A colourful, colonial city

Trip Start Jul 31, 2005
1
190
209
Trip End Sep 05, 2007


Loading Map
Map your own trip!
Map Options
Show trip route
Hide lines
shadow

Flag of Colombia  ,
Saturday, July 21, 2007

Cartagena has been a fabulous introduction to South America, the old town is superb, we have spent the past two days just aimlessly wandering around the numerous plazas and narrow streets, climbing the city walls and feeling the cool sea breeze whilst looking out at the tall skyscrapers that line the waterfront. If you just turn a little to the other side of the river, the rooftops and towers of the churches and buildings in the old town scatter for what seems like forever - it does feel like two totally different worlds.

Our first night in Cartagena was as you know spent on the boat, floating on the waters of the marina that night and looking across the waters refelcting the lights from the skyscrapers you could easily be mistaken for thinking that all of the city is that way.
It was not until yesterday when we walked to Plaza Cocles and just got lost in the streets of colourful and whitewashed colonial buildings that you find it hard to believe that this is the same city Ali in Cartagena
Ali in Cartagena
 .

The street food here has been excellent, we have eaten fresh lemon juice that a man pulls around the city all day on a trolley, we have munched our way through mangoes and eaten what seems to be the speciality here - like potatoe cakes, but cooked with cheese on top, inside the man cuts them as if they are a patty and adds butter and more cheese - just delicious and they only cost about 50cents! We have also been enjoying Arapas de Huevos/Carne/Pollo - basically it is a like a crispy pancake that you buy at home, but stuffed with Huevos/eggs, Carne/meat, Pollo/chicken or both - divine!
Add in the typical Latin American dish or Rice and beans with fried chicken and we are eating feasts here.

Today we were going to take a night bus to the city of Medellin, but as our time is now so short before we are due home, we decided to spend another day here in this gorgeous city and then tomorrow afternoon we are heading on a 20 hour bus journey south to the Capital Bogota, we will enjoy a couple of days there before flying down to Peru this coming Wednesday.
So, from now until then we shall enjoy the last of the heat and the sun - back to the southern hemisphere soon and chasing the snow.

Hugs

AlinMatt
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Slideshow Print this entry Cartagena hotels