Oct 19, 2009 - Tiburon!

So we didn´t get the kitesurfing lesson, although we got a pretty impressive show. The wind died out on the way back so Kim and I were delegated to row the skif back to the resort on our own, luckily the waves were on our side and it wasn´t too tough of a journey! The overcast, yet still hot and humid weather continues, we just got back to Cartagena an hour ago and have decided to hop directly on an overnight bus to Medellin arriving at 7 or 8 am tomorrow morning. ...

Oct 16, 2009 - Bus rides and Mud baths

Arrived in Cartagena mid-afternoon on Tuesday--what a change from everything else we´ve seen so far in Colombia! The city is surrounded by water and ancient walls to prevent pirates from attacking, it almost reminds me a bit of Cadiz in Spain. ... well we maybe paid about the same but oh well! Our Bible (Lonely Planet) told us to catch a bus from a small market outside of Cartagena to Galerazamba where we would then walk for an hour to the volcano--the directions seemed simple enough so off we went in a cab to the market. ... Bump in the road numero uno: Our driver told us that he had lived in Cartagena his whole life and never heard of anyone catching ANY buses outside the city from the market. ... This ride consisted of weaving in and out, up and down every single calleta in the slums surrounding cartagena for another hour or so. ...

Oct 8, 2009 - Cartagena, Colombia

10/01/2009-THURS/Cartegena, Columbia.10/01/2009-THURS/Cartegena, Columbia....

Aug 31, 2009 - Colombia: Cartagena

We are now back in Cartagena for the third time, waiting to catch a sailboat to Panama on 2nd Sept. ... So instead of sweating around Cartagena we have spent most of our time in our room under the fan, me on antibiotics to ward off any germs in my knee that might be hanging around. ... Except for the first day when a flash flood caused an electricty blackout around Cartagena. ...

Aug 22, 2009 - Colombia: Cartagena

From Lima it was an overnight flight to Bogota in Colombia and six hours in the airport struggling to stay awake for our next flight to Cartagena on the Caribbean coast. ... Luckily we found a hotel with aircon in Cartagena (stinking hot there!) when we finally made it and crashed out for a while. ... Cartagena is a gorgeous city with Spanish architecture and a walled old town and wandering around and getting lost the crumbling back streets is most of the fun. ... Second night in Cartagena we went on a Chiva bus which has music and all you can drink rum and cokes, sadly for us it was about an hour for our first drink to be handed out by which time Chris and I had lost all of our patience (not so for the other passengers who I can only assume weren’t alcos like us). ...

Aug 1, 2009 - Colombia.....and home

From Bogota we flew to Cartagena on the coast. ... Cartagena is a walled city built in the 1500s. ... Our best Cartagena adventure was to the mud volcano, about an hour out of town. ...

Jul 22, 2009 - BOGATA

The bus ride was a long 11 hours, but comfortable as it was a luxury overnight bus.The bus ride was a long 11 hours, but comfortable as it was a luxury overnight bus....

Jul 21, 2009 - Columbia

Columbia – famous for coffee, plastic surgery and pristine coastline – infamous for cocaine, drug trafficking and at one time the highest kidnap rate in the world! We had no illusions as to the reputation and potential dangers that faced us as we arrived in Columbia but our heightened senses without doubt added to the appeal and ultimate enjoyment of our time in this beautiful country. Our first stop was the old city of Cartagena (pronounced Car-ta-hay-na) on the northern coast. ... ” The old town of Cartagena is encircled by the old fort walls that were built over a period of 200 years and completed in the 16th century. ... Bougainvilleas line the upper level apartments and coffee shops spill out into the cobble-stoned streets.Columbia – famous for coffee, plastic surgery and pristine coastline – infamous for cocaine, drug trafficking and at one time the highest kidnap rate in the world! We had no illusions as to the reputation and potential dangers that faced us as we arrived in Columbia but our heightened senses without doubt added to the appeal and ultimate enjoyment of our time in this beautiful country. Our first stop was the old city of Cartagena (pronounced Car-ta-hay-na) on the northern coast. ... ” The old town of Cartagena is encircled by the old fort walls that were built over a period of 200 years and completed in the 16th century. ... Bougainvilleas line the upper level apartments and coffee shops spill out into the cobble-stoned streets....

Jul 5, 2009 - CARTAGENA

We woke up this morning feeling much better, and it was time to check out old town in Cartagena. ... Cartagena has more than enough, and might be taking over as their favourite colonial city. ... We will let you be the judge if you think Cartagena, Columbia could be on your list of future destinations. ...

Jul 4, 2009 - Casa Viena

We were awake fairly early. We spent part of the day wandering around old town Cartagena, and that is worthy of it’s own entry, so you will just have more to read. ... Cory and Elaine, when they could not find another hostel decided on one more night.We were awake fairly early. We spent part of the day wandering around old town Cartagena, and that is worthy of it’s own entry, so you will just have more to read. ... Cory and Elaine, when they could not find another hostel decided on one more night....

Jul 3, 2009 - Open Water and Cartagena

So for the second time we left Porvenir, and sailed to the last spot where we would be able to swim and rinse off, before beginning the steady journey to Cartagena, Columbia. ... After breakfast on the morning of day 6, everyone was a bit antsy as we approached Cartagena. ... The Port in Cartagena was full of boats, and it was hard to find a “parking spot”. ... Everybody was quite glad that 4 hours after arriving in the port of Cartagena, we were free to go, and find a non-rocking bed, and have a shower, a real shower. ...

Apr 19, 2009 - Last day in Cartagena, tears ensue

We had breakfast at a cafe near the Walls entrance since our beloved Juan Valdez cafe next to our hostal wasn't open til 11 and then wandered the streets and shopped. We were heading back to drop our stuff at our hostal and go see the statue of the India de Cartagena when in front of Juan Valdez Cafe we ran into our Tayrona boys again! We spent our last half hour with them, checked out of our hostal and had our taxidriver drive by the statue for photo ops on our way to the airport. ... Sigh.We had breakfast at a cafe near the Walls entrance since our beloved Juan Valdez cafe next to our hostal wasn't open til 11 and then wandered the streets and shopped. We were heading back to drop our stuff at our hostal and go see the statue of the India de Cartagena when in front of Juan Valdez Cafe we ran into our Tayrona boys again! We spent our last half hour with them, checked out of our hostal and had our taxidriver drive by the statue for photo ops on our way to the airport. ... Sigh....