We flew from Tacna to Lima, for an overnight stay, and on to Cartegena, Colombia.
This was the start of the second part of the trip - Central America. We are about to visit, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica,Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and finally a small part of Mexico.
Cartegena is one of the oldest Spanish Colonial cities.It has a turbulent and somewhat sickening history. It was Founded by the Spanish in 1567 as a port for shipping out all the gold and silver stolen form the Incas. It then became a centre for selling slaves. The Spaniards built one of the largest and most complex forts in the Caribbean to protect their silver and gold, but still the British with their forces from north America tried to take it and finally Sir Francis Drake and Henry Morgan manged to sack it a couple of times. The story is told in its wonderful buildings, preserved forts and very interesting museums.
We did not expect what met our eyes. We arrived late at night, the old part of the city was bathed in amber light, it was a balmy evening and we enjoyed a supper in one of the many squares.
The Cathedral was magical.
Our hotel was a converted colonial house.
The inner courtyards full of tropical plants and fountains.
Exploring the old town was a real treat. The city has been left to deteriorate very badly.
But Restoration work is going on everywhere.
And plenty of room for more.
How about this as a project!
or this? I could have a ball!!
onto the balconies, brimming with flowers.
Fortified doors.
could these old ones be saved?
peeps through windows and half open doors always fascinate me.
This was a conversion almost ready to
move into!
The narrow street were full of people shopping and going about their daily lives.
Shops in these old cities come from a different era.
anyone for ribbon?
A fan or hair clip?
Loofer?
Or Tango shoes?
The central park had a cooling factor.
Pigeons to amuse the young.
The statue of Sr. Bolivar, who helped the Colombians gain their independence from Spain.
But, life does get too hard at times!
The ancient benches a good place to rest!
Churches are rather bare - I guess the pirates stole all the silver.
Near the park is the Palace of the Inquisition.
A very grand place, with some horrid instruments to remind you what the clergy did to people to make them believe in Christ.
The fort was a good half day visit. It took them 200 years to complete, just 35 years before Colombia gained its Independence!
There are tunnels and a huge water store underneath the main part of the fort. There were three sections to the defenses. Its a marvel that anyone managed to get in - but Henry Morgan, the pirate, did!
Tony enjoyed standing in the pill box!
but the view must have been very different from this 500 years ago.
And would you believe - a privy!
If the enemy got up onto the walls this staircase was to be knocked down
thus isolating the final area of the fort!
There is another side to Cartegena. In front is the Navy!
A huge building boom is taking place.
We went out to what was a fishing village, but the developers have got there!
Miles of white sand - its looking a bit like Florida!
But we did manage to find a small rustic restaurant for a fish lunch.
The next day was a trip out into the lagoon.
Passing another huge fort on the way.
Lunch was a rustic affair.
some people were building very odd houses on private islands.
We spent a couple of hours at the beach under one of these shelters.
We didn't think it was a good idea to eat from this stand!
Returning to the mainland we entered the city through the tunnel the slaves would have entered.
to be auctioned where the statue now stands
Underneath the arches.
There are many stalls selling sweets.
The clock tower marks the main entrance to the city.
Fruit is sometimes on sale!
Just to remind one that this was a truly fortified city the town walls are still very much in evidence.
Returning to the hotel to pick up our bags to go to the airport to fly to Panama city we found that spring cleaning was underway.
A wonderful city, well worth a visit if you are that way!
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