Bucaramanga !

sorry, I meant "just in case they do not speak "English" - * Also, I forgot to mention I do have a lot of good contacts there and know owners of English institutes, dentists, and teachers at the Universities if you need help Thanks

We now revive this long-forgotten thread about Bucaramanga, because
(a) Why not?!
(b) How many cities deserve an exclamation point in their thread title!
(c) And to present the following...

Top Ten Things I Noticed in My First Week Ever
              Visiting Bucaramanga

10.  Beautiful landscaping is the rule in the Expat-friendly Sotomayor sector.
9.  Classy storefronts and well-kept residential exteriors live up to Buca's
     reputation as the Beverly Hills of Colombia.
8.   Lots of dogs around, but you don't see canine droppings on sidewalks.
7.  People seem extremely polite, even on the Cacique bus.
6.  The bus to Cacique mall (kah-SEE-kay) -- the only bus ride I have had -- was filled to
      the max on Friday night.  Bus fare:  1600 pesos -- 41 cents US.  Taxis
      are cheap -- typically about two dollars for a ten minute ride.
5.  For about 15 US you can buy a small-cup food warmer for your hotel room,
      at the store Falabella, which has a presence at some of the bigger malls.
4.  The young women are very shapely.  The full effect is hard to judge due
      to the widespread wearing of 'tapabocas' and 'mascarillas' during The Situation.
3.  The food court or 'patio de comidas' on the third floor at Cacique has
      about two dozen different restaurants from pizza to chicken to seafood
      to 'carnes'.
2.   The room rate at a top hotel with first-rate restaurant, swimming pool, spa
       services and 12th-floor city views is $54 a night based on 14+ days of
       occupancy.

And the number-one thing I noticed in my first week in Bucaramanga...

1.   Colombia's great blackjack rules apply in the local casinos, including
      double down allowed on any first two cards, double after splitting,
      .. and surrender of stiff hands against any dealer card including an ace.

As for what I noticed about the weather, I agree with the conventional wisdom that Bucaramanga's weather is similar to Medellín's -- just a few degrees (F.) warmer in Buca.  Nights have been about 72 degrees F. and pleasant.

There has been precious little rain during my stay in November (2021).

cccmedia in Bucaramanga

Some very useful information - thanks. I am seriously thinking of going there next year sometime. I would go for two weeks probably and also want to travel the region. I do know someone living in that city who grew up there which would be a big help to me.

A very Buca Christmas.

Medellín is famous for its Christmas lighting.  Bucaramanga too has many Christmas lights in public areas.

Here in Expat-friendly Sotomayor sector, various parks and blocks have night-time lights of Christmas icons such as Santa Claus and elves.

The highway bridge to the well-lit-up Cacique Mall (kah-SEE-kay) is lined with dozens of lighted Santas, some appearing to carry boxed gifts.

Tonight (December 10), across from my hotel on Calle 47, live action figures dressed as Santas, elves and Minnie Mouse -- about half a dozen in all -- were singing English-language Christmas carols for a while in front of the Tommy Hilfiger store.

cccmedia in Sector Sotomayor, Bucaramanga, Santander

Sounds nice. A friend who is a local there sent me pictures of Candlelight Day which was like a festival atmosphere with entertainment and food. I hope to visit the city and surroundings next year.

Parades and pre-Lent 'carnavales' are popular not only in Bucaramanga but throughout Latin America.

Photos and a one-minute video of the Colombian 'eventos' are displayed at this page of tour company Palenque Colombia's website:

www.palenque-tours-colombia.com/es/colo … s-colombia

I do not have any financial relationship nor receive compensation for linking to any tour company.

cccmedia in Bucaramanga

thegriffs88 wrote:

Sounds nice. A friend who is a local there sent me pictures of Candlelight Day which was like a festival atmosphere with entertainment and food. I hope to visit the city and surroundings next year.

Candlelight Day is on or around December 7th .. and is the official kickoff of Christmas season here in Buca.  This year I heard plentiful fireworks on and off through the night.

The holiday lights may be down well before the Griffs make it to town in 2022, but there are plenty of other things and places to enjoy.  Below is a list that includes some of my faves...

Places to Enjoy in Bucaramanga, Santander...

8.  Parks.  Bucaramanga is known as the City of Parks and there are dozens of square-block parks scattered around.  Enjoy the weeping willows and mature plantings, the jewelry tables tended by local vendors and the copious, welcome amounts of shade on any given warm day.

7.  Calle 33.  Another great place for shopping.  This week I needed a hard-to-find medication and a place to mend/wash laundry .. and readily found both on 33 and nearby streets.

6.  Chicken restaurants.  I have already found three places cooking great chicken in different ways -- from Southern-friend style to curry chicken.

5.  Sushi burrito.  As of last night I am partial to the wide-body sushi rolls at this 'fusion' eatery.  The friendly staff volunteered to call a taxi for me when they saw I was not having any luck at finding one on the street (plenty of taxis but all carrying passengers around 7 p.m.) by myself.

4.  The rooftop swimming pool at my hotel on Calle 47.  Open officially till 9 p.m. and a few of us swim even a bit later.  The climatized pool is always kept at a comfortable temperature.  It's a special treat after returning from early-evening shopping in a warm taxi.

3.  Beautifully-kept and architecturally pleasant buildings in Sotomayor and other Gringo-friendly sectors.  This is the reason Bucaramanga shares (with Poblado sector of Medellín) the unofficial title of the Beverly Hills of Colombia.

2.  Cacique mall (kah-SEE-kay).  Four floors filled with clothing and specialty shops, a large Éxito supermarket and entertainment venues.

And the number-one place I have enjoyed in Bucaramanga...

1.  Doral Casino.  Although I can't promise you the same results, I have won almost every visit (typically going twice a week) to the Doral's lone blackjack table.  The 'mesero' knows my preferred complimentary drink -- 'aromática' tea with a side order of ice.  The casino is located on the upper shopping level of Central Comercial Cacique.

Latest endorsement of Bucaramanga.

Those Expats who follow YouTuber Loren Lowe

(rhymes with cow), originally from upstate

New York, may be interested in his views on

the city of Bucaramanga.

On this weekend's Coffee Time on his

Gran Colombia channel, Loren gave his

imprimatur to Buca.

He lives in the Coffee Triangle, where he

particularly likes Armenia and Manizales.

He has lived in Armenia, Quindío, for the

past four years or so.

Outside the Coffee Zone, Lauren has a

preference for Bucaramanga.  It's his

third favorite city in Colombia.

"Decent city.. It's the wealthiest city in Colombia.

It has a lot going for it, but somehow it manages

to play low-key," Loren says of Buca.