Sunday, January 28, 2024

Sunday January 28, 2024 Cartagena

 

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Sunday January 28, 2024

Saturday, we killed some time in the morning as we worked to have a late check-out just before lunch.  Then we had our cabbie Jorge take us to our friend Tony's to spend the afternoon.

We walked over to a large 5-storey mall nearby and had a long lunch at McDonald's as Cristina cruised every shop.  Then we returned and watched movies until Jorge picked us up again before 8pm to catch our 10:30pm flight to Cartagena on Avianca.  I am amazed how quick we zip through security and boarding if we have the printed boarding passes and just a carry-on.  The examinations are very superficial and we get to board early.

We landed at Cartagena airport close to 11:30pm and there was nobody there to meet us as promised.  We made a call and they came to retrieve us to walk to the "guest house".  The owners are very accomodating and they outfitted our room with a plastic table and chair for my laptop.

Since I was critical that the concept of a private bathroom did not mean a separate bathroom across the hall from the neighbour,..... they promised to move us to another room Monday....

Today we were up early after a short sleep to have breakfast and get on the road before the heat worked its way up to the forecast 34C, feels like 39C, in cloudless sky...  It didn't really help...  We melted the minute we stepped away from our air-conditioned room....

We saw 2 of the oldest ruins here, the fort facing the ocean to protect the harbour, and the castle, Castillo San Felipe.  Inbetween I got to watch Cristina check every shop along the way and try on several outfits.

We kept in touch with our Greek friends, Dimitris and Rania, and met them on the shoreline at a popular, and expensive, place called Cafe Del Mar and enjoyed a drink together while planning a beach excursion for tomorrow, and watchingthe sunset.

Cristina is a real bargainer with taxis and tour companies and has already saved us a lot.

I was surprised that the taxi driver that we used to get home seemed to have the same mental block as Cristina when it comes to figuring out a location just by the address, knowing streets and avenues, and how they are numbered..... I actually was the one directing the lost cabbie....

I hope you enjoy the pictures.  That was the day’s excitement.

Al

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Coming into Cartagena last night



Photos with some locals
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Old fort battlements

Who would aim cannons at their own city?

Colombians, I guess!!

Large heron nearby

Some cute local art






Old town replica

Tour agency TV pic

and again....

Castillo San Felipe....



English conqueror?






Sure got lucky on this one!!