Cartagena, Colombia January 25

Cartagena - New City

Waking up this morning, we are docking and had a beautiful view of Bocagrande – the New City.  This area started being built up only about 80 years ago while the old walled part of the city has been in existed since the 16^th century.  The history is rich with stories of treasures, pirates, slaves, the Spanish, the inquisition and the various battles for ownership of this Caribbean port.  A very diverse ethnic background exists in this city of just over one million people.

Cartagena Container Port

Our ship is docked in the main port area where all the huge container ships arrive and unload and load their cargo.  This is a fascinating operation to watch.

Shopping Area

Old City Plaza

Fort San Felipe

Old City Street

 A tour today showed us some of the interesting sights in Cartagena.  The San Felipe Fortress, one of the largest and most fortified in the Americas, provides you a good understanding of how the Spanish defended this port for years.  There is also a good view from the top of the fort of the old walled city.  On our way, we make a stop at an old shopping venue.  Walking the streets of the old city, you appreciate the quaint buildings.  The architecture within the walls is required to stay true to the Spanish building style.  The tour takes us to a museum/building where the Spanish Inquisition was conducted (lots of torture devices), close by is the cathedral just off an open plaza area.  There is also a short stop at a convent and then on to an emerald shop in the new city area.  The drive takes us along the beach area where many people are enjoying the sun and water.  The bus passes by several hotels and then returns to the ship.

Other observations of Cartagena:  Heavy rains have caused landslides at the La Popa Monastery so no tours are going there.  La Popa is the highest hill in Cartagena.  The movie "Romancing the Stone" was filmed in Cartagena, much of it at San Felipe Fortress.  Every stop has people coming up to you trying to sell silver, hats, tablecloths, scarves, necklaces and leather bags.  Bartering is the norm.  Poverty is everywhere, even though they attempt to hide it.  Police are everywhere so you are meant to feel safe.  Colorfully dressed ladies walk around with fruit baskets on their head – “fruit ladies” – and charge $1 to have your picture taken with them.  There is also Colombian coffee for sale by none other than Juan Valdez, or so he says!

It is now 4 PM and the Queen Elizabeth is leaving Cartagena and heading to the Panama Canal.  The transit through the Panama Canal will be all day tomorrow.

Steve at Fort San Felipe

Weather – Sunny and 86 degrees.  We are hoping for calmer seas than last night!