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Published: November 22nd 2012
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I've had the chance to visit all the main countries of South America in the past....except Colombia up to today. Ok, I still miss Guyana, Surinam and Guyane in my current list.
Cartagena has always been very high on my wish-list...a trade city, fortified by the sea...it is on par with places such as Stone Town in Zanzibar, Hoi An in Vietnam, Colonia in Uruguay...a city of the past...well open to the future...of tourism...
Most people reaching Cartagena by plane will do it via Bogota...but I was not ready for a long lay-over....my current schedule was pretty tighed....so I was happy to blow few miles for a flight reaching Cartagena from Panama....ok, for info, I was in Buenos Aires this Sunday morning, spent the full Sunday in Lima having an amazing time, and reached Cartagena early morning on Monday. A blog on Lima will come soon, but as I'm stopping there again on my way back home, this time for 48 hours....that blog can wait a little more.
So here I am in Cartagena for 3 nights and 3 days. Having run around a little too much the last few weeks...I haven't
planned much beside my accomodation. I would have loved to stay at the Sofitel Santa Clara in Viejo Ciudad, but it was a little out of my reach..so I managed a good deal in Boquilla. The place is basically a Miami-cum like band of condos and hotels right on the beach 15 minutes away from the centre by local bus. The hotel was nice...the beach not at all. Is this the Caribbean? Where is the nice sand and beautiful water? Good news, I had not much plans to actually spend time on a beach...better be safe than sorry!
My first day was spent getting a first glance at the Old city, and set up some diving for the next and...and more important, trying to get some sleep to survive all these long days...past and future....
I love this city. The Old City is simply beautiful, and I guess it will only get better with time. Didn´t have many tourists around, and had basically the place for myself. Slight warning, I´ve got the feeling this place must be a serious nightmare once a huge cruise ship...or two...are in town.
First night....early in
good bed....getting some well deserved sleep...
Next day, I woke up early as I was going to do two dives in the Islas de Rosario. The little archipelago is a good 45 minutes away from Cartagena by spedboat in the middle of the Carribean Sea. No nice beaches around here, just nice water...that´s ok, I was here only to dive. Did two dives with Diving Planet, I can only recommend them...and we had nice people to dive with too...nice. How is the diving? Well....this is Caribbean...I had simply no expecations....at all! At the end, saw two huge crabs getting on a fight...which was pretty fun. A great dive gives great pics...my pics are far from great...the dive was also far from great...but that´s ok, as it was what I expected. It´s fun to throw in a day of diving here...you clearly don´t come here to dive...simple!
Let me put it straight....I believe diving the Caribbean Sea is simply average...even in Belize. At the end of the day, I´ve only dived in 8 countries around the Caribbean...so I start to know exactly what I´m heading for. If you want good diving, head to the Pacific...and
for Colombia, I name Malpello....but not time this time to reach Malpello for me....maybe another time...
Don´t worry for me....I´m heading straight to the Pacific after this....you wouldn´t think I would just enjoy average diving....
Next day, was spent exploring the Castillo San Felipe...easy done...just before lunch. Warning...nothing is cheap around here...don´t know how the locals can deal with an 80 cents local bus ride...well...and a 10usd to visit the local fortress.....
Spent a long lunch at the Sofitel Santa Clara....love the place...and my full afternoon wondering around.
I love the Old City for the flowers...for the blaconies...the terraces...for the colors...for the fact that I had close to no tourist encounters around...but also for the fact that a lot of investment is coming in around here...translating today to pretty amazing options for dinner. One more time, not cheap, but amazing food if you have good serious local contact....and very good company...
You won´t see any evening pics...simply because I didn´t take any. Had two amazing evening...great seafood....great company...
The streets of Viejo Ciudad are emptying full speed just after 7pm...it´s actually pretty
impressive, but the place seems to be very safe...well, at least that was my feeling.
I didn´t have much sleep, but who cares...I had such a great time....well...how do you say it....the romance of Cartagena won!
And yes, I didn´t do the mud volcano...neither Playa Blanca...as a good brazilian friend of mine told me...once you know what is a good beach....this is just another tourists trap....
I´m already East of Cartagena....getting ready for some diving....should be a little more serious...we´ll see....and for the moment, enjoying another city...and trying to finally getting some sleep....
Little warning...this is only the beginning of three full months on the road....my apologies for those who think I should blog less...
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
On the road
Glad you had a few days to explore and dive...even if the diving was not to your liking. The food looks good.