I created a map placemarking a number of the sites that I travel to on a sometimes daily but at least weekly basis. Because blogger does not seem to be the most advanced and my limited html knowledge from my internet chatting days has long since left me, the link underneath the map should take you to the sites and give you some links to some of these government agencies, organizations, and fields that I've mentioned briefly so far but may not have explained or discussed thoroughly. Hopefully one day, this map will might serve as a base or at least a helpful guide for future volunteers.
Busetas
Buseta rides as I've said are 1200 COP each direction. There is no real "public transportation" here so if you happen to get on the wrong buseta and need to get off, you´re out of those 1200 COP. The busetas are fairly small, seating about 14 people. Some are larger, namely those that go south towards Rodadero Beach and the airport. These are fairly easy to spot, they are larger and are either blue or white with streaks of purple. The plus side to this system is that they come often and it isn´t quite the debilitating blow as it can be to walk down the stairs at the 96th street stop to see that the next 1 train will arrive in 15 minutes. Hours fluctuate... I'd estimate they run from about 6:00 to 8:00 at night, however, some busetas will not complete their routes to remain within a more heavily trafficked area as the night wears on.
The placards change depending on the direction the buseta is going on the route and usually list a number of the streets or neighborhoods that they pass through. The direction is best understood by the most bottom word on the placard. Unfortunately, I've learned which busetas I want so my memory of all the neighborhoods listed on the placards is a bit iffy.
Directo-Bastidas (yellow placard)
I pick up this buseta heading north on Carrera 8 (Avenue 8) at my street Calle 24 (Street 24). You might hear someone say that we´re headed down or bajando, which didn't quite make sense to me as we head north for an avenue or two before turning left onto Calle 22 (also referred to as Santa Rita). Bajando was in reference to the street numbers getting smaller and subiendo in reference to heading the direction where the street numbers increase. Unfortunately, this buseta runs west until it hits La Quinta (The 5th or Fifth Avenue) before it makes its way back to Avenida Libertador. After about 15 minutes, it turns left and passes Barrio Galicia (to the left is the soccer field. Just after it passes under the Via Alterna to the left is Campo Alegre, the soccer field in Bastidas. The buseta's route ends about 25 to 30 minutes after I board and drops me off a block from the field in Los Fundadores.
Santa Rita - Transporte / Santa Rita-Taganga (light blue placard, white where it reads Taganga)
I utilize this buseta often as I can get down Avenida Libertador without heading down to the mercado (market). Basically, no matter what buseta you get on, if you stay on long enough you will hit the market. This buseta I pick up at Calle 22/Santa Rita at Carrera 8, subiendo. El Polideportivo is on the lefthand side on Santa Rita before the buseta eventually takes a left at Carrera 24 and then hits Avenida Libertador and turns right. If I am going to the office, I get off at Carrera 33 and walk to Calle 23 in Barrio Florida. If I am going to the Bus Terminal because I am going to Baranquilla for a friendly water polo game, I stay on the buseta for about 15 minutes more, or 30 to 40 minutes total, depending on traffic. Unfortunately, the terminal is not right off the road, so I often alert the driver ahead of time to let me off at the bus terminal. I usually head straight from the office to Taganga so the placard should say Santa Rita - Taganga for this route. Taganga is the end of the route. Sometimes, especially on the 10th or the 25th (days without motos), the routes are shortened and head down Santa Rita to the Market but do not head to Taganga.
Rodadero/Aeropuerto (large blue or white and purple buseta)
I can pick this buseta where I pick up the Santa-Rita Taganga bus in Barrio La Florida or on La Cuarta (4th Ave) around Calle 22. The busetas stop pretty much everywhere so you can get off and on whenever you want. To get on, you simply wave. To get off, I've heard a spectrum of polite to brusque requests, from "Señor, hagame el favor, me deja en la esquina" to "PARADA!" Since they are not quite accustomed to my accent and the more words I say the more likely I am to be misinterpreted, I've taken to saying "Señor...por aca" or I make the others who I'm riding with call out for me. Best to budget an hour to get to the airport but it is the same economic fare of 1200 COP.
Motorcycles and Mototaxis
I typically pay 1000 COP to 2000 COP for mototaxis. If it is somewhere really close, then 1000 should do. Most of my routes are fairly long so I've just taken to giving 2000.
10th and 25th
These days are days without motorcycles and motorcycle taxis in attempt to control the excessive number of motorcyles in Santa Marta. The streets seem a lot calmer, however, it can be a pain getting around as the buseta routes can be quite tedious for such a small city and they get extra crowded due to limited transportation mediums.
Pico y placa
In addition to the 10th and 25th days of the month, motorcycles have two days of pico y placa a week, meaning two additional days a week when they can not be ridden. It seems like most people take this to mean that they are not ridden on the main roads.
Parilleros
This refers to the second rider, whether it be a family member, friend, or paying passenger. Parilleros are not allowed in the center of Santa Marta. Sometime within the last year or two, men have been forbidden as parilleros after 7:00pm to curb drive by motorcycle shootings, mainly in the outskirts of Santa Marta. Women, however, are allowed to ride whenever. The later it gets however, the less likely one is to find a working mototaxi.
Taxis
From the airport, a taxi will cost about 20,000 COP to the city center, about a half hour to 45 minutes away. Maybe 22,000 COP. Usually there is a yellow card under the passenger sunshade that you can consult for the fixed long distance costs. Most other taxi rides are 4000 or 5000 COP, depending on the distance. Best to ask how much they will charge before getting in. That also gives you the chance to see if there is air conditioning!
After taking busetas, mototaxis, taxis, and receiving rides from generous friends of Marcos' family, I have a fair grasp of getting around. Sadly to say, this is my THIRD time in Santa Marta and I am slightly embarrassed that it has taken me this long since the city is quite small. I tend to learn my way around via running, but the heat discouraged me from doing so until recently as well as everyone else´s (over?)concern for my safety. I could have essentially been getting hill runs in daily as I commute to Taganga daily during the week for water polo practice with Santa Marta's Club Water Polo team. The road is a bit windy and some of the busetas take the curves at an alarmingly fast speed so that has also been a deterence.
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| Courtesy of Jose Davila, the coach of Club Shark/Polo Acuático Santa Marta. |
More on this side activity later... They convinced me to push my flight back (originally the 25th of July) so that I can play in the Fiestas del Mar tournament. I'm also excited to experience the festivities since I managed to miss them the past two visits to the Colombian Coast.
