Bend to Colombia 2014: CARTAGENA

Moonrise over Castillo Grande from our hotel in Cartagena

From Palomino we took a local bus to Santa Marta. The driver was Joe cool and he knew everybody and shouted out all along the route and did everything except drive the bus. We took a taxi to the bus station and caught a direct bus to Cartagena. We were doing pretty good with not too many stops when a rock cracked the windshield right in front of the drivers face. He called ahead and pulled onto a side street in Barranquilla and the windshield was replaced. Curtis strolled around a little. It was hot and humid and there were a few run down shops and a card room that was so hot that all the tables had been pulled out to the sidewalk and men were playing cards all around. It looked like hearts or the like and some players were very happy and others not so much. The windshield only took about 40 minutes and we were off. They came around the bus with arepas filled with a fried egg, a local thing. That and a Pepsi was $4000 pesos ($2.00).

Beach at Boca Grande outside Hampton Hotel

We arrived at the bus terminal in an area of heavy traffic congestion. We had a cab drive us for about an hour through complicated streets and heavy traffic to our hotel, Hampton Hilton, in the Boca Grande district. This area has high rise towers on the beach and is more the Colombian tourist area.

Clock Tower entrance to the old city of Cartagena

Metropolitan Cathedral from Calle Landrinal

The thing of interest in Cartagena is the colonial old town. It is a Spanish walled city filled with two story colonial houses. The area was settled about 500 years ago and was an area where the Spanish assembled their gold fleets. It has been attacked by pirates and ransomed by Sir Francis Drake. At one time the place was quite run down, but now it is alive and vibrant. Also burning hot with drenching humidity. We arrived at the main plaza, Plaza de Bolivar, as it was being overrun by cruise boat tour groups. Fortunately they cleared out and we visited the Palace of the Inquisition, the flower market, and Las Bovedas. We had lunch on Santo Domingo square. After that we cut out for a little beach time. At the beach by the hotel you could just lay there and have: a beer, a backrub, a shrimp cocktail, buy a bathing suit and sunglasses, and a guy would play guitar and sing.

Colorful shoes for sale on the street.

Handsome vendor who sold Sheri her hat

Courtyard at the Palace of the Inquisition

Old Cartagena has colorful houses with balconies.

Cool and shady interior courtyard.

Plaza Santo Domingo

Flower Market

Noon time street scene

Street typewriter service

Las Bovedas

A group of children walking along singing and faux playing cardboard guitars.

On Valetine’s day Sheri opted for the beer and body massage. After that we had a steak dinner at Carbon de Palo on Avenida San Martin in Boca Grande.

San Pedro Claver from a distance.

Castillo de San Felipe - An imposing Spanish fortress.

A tunnel inside the fortress.

Old cannon at the fortress on a burning hot day.

We went back to the old town on a Saturday, when during the day there are many weddings in the churches and at night there are fabulous receptions held on top of the wall and in upscale hotels. We had lunch at La Cevicheria near San Diego Plaza for a wonderful mixed ceviche (fish, shrimp, scallops, octopus) and Sheri had a bizarre open face chicken sandwich.

Wedding at San Pedro Claver church

You may kiss the bride.

Another couple outside Santo Domingo Convent flanked by dancers and being showered with rose pedals.

We opted for some beach time and took a bus to Playa Blanca on Baru Island. The bus started at Basurto Market which is a full 100% blast of humanity, grime, and commerce. From there we caught a ferry across Dique canal and then bartered for a car for a ride to the beach. It was Sunday and the beach was jamming with happy Colombians eating and drinking and playing in the water. We opted for a beach shack at Donde Chocolate, which had a sand floor and electricity for a fan starting at 7:00 pm. Most people seemed to be opting for hammocks (at $7.50 per night). The place quieted down at 4 or 5 pm when a lot of people left by boat. The water was warm and blue and the beach was white coral sand. We had the dish the locals were devouring; fresh grilled fish, coco rice, arepas, fried plantain, fresh lime, and a little dollop of salad.

Passengers on the ferry - got to be connected.

Characters on the ferry.

40 horsepower canoe propelled the ferry

Playa Blanca advertizing

Playa Blanca

Moms checking out kids in the surf.

Kids in the surf

Sunday at Playa Blanca

Our accommodation called Donde Chocolate

Folks snoozing early in the morning in their hammocks.

Playa Blanca beach bar.

Palapa at Donde Chocolate

Door to our room on the left - Cabana 2

Coming back to Cartagena we reversed our trip and the bus driver really had some balls weaving through heavy urban traffic, passing heavy trucks, and not cutting anybody any slack. We stayed at Cartagena Hilton which was like landing on a different planet. Glass walled air con room, huge balcony, four pools, private beach, and executive lounge.