This is probably my favorite photo I have taken. My Dad and I were taking a boat ride to Playa Blanca, one of those beaches you see on the posters that say “Paradise”, when i snapped this photo of a fishermen in the middle of the ocean.
The past week, june 10 to june 17, my dad flew to Cartagena to visit. This was my second time here and hopefully my last. While the old city of Cartagena may just be the most beautiful place i have been, the weather and people make Cartagena a rather miserable place to spend more than 3 or 4 days.
We had a great time but between the sunburn, diarrhea, humidity, hawkers, etc. we decided that we will do Bogota instead the next time.
One place we went was Playa Blanca. We were feeling kind of adventurous and let the boats back to Caragena leave without us so we could sleep on the beach with the herds of cows, donkeys, mosquitos, soldier, a few gringos, etc.
This is a picture i took from my hammock on the beach where a herd of cows passed right by us around midnight.
But before that, i took a picture of the sunset. Nice, isnt it?
The next morning we were sunburned, bitten, and miserable. But the beach was still as nice as ever.
We did eventually catch another boat back to Cartagena at 4:30 the next day which may have been more exhilarating than an actual ride on a roller coaster. Just try to imagine being in the air consistently for 5 seconds at a time in a boat full of 30 cheering Colombians and Gringos. Or just ask my dad if your having a hard time imagining.
An island i think…
Back in Cartagena we ventured to Bocagrande, a modern part of the city with skyscrapers and a rather ugly beach seen below.
We also wandered into a stunning hotel that goes for just $350 a night. We had dinner there, in their wine cellar.
Inside the hotel…
This is the old part of Cartagena.
Tinto is the word for a cup of black coffee here. Lots of vendors sell it out of thermuses.
One afternoon we took a short taxi to San Felipe, a pretty neat fort built by the Spanