Barranquilla Services

By Lorraine Caputo

Tourism Office

Barranquilla will be opening a tourism office in the Parque Cultural del Caribe in September 2008 (Calle 36 46-66, Tel.: 5-372-0581 / 372-0582, E-mail: comunicaciones@culturacaribe.org, Web: www.culturacaribe.org). The Comité Mixto de Promoción del Atlántico, in the Antiguo Edificio de la Aduana, has excellent free maps and brochures of Barranquilla and Atlántico Department (Mondya-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-5 p.m., Vía 40 36-135, Tel.: 5-330-3300 / 330-3701). Both these centers are located in a rather doubtful neighborhood; it is better to arrive by taxi. A further website to visit for tourist information is www.alcaldiabarranquilla.gov.co.

Other useful addresses are:

DAS (immigration)—Monday-Friday 8-11:30 a.m., 2-5:30 p.m. Calle 54 41-133, Tel.:

5-371-7500.

Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi—Calle 36 45-101, Tel.: 5-341-1683

Two dozen countries have consuls in Barranquilla. Below are just a few; check the end of the telephone directory’s white pages for others.

Brazil—Monday-Friday 8:30-11:30 a.m., 2:30-5 p.m. Carrera 58 85-215, Tel.: 5-357-

0356

Panamá—Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-noon, 2-4 p.m. Carrera 57 72-25, oficina 207-208,

Tel.: 5-360-1870.

Venezuela—Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Carrera 52 69-96, Tel.: 5-358-0048 / 358-

2832

UK—Carrera 44 45-57, piso 2, Tel.: 5-340-6936

US—Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-noon. Calle 77B 57-141, office 511, Tel.: 5-353-2182.

European countries with representation are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland and Rumania.

Money

All banks have their main offices in Barrio El Prado, with branches and ATMs throughout the city. In EL Prado, they are found along Calle 70, between Carreras 52 and 54; in the downtown area (centro), on Paseo Bolívar (Calle 34). Some of the major banks are:

Banco AV Villas—Carrera 51 75-215

Banco Citibank Colombia—Calle 74 53-13

Banco de Bogotá—Carrera 46 44-89

Banco GNB Sudameris—pay DAS visa extension fee here—Calle 76 56-71

Banco Santander—Calle 74 55-67

Bancolombia—changes American Express travelers cheques—Carrera 44 37-19

Along Calle 76, between Carreras 47 and 49, are a number of exchange houses. One centrally located is El Cairo, changing U.S. dollars, Euros and Bolívares Fuertes, as well as other currencies; only the El Prado branch cashes travelers cheques (Open 24 hours. Centro: Paseo Bolívar/Calle 34 43-117, Tel.: 5-379-9441, E-mail: cairointerms@hotmail.com; El Prado: Calle 76 48-30, Tel.: 5-368-1707).

Western Union / Giros y Finanzas has eight branches in Barranquilla; check the telephone directory’s yellow pages under Giros for the nearest one. MoneyGram / Cambiamos has four branches; consult the white pages under Cambiamos.

Keeping in Touch

The mass of phone stands and shops in Barranquilla has all but done away with the major phone couriers’ service offices. These charge $0.05-0.15 per minute for local and national calls. Some on Carrera 41, between Calles 39 and 40, have international calls at the bargain price of $0.10-15 per minute to the U.S. You can find internets anywhere in the city; prices range from $0.50-$1.60 per hour. Skype is common. Correos de Colombia has branches downtown (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. Calle 40 44-93, unsigned) and in El Prado (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-5:30 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. Carrera 53 70-180).

Medical

The major hospitals serving Barranquilla are:

Hospital Universidad del Norte—Calle 30, Autopista al Aeropuerto, next to

Parque Muvdi, Ciudad Rotario, Tel.: 5-371-5555

Hospital Universitario Cari E.S.E.—Calle 57 23-100, Tel.: 5-330-9000

Hospital Universitario Metropolitano—Carrera 42F 75B-18, Tel.: 5-356-5109

Pharmacies are widespread throughout the metropolis.

Camera

Several camera supply stores are located along Paseo Bolívar (Calle 34), between Carreras 39 and 44. For repairs, try Foto Hora (Carrera 53 72-39, Tel.: 5-358-7390), Lukkan Reparaciones (Carrera 53 68-119, Tel.: 5-368-3201) or Serge Gámez Walberto (Carrera 61 68-76, Tel.: 5-344-4737).

Religion

Non-Catholic Christian churches are present in Barranquilla, including a dozen Baptist and Presbyterian. For mass times and faith listings, see the end of the white pages and the yellow pages under “Iglesias” in the phone book. Non- Christian faiths also have practicing communities in this city:

Sinagoga Bet-El—Calle 87 42H-46, Los Nogales, Tel.: 5-359-1949

Comunidad Budista—Carrera 50 80-273, Tel.: 5-356-1982

Asamblea Espiritual de los Bahais—Calle 50C 3-91, Tel.: 5-363-7927

There are two mosques: one Sunni, the other Shi’ite.