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Published: June 18th 2023
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The bus terminal in Murcia Since our bus didn't leave until after 1pm, we got up late as usual, packed up, and headed to the bus station. After a fairly scenic ride, we arrived in Cartagena, and although we had directions, with the twisting streets and some uphills, we asked how to get to the tourism office. A kind gentleman not only pointed us in the right direction, he led us there. When we talked to the person in the tourism office, they told us it was just up the next street, but she noticed our large bag and recommended a slightly longer route that would be a lot easier. We thanked her and headed up, and up, and up. Good thing we listened to her, because the stairs would have been a killer. We found the Loop Inn Hostel, near the top of the street, and checked in. The hostel was very modern, with an exercise and entertainment room in the basement, and a kitchen and dining room on the 1st floor (above the ground floor). Our room was on the 2nd floor, and it was quite nice, with 3 bathrooms, so to speak. One with a wash basin, one with a toilet and one
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Loop Inn Hostel/Hotel with a shower. We also had a small balcony where I could smoke.
After unpacking, we headed out to find a place to eat. Near the bottom of our hill, we found a kabob restaurant that had a decent menu. Manoli order a nice salad with lamb and french fries and I ordered a "box" which was lamb with french fries, all covered with cheese. After our delicious lunch, half of which I couldn't finish, so they gave me a to-go box, we started walking towards downtown. One of the first things I noticed was the number of buildings that were torn down, except for the front or facade. I can only assume that this was to preserve the street view rebuild the rest of the building more modernly with plumbing and electricity. Soon, we found the entry to the Roman Forum. The main entry was closed, but we were able to go up and around it, taking some awesome photos. Above the forum, the hill continued to climb up to a fortress, so we went up. Almost to the fort's museum, we encountered a number of peacocks. First, a small family it looked like, then around the corner
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One of 3 bathrooms, in our room we encountered a beautiful male. You have to remember that like other birds, the more colorful ones are the males. We tried to get the male to spread his wings out, but failed.
We went down from the castle to the marina and walked around. I'd read about a tourist boat ride, so we looked for it and found it, but by this time of day, after 8pm, it was closed. Tomorrow we will come back down for the boat ride. While we were there, we had to get photos of a giant man kneeling in thought, and the famous whale tail, or Cola de la Ballena just off shore. By now, it was going on 9pm, so we made our way back to the hotel, picking up some stuff for dinner.
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Captivating Cartagena: A Journey of Discovery
Your captivating blog post on Cartagena instantly transported me to the enchanting streets of this historical city. Your vivid descriptions and stunning photographs brought the architecture, culture, and cuisine of the region to life. From the grand Roman ruins to the picturesque waterfront, your attention to detail was commendable. Your personal anecdotes and encounters with the locals added an authentic touch to your narrative. Thanks for igniting my wanderlust and inspiring me to plan my own adventure in Cartagena. Keep up the fantastic work!