you are an artist with a Caribbean sound your welcome to join in, and we are always on the lookout for new bands and talent in Reggaeton, Champeta, Reggae, and Latin Caribbean music types. Remember we have many radio channels here and have just signed the top DJs in Cartagena and the US to serve up the music as only they can!
Feel free to drop me a note if you have a question of need more information. I hope this section will give a few more Americans sufficient information that are considering a trip to Cartagena.
Warmest regards, Michael
CEO RitmoCaribe Productions CEO@RitmoCaribe.net www.RitmoCaribe.net
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