http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33509 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33509 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33473 You'll appreciate the contrast between the crazy Buenos Aires and this haven.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33473 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33468 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33468 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33342 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33342 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33130 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33130 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32892 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32892 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32846 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32846 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32815 Being in Aracataca is a special experience. Imagine being in a small North American town of the 1950’s, then transport it to a Caribbean setting and then you will have a slight inkling. The people ride around on bicycles and motorbikes and only a few cars and lorries pass by on the streets.
Everything is bright and colourful. The shops all have hand painted signs beckoning to you to enter their premises and trees stand along the pavements creating shade for the houses and shops. In the evenings families sit together on their porches enjoying the cooler temperatures that soar during the day. Everything feels close at hand and in reach of you. A railroad cuts through the town, and you can hear the train’s horn signalling its passing many times a day. Dragonflies swarm and yellow butterflies dance in the heat of the midday sun.
Aracataca is famous for the Nobel prize winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the writer of ‘100 years of Solitude.’ In his books Marquez created the imaginary place of Macondo, which also goes beyond being a fictional place, by existing as a state of mind where many things are possible, a space where you can create your own sense of reality. Magic realism is not just the style of writing that Marquez used, but it is a super real state of aliveness here in Aracataca!
It is good to experience the town on a bicycle like many of the local people do. The streets are generally safe to cycle and it is a quick way to get around and see different parts of the centre.
You need more than one day to see the Gabriel Garcia museum, La Telegraphista museum, the river and the African palms, for you need to go beyond the obvious paths and spend time meeting some of the people to really experience Aracataca.
And the perfect place to stay is The Gypsy Residence, a new hostel that offers a sympathetic understanding of Macondo, Marquez and Magic Realism.
One or two day tour packages are also on offer to open you to the magic of Aracataca.
Don’t miss out on this unspoilt destination, a chance to taste traditional food of many cultures, a stone’s throw from the Caribbean sea, Santa Marta and Cartagena.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32815 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32028 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32028 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31949 The hotel room was simple but good, and affordable.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31949 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31865 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31865 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31845 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31845 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31650 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31650 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31506 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31506 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31353 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31353 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31350 The staff are incredibly helpful and friendly and ready to help you navigate your way through Berlin's many museums, parks, nightlife, etc. There's also an internet cafe inside so no need to worry about internet! The atmosphere of the hostel is very relaxed and the bar is a great place to hang out and meet other people staying in the hostel. It is also very centrally located and all of Berlin's major sights are very easily accessible from the hostel.

You can also rent bikes from the hostel for a very reasonable price. I really enjoyed staying here and would recommend it to any fellow traveler coming to Berlin! Also, no curfew! :)]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31350 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31324 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31324 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30934 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30934 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30450 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30450 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30352 For 4,500 Thai baht (about £9) I had a cosy, clean and sweet-smelling single room with free Wifi and a simple breakfast (egg and toast) in the morning. The shared showers were strong and hot and there was a lovely roof terrace - perfect for chilling out away from the city noise. There are also banks opposite and a launderette just round the corner.
I went on the recommendation of a friend who’d formed such a bond with the owners that they’d let him store some of his luggage while he went away for a month. While I’m obviously not guaranteeing they’ll provide this service for all their guests, hopefully this indicates what nice folk the guys at the Siam Classic are.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30352