COLOMBIA: Sex tourism booming on the Caribbean coast

[Judi Lynn]

COLOMBIA: Sex tourism booming on the Caribbean coast

CARTAGENA, 18 November 2008 (PlusNews) - On the surface, the historic northern city of Cartagena on Colombia's Caribbean coast is an up-market tourist destination, with cruise boat passengers strolling through the old, walled city's maze of narrow streets as sight-seers duck into air-conditioned boutiques and cafés to escape the tropical heat.

But there is a seedier side to this travel-brochure charm. The backpacker hostels that line a picturesque street just outside the old city are in a notorious red-light district and many of the men dozing on benches in a nearby park are not having a siesta, but waiting to pick up sex workers.

According to Mayerlin Verqara Perez, a programme coordinator at Fundación Renacer, a non-governmental organisation working to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, almost every other person on Cartagena's streets after a certain hour at night is connected in some way to the sex trade.

The man in the sleeveless black t-shirt, smoking a cigarette, is a well-known pimp, she says, and the girl in the tight, yellow dress with the European-looking man in shorts are almost certainly a sex worker and her client. Even the group of over-dressed teenagers loitering near the entrance to the old city, are probably selling sex.

"It's become a lot worse in the last 10 years," said Perez. "There are more children doing sex work and they're starting younger."

More:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=81528
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

[Texano78704]

1. Was there five years ago

The closest I got to a sex worker was when I was "tricked" by a guy selling roasted oysters on the beach. I guess it has changed a bit since then.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Interesting page I found by accident, looking for photos of Cartagena.

This was created by someone in Canada, who visited the area, and another one of his photos shows him and his wife having dinner in Cuba.
You will note by looking at the photo, that he is unaware he is being stalked by COMMIES! This reminds us of the DU'ers from Canada, and Europe who come and go from Cuba without the proper terror, scorn for, and hatred of the government!

Link:
http://www0.epinions.com/user-james23

[dipsydoodle]

3. By coincidence

my brother and sister-in-law are off to Cuba this coming Saturday for a 16 day tour of the whole island. My son has been once or twice too. Never heard a bad word about the place from anyone here who's visited and it cracks me up that they don't like taking US$ for payment for anything.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Now THAT'S a great trip! Hope they enjoy every minute.

Too bad this was the summer Cuba got pounded by three different hurricanes, but from what we hear about Cuban spirit, no doubt they're all putting things back, better than ever, in time.

From what Canadian and US DU'ers have written, you can rent cars, bicycles, even RV's and zip all over the place, even picking up hitchhikers who are everywhere. DU'er Mika has taken a grand tour by bicycle from one end of the island to the other.

All Cuba to explore, and dazzling white beaches, as well. Cool!