Cartagena

---

Hola chicas
Cartagena
Seems like 2 cities- the old town which is a fortressed l, walled part of the city and the very new skyscraper filled sky (Bocagrande). Is insanely humid- around 31 degrees but I was sweating buckets and it’s really difficult to stay outside for too long because of this.

Arrived from long flight in the morning, dropped my stuff off at the hostel and then went to wonder round the old town and Bocagrande, went for a dip in the beach which was ok but nothing in comparison to the other beaches in the islands.

After this I went back to the hostel to check in and went on a walking tour of Getsemaní, this was cute and had lots of culture and murals. Then went for arepas with some people in a place near Viajero hostel. The following day I went on an islands tour to the Rosario Islands, this was fine but some of the islands were dirty and just filled with tourist junk, the best part was the beach club at the start and the lunch and beach at the end. If I were to do this again then I would just go to a beach club or island for the day/ night. All boats go from Bodeguita port.

Next was to the San Bernado archipelago for Casa En Ague, super cool hostel, very chilled and fun to hang out with people. The hostel itself is the only thing built on probably a small rock in the ocean. There are really nice island resorts along the boat trail, I hope that when I’m rich and more settled I’ll be able to go to some of these. There was also the most populated island in the world which was mad and lives off fishing and tourism. Completely packed with shacks and people.

Then I got back to Cartagena picked up my luggage and got some money out and have come to Santa Marta, this is a city slightly west to Cartagena, I did this with a Berlinas bus which was super easy and using it as a stop over point to go to Minca then onwards to Tayrona and Palomino! I’ll write more about these in my next installment. Tayrona is the Sierra Nevada national park next to the beach and Palomino is just off this.

Just got back from a run this morning and having a sort my life out morning before I head onwards.

Overall fantastic first week of travelling and finding my travelling feet again, lots of time for writing and reflection and self grounding.

Highlights- the islands off Cartagena, the only real good things about Cartagena is the old town and Getsamani and you could do this in an afternoon so I would use it as a stopping off point for spending some time in the islands.

---

Comments

[Iain Mackenzie]

Looks beautiful Megz. Very colourful and very tropical. Keep sending the pics. Xx