“Let's Get Trekking" to Cartagena Colombia! It's one of South America's most vibrant cities. From the impeccably preserved colorful colonial architecture, to the mazes of cobblestone streets lined with balconies, it's the true queen of the Caribbean coast.
The tropical climate makes the city a popular beach destination as well.
Colombia's colorful footprint is amazing on so many levels...the architecture, the people, the clothing, the flowers, the hats, the clothes, the water, the different islands, the hues of skin tones, and even the food! Just look at the crowd of school children I ran into in the Plaza and how wonderfully melanated they are! They came to perform and I felt right at home in so many ways!
I'll get right to it - the islands I visited during my island hopping tour were the picture of tranquility and remarkably serene. I visited 4 of the 27 islands that make up Rosario Islands, and had no idea there were so many populated islands to see. The water is filled with coral reefs that serve as a natural habitat for tons of aqualife. It is waist deep so you can walk amongst the tiki huts making friends and sampling drinks and food as the canoes come by with fresh delicacies. Can you imagine just playing around in the ocean and then a fine specimen comes to hand serve you fresh cut pineapple and crab? Well, I can and I did!!!! The pics shown here are only a fraction of the beauty I captured during this day trip! Whew, a must do (again)!
Since I am literally a thalassophile (love learning new words) by nature, I took another water-related tour. The canoe ride through the mangroves, which takes you through the tunnels of trees and you can hear about the local flora and fauna. UMMMM, don't do it! It was the most boring tour I've ever taken...no flora, no fauna, no fish, no fooling! Even now, I'm still trying to figure out how to get my time back :) In short, find something else to do other than this.
On the contrary, the Walled City is a must see! It is made up of pastel colonial buildings lined with flowers, cobblestone streets, horse carriages, and plenty of restaurants and boutiques to satifsy even the shopaholics. There are tunnels within it designed to allow even small sounds to travel well so that any intruders would be detected easily. You can stroll through some of these dark passageways and make your way along the fort’s walls when you visit.
The Mercado de Bazurto is the biggest wet market in town. It is chaotic, smelly, vibrant, and colorful, so you should definitely visit. You can see the locals at work slicing meat, scaling fish, cooking, repairing machinery, etc. It's soooo authentic!
F.O.O.D.
I had to make a bold headline to tell you about this food! I am a lover of street food tours when I'm traveling, as they allow me to taste more of the local dishes without breaking the bank. I also get an idea of what I would like to eat again (or not). With a tour guide, you’ll get to try things from carts, alleyways, and shops you’d never find on your own, while also learning about the food and the culture. It's a no brainer!
I was able to sample exotic fruits, fried snacks like empanadas and buñuelos, queso costeño (local salty cheese), frozen treats, and tinto. Something you should definitely get are cheese-filled arepas and fresh lemonade (my favorite beverage of all time). I had my share of plantains, yuca, lobster, ceviche, shrimp, tacos, fish, and even a burger, you name it...
One last item I fell in love with but didn't find it on a tour are the crepes - they are worth living for! I found out about this little spot, Crepes & Waffles, during my own pre-vacation food research :) And, it did not disappoint, even the interior of the place was picture worthy (see pics to right).
Cartagena has a very lively night life. Walking the city at night is captivating because there are so many Chiva party buses filled with people, music, and an open bar. No matter what you're doing when it drives by, you have to stop in your tracks just to shake a leg/cut a rug. The people pull you in and whistle while you dance, or even jump off the bus to join you! Even the parks and the street art are prettier at night. Literally, the most free fun you can have. Don't be afraid to take a night stroll or hop the party bus.
Capping the night off (or catching the sun rise) rooftop style is a major win. What better way to watch the sun go down than eating and sipping and listening to live music while overlooking the Caribbean sea from the rooftop of a restaurant or even my hotel? That's a rhetorical question because the answer is, there isn't any better way!
Oh, did I almost forget to mention the beach? Well, it was a stone's throw from my hotel and we spent a full day soaking up that colorful Colombian sun. By the way, the rooftop pool was no joke either! Oh the views, the views, the views.
Just go....
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