Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:08:48 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/ CaribeNet Cartagena en-us http://www.caribenet.com/images/ http://www.caribenet.com/ info@caribenet.com http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=111 Spirit Airlines announced daily flights between Fort Lauderdale and Cartagena, beginning on 8th of May 2008. Read below for detailedl press release. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:08:48 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=110 From 29th of February until 7th of March Cartagena hosts the "Festival Internacional de Cine y TV de Cartagena". This years invited country is France, honoured with hommage to François Truffaut. Storyboard artist Lucas Gray will teach workshops about his work on the Simpsons movie and the national TV "Grammies" are to be hold on Plaza Aduana. Movies screened in the competition for "India Catalina" Awards show a wide range of Latinamerican and Spanish Cinema, including Colombian movie "Los actores del conflicto" by Lisandro Duque Naranjo. One of the main attractions of the Cartagena Film Festival is its location: Visitors can attend open air screenings on Plaza Aduana, Plaza Trinidad and Plaza San Diego or watch movies surrounded by the wonderful athmosphere of Teatro Heredia, Hotel Santa Teresa or the Naval Museum. Free screenings are offered in popular neighbourhoods like Olaya Herrera, Las Gaviotas, El Socorro and Fredonia. Details you can find on the website of the festival: www.festicinecartagena.org Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=109 At January 27 of 1928 Charles A. Lindbergh who one year before was the first pilot to cross the Atlantic on non-stop flight landed on the Bocagrande peninsular. His plane was "The Spirit of St. Luis", the same one he used to cross the Atlantic. Lindbergh was on a good will tour of Latin America, arriving from Panama after a four hours flight. A "Special Correspondent of The New York Times" reported from Cartagena that the governor leaded the excited crowd who broke the police lines to greet the "The Lone Eagle" Lindbergh. After being honored with a state dinner Lindbergh continued next day to Bogotá. The tour continued to Venezuela and the West-Caribbean. After visiting Haiti and Cuba Lindbergh flew back to St. Louis. In an National Geographic article from May 1928 Lindbergh writes: "My air excursion over Latin America took exactly two months. I was in the air over 125 hours and flew over thirteen countries. During this time I was treated with the courtesy and hospitality which is traditional of Latin America. Space will not allow the expression of my gratitude to the countless friends I left in our sister countries, but I have returned home with the feeling that the ties of friendship existing between the American republics are far too great ever to be broken by misunderstanding." Charles Lindbergh landed with "The Spirit of St. Luis" in Bocagrande Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:20:15 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=108 Colombian immigration laws permit a maximum stay of 6 months per year as a tourist. Visitors of most countries do not need a visa in advance but get the visa stamped into their passport upon arrival. Be aware that the immigration officer decides about the initial period of your stay: 30, 60 or 90 days. If you plan to stay more than one month you should advise the officials on arrival - before your passport gets stamped! - If you wish to stay longer than the period authorized on your initial entry stamp you should go to an immigration office and ask for an extension. Do this in time, a few days before your visa expires as there is some paperwork involved: You might have to give fingerprints and you will have to pay a fee of roughly USD 40 to a bank account. Be aware that Colombian authorities are very strict with these dates - Whenever you pass your maximum stay you will be fined before you can leave the country! If you need a visa extension in Cartagena you will have to go to the foreigners department of local DAS office in the "Pie de la Popa" neighbourhood. Immigration Office Cartagena: DAS (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad) Extranjería Carrera 20 B No. 29-18 Pie de la Popa Tel: 6568003 - 6560646 - 6562524- 6664665 Open from 8-12 and 2-5, monday through friday. Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:48:00 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=107 Last week the British consulate of Cartagena was opened. As the Ambassador Haydon Warren-Gash stated Britain is the second biggest foreign investor in Colombia with mayor investments in mining, energy and financial sector. The opening of the local consulate tributes to the significant growth of British tourism in the "Heroic city" as well as the cultural importance with events like Hay Festival, International Classic Music Festival as well as the Film Festival of Cartagena. British Consulate Cartagena Edificio Chambacú Carrera 13B No. 26 – 78 Oficina 416 Telephone: (+575) 664 7590 Fax: (+575) 653 8050 Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:20:22 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=106 The third edition of Hay Festival Cartagena de Indias will take place from 24 to 27 January 2007. This years special guests include British filmaker Stephen Frears as well as Senegalese singer and guitarist Baaba Maal. Hans Christopher Buch and Marcos Aguinis, Germany, Ariel Magnus, Pedro Mairal and Daniel Mordzinski, Argentina; Mónica Alí, Bangladesh; Joao Paulo Cuenca and Nélida Piñón, Brazil; Wendy Guerra, Cuba; Jorge Edwards, Chile; Rosa Conde, Juan Cruz Ruiz, Enrique de Hériz, Cristina García, Belén Gopegui, Jorge Herralde, Pepe Surela, Pablo Jiménez Burillo, Jesús Martín-Barbero, Alfons Martinell, Ana María Moix and Fernando Rodríguez Lafuent from Spain are just a few of the many invited writers, editors and journalists from around the world. Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:33:36 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=105 "A serious contender [for] the worst movie ever made from a great novel ... Skip the film; reread the book." states Time Magazine. " Los Angeles Times writes: "the novel has made it to the screen in the form of a plodding, tone-deaf, overripe, overheated Oscar-baiting telenovela ... Doubtless it's an enormously daunting task to adapt a book at once so sweeping and internal, so swooningly romantic and philosophical, but it takes a lighter touch and a more expansive view than Newell and Harwood seem to bring." Terribly bad critics, we don't mind: This film is a must see, maybe not for movie lovers but for anybody interested in Cartagena. As the film is not released in Colombia yet we still have to wait until we can see this the "la Heroica" on the big screen. Meanwhile we stay with the trailer on the official homepage or just watch "Behind the scenes" : (Click below...) Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:52:49 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=104 Banks are closed until tuesday, "Porro" music playing everywhere: The "Fiestas de la Independencia de Cartagena" - (Cartagena Indepence Festival) has started. Today, Thursday, is the day of the biggest parade, "El Bando". Carnaval groups from all over Colombia as well as the local beauty queens will present themselves to the public: Best place to watch, drink and dance is Avenida Santander, the main street between Cartagena's city wall and the sea. The party starts at 2PM and will continue until next monday. The "Fiestas de la Independencia de Cartagena" is an local event, not no be mixed with the national beauty competition, "Concurso Nacional de Belleza". Both events are held at the same time. While the first is an popular event held as a tribute to the independence of Cartagena, the second is an commercial event which ends in the most important national TV show on monday night, when international stars accompany the coronation of next Miss Colombia. - The popular "Indepence Queen" of Cartagena will be crowned already one day before in an mass event on Plazas de los Coches. The fiesta of Cartagena is wild: If you want to take part don't take cameras, watches and wear old clothes. Peolpe throw paint, oil, powder and fireworks. While todays "Bando" is the biggest and most popular event of the festival there are several other parades during the next days. The most tradional and maybe most beautiful parade is the "Cabilde de Getsemaní" on Sunday. The parade ends on Plaza Trinidad, where exactly 196 years ago the indedepence of Cartagena was declared. Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:24:50 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=103 Cartagena is music, everywhere and anytime. You will listen to music in public transport, streets, bars and even offices. Latin Music in its different flavors dominates the local taste: From Champeta, to Vallenato, Latin Rock or localized Reggaeton. But the most loved music still is the Salsa Music of the 70's and 80's with its heroes like Hector Lavoe, Willie Colón, Ruben Blades, Celia Cruz and -last but not least- Cartagena born Joe Arroyo. Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:40:48 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=102 American Airlines will increase its flights to Colombia. The most important change: From December 13th 2007 the airline will offer daily flights from Miami to Barranquilla, which is an excellent option for travelers heading to Cartagena! In addition American Airlines will increase its flights to Medellin, Bogotá and Cali, as well on a daily schedule. More good news: National Colombian flights will become cheaper in near future. In July 2007 the government liberated the minimum air fares for national flights. Before the fixed minimum fare for a flight between Cartagena and Bogotá was $557.000 Pesos, about USD 250.00. Fernando Sanclemente, director of government entity in charge of airline regulations Aeronáutica Civil stated that the liberation of flight prices should benefit national tourism. In many cases for Colombians it was cheaper to fly to foreign destinations than spending holidays in their own country. Without doubt international tourism as well will benefit from lower national air fares. Sun, 29 Jul 2007 15:20:51 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=101 "The stats all scream "Go! Go! Go!": Colombia's stock market has soared fourteenfold since October, 2001. Foreign direct investment and capital inflows have more than doubled, while real estate prices have tripled in many areas." Newsweek writer Roben Farzad has visited Colombia to give an insight view for the cover story on May 28, 2007. "On a continent whose economic history is the stuff of a blooper reel, Colombia's strong fundamentals stand out. Its $130 billion economy, a world leader in the production of coffee, petroleum, textiles, and flowers, is growing at 6.8% a year, two full points faster than the Latin American average." The full article you can