60. Cartagena, Columbia

Cartagena, Colombia             

95 F    35C                hot, humid

When we woke up in the morning we were in Columbia.

Arriving in Cartagena, Columbia - Large Modern City

Just like that… Cartagena, the trans-Atlantic shipping point for ALL the gold and silver robbed from S. America during the time of the Conquistadores.

All the loot the Spaniards could get their hands on was shipped to this spot, and then loaded into very large ships, a few of the ships together, not just one, they called those ships an Armada, and then the whole of it was transferred to Spain.

From here, the wealth of S. America left for Europe.

Until the English, under Francis Drake, stole one of those Armadas and saved England and Elizabeth the 1st. England was so close to bankruptcy, Elizabeth 1 knighted Francis Drake for his loot, she was so happy to receive all this money.

Still A Large Shipping Port

I like history; I never thought I would get to Cartagena. Imagine me in School listening to these stories and then thinking: “but it’s so far away” and now I am here.

Life is amazing. Who would have thought I would ever see any of this.

Cartagena is a large town, chock full of history. I could easily spend a month here. The only thing, even in March…it’s hot!

Flamingos

Peacocks

Macaws

Cartagena has a beautiful Port facility. The best I have ever seen. You walk off the ship and it’s like walking into a zoo. Bird aviaries, huge trees and a park like setting with quaint shops and boutiques. Bravo, Columbia.

 

Gate Into the Old Town

A taxi took us to the walled off, old city of Cartagena and it costs us U.S. $10.

Walking Streets

We only had today, so what could we explore?  We took the Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus to get an overview. Phew, there is so much to see that we did nothing. We had a nice lunch in a local restaurant. It was air conditioned and that helped a lot.

The heat gets to me, I am not sure that if I go back to Cartagena I will like it, because the weather is just too tropical for my taste. Can one get used to this heat? Am I spoiled living with a/c?

Streets Are Clean and Fun to Explore

The town is full of nice, boutique type shops. The roads are narrow; it’s mostly a walking town. Well the old town is, I have not seen the modern Cartagena.

Spanish Fort

The Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus only showed the old highlights, the huge defensive installations that Spain built AFTER Francis Drake stole their treasures. Pirates did try to copy what Drake did, but then were shooed away by those
cannons inside the fort, so I think it did protect Spain somewhat.

Ah, this town is so chock full of stories that it is impossible to write them all up.

A great stop, way too short of course and the weather…  hot, hot, hot!

Carol was in heaven seeing all the Emeralds being sold here.

I believe she bought herself some earrings to go with the emerald pendent she won at Effy’s; I am not sure, though.

Mmmmm Coffee

I know she bought coffee, Colombian Coffee, as gifts for her children…

Balancing Act

We are at day 56 of the cruise, close to the end.

I liked Cartagena a lot.