read online on Newsweek:Extreme Investing: Inside Colombia . "Colombian Gold in Cartagena" was published on May 20, 2007 in New York Times. Once again this newspaper dedicates a extensive article on Cartagena: "Call them “sophistonauts” — those wide-roaming urban nomads, often third-culture kids, expats or grown-up diplo-brats who tend to live outside their countries (plural!) of citizenship and bounce around a social web connecting them to equally geographically flexible, curious confreres. The sophistonauts have not been visiting Colombia because they are braver than you and me. Nor have they been going for Cartagena’s balmy climate or the city’s peculiar colonial architecture or its rowdy history of pirates and plunder. The sophistonauts are flocking to Cartagena because they’ve been invited, in this case by proud Colombian friends eager to show off their favorite national beauty spot in full flower after decades of abandonment." - The full article can be read online on the website of NYT. Fri, 01 Jun 2007 05:24:56 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=100 Public transport in Cartagena is definitely cheap: You can choose between different classes of buses and even the taxi fare is very affordable: Actually you pay $4.000 Pesos (USD 2) for a ride between the Center and Bocgrande. Taxis don't have meters so you should negotiate the fare before entering the car. Drivers are supposed to present an actual price list. Ultimately Cartagena's public transport has been invaded my "mototaxis": An informal and cheap alternative? - Not at all, even if you use a helmet. The below movies, filmed in Cartagena an found on Youtube will tell you why... Sun, 27 May 2007 13:15:21 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=99 "El Cielo", directed by Alessandro Basile, is the first movie completly produced and filmed in Cartagena. The "Festival Internacional de Cine y Televisión de Cartagena" is the oldest film festival of the continent and the biggest cineastic event in Colombia. Between 2nd and 9th of March 2007 a total of 59 feature films will be screened, 19 movies are competing for the "India Catalina Awards". This years event will honor Gabriel Garcia Márquez with screenings of movies based on its works and documentaries about the Colombian writer. Miguel Littín, Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Ruy Guerra, Hilda Hidalgo, Marisa Paredes, Mauricio Laurens and Alberto Duque have confirmed their presence. For the first time several locations in the Old City like Plaza Aduana, Naval Museum and the "Palacio de la Inquisición" will host festival screenings. Tickets for all events can be obtained in Prodiscos- Vivero La Matuna, Teatro Heredia and the main festival office in Baluarte San Francisco Javier, Calle San Juan de Dios - across Hotel Santa Teresa. More information you can find at www.festicinecartagena.org! Fri, 02 Mar 2007 09:19:52 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=98 In only two months the forum members of Peter Van Dijck,s Poor But Happy Colombia Guide put together an impressive collection on travelers information on Colombia. The Cartagena section is not very extensive but the guide offers excellent general information on Colombia as well as very detailed sections on Bogotá and Medellin. The guide will be updated continuously in an collaborative work of forum users and provide up-to-date travelers information. You may order a printed version or just download free and print yourself at http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/files/guide1.pdf. Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:32:15 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=97 From January 6 to 13, the historic city of Cartagena will be filled with music during the first Cartagena, Festival Internacional de Music. Under the artistic direction of Charles Wadsworth, renowned pianist and creator of chamber music events worldwide, festival concerts will take place in historic venues throughout the city, including the Teatro Heredia and the beautiful chapels of the Hotels Santa Clara, Santa Teresa, Iglesia Santo Toribio and the Plaza San Pedro Claver. “I am convinced that Cartagena is one of the world’s most ideal cities for a music festival of this kind,” says Charles Wadsworth, festival artistic director. “The beauty and charm of the historic walled city, with festival venues in easy walking distance, make it a perfect setting. The late-night concerts planned for the city’s charming Plaza San Pedro Claver will provide a unique and wonderful venue for the four concerts, which will be free to the general public.” Wed, 27 Dec 2006 07:17:06 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=96 The Hay Festival is pleased to present, for the first time in Colombia, Bob Geldof, organiser of the legendary concerts Live Aid and Live 8 and founder of the band Boomtown Rats. Geldof’s music fuses an Irish sound with classic rock and he is one of the great international music stars. - The second edition of Hay Festival Cartagena de Indias will take place from 25 to 28 January 2007 featuring international authors from different parts of the world. The complete program of Hay Festival 2007 Cartagena you can find over here. Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:53:37 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=95 Cabilde de San Diego The official title of the festival is "Fiestas de Independencias de Cartagena de Indias", not to be mixed with the Miss Colombia 2006 beauty competition held at the same time. Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0700 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=94 While the on location filming of "Love in the Time of the Cholera" is still going on, Cartageneros remember former movie productions that got realized in the walled city of Cartagena. Stars like Robert de Niro, Marlon Brando, Jean Seberg or Klaus Kinski have worked in Cartagena on different productions. Italian actor Salvo Basile ("Once Upon a Time in the West", "Chronicle of a Death Foretold", "The Mission", "Burn") fall in love with Cartagena and became resident after the making of "Burn" in 1969. While the Cartagena based story of "Romancing the Stone" with Michael Douglas actually was filmed in Veracruz, Mexico the most famous movie introducing Cartagena was "The Mission": Filmed on location on the Iguazú Falls between Argentinia and Brazil and in the Old Town of Cartagena de Indias. Anyhow: If you ask Cartagena's residents about films made in Cartagena the first movie that comes up is "La Quemada", better known under the Brazilian title "Queimada" or the English translation "Burn". Wed, 11 Oct 2006 03:08:00 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=93 The image of Colombia is dominated by topics like drug war and violence. US State Department renewed its travel warning on Colombia, actor Bruce Willis offended the Colombian nation by claiming a North American intervention. Some foreign travel agents refuse to sell air tickets to Colombia for security reasons and many cruiseship passengers arriving in Cartagena are afraid to visit the historical center. Is Cartagena that dangerous for foreigners? Professor Fredi Goyeneche presents in this interview local statistics, based on his academic studies about violence in Cartagena. Sun, 06 Aug 2006 09:00:00 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=92 The famous novel was written by Gabriel García Marquéz who for a long time refused to bring this Cartagena based love story to screen. Hollywood producer Scott Steindorff finally convinced him with an outstanding crew: Screenplay writer Ronald Harwood ("The Pianist"), British director Mike Newell ("Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Mona Lisa Smile", "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") as well as Oscar nominated actors Javier Bardem and Giovanna Mezzogiorno and -last but not least- the beauty of Cartagena de Indias! Wed, 31 May 2006 15:24:08 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=90 Visitors' advice: 25 things you should be wary of in Cartagena 1.Never, ever change money on the street. Unlike other South American countries, there is no blackmarket, and it is not safe or recommended. Getting short-changed or handed fake bills, or having your wallet snatched from your hands in broad daylight are common scams. Cartagena has plenty of banks and casas de cambios. Many large hotels and emerald shops will change dollars, and most of the larger businesses accept US dollar bills. Exchange rates for other currencies are very poor. Thu, 11 May 2006 16:41:31 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=89 We just installed a new interactive webdirectory that needs your help: www.cybercolombia.com is a new human-edited Colombia directory of the Web, dedicated to an English speaking audience. All listings get reviewed manually by our editors in terms of content and technical quality. Wed, 10 May 2006 14:32:42 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=88 Plaza de Trinidad, Cartagena's oldest square actually hosts a very special cultural event: Sponsored by the German embassy and realized by the local Casa Cultural Colombo-Alemán you can watch fotball-related movies at no charge. Beer gets provided by the cornerstores at unbeatable prices. Hamburgers, hot dogs and arepas you will find at the stands around the plaza. The series is to be continued in Casa Bolivar, though without food, drinks and the lovely neighbourhood athmosphere of Plaza Trinidad. Anyhow a must, not only for footbal enthusiasts! Mon, 08 May 2006 17:43:08 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=87 From 28th until 30th of April Colombian Real Estate Brokers will present themselves on "donde Vivir e invertir en colombia", a Miami Trade Show held in Hilton Airport Hotel in Miami. Mainly dedicated to Colombians living in US, several Cartagena real estate companies participate with their latest projects. The event is supported by Colombian Foreign Ministry, Proexport and more. The official homepage of the event includes a spanish language guide on buying real estate from abroad. The national newspaper El Tiempo as well dedicated a section on buying property in Colombia. Thu, 27 Apr 2006 13:18:14 -0600 http://www.caribenet.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=86 Webauthors spend hours on investigating site statistics: Where do our readers come from, how long do they stay, where do they go, what are the readers looking for? Is the traffic increasing, decreasing, stable? While Cartagena tourism raised by 40% within 2005 the number of visitors on caribenet.com tripled. But last week we got a litlle nervous: From day to day our hits went to numbers we would never expect for a small webpage about a small caribbean destination. Initially we investigated a possible denial of service attack and searched for defaced subdomains. Good news though: The reason for the increased interest in Cartagena were three newspaper articles in USA Today, CNN and New York Times within one week. Thu, 23 Mar 2006 05:09:40 -0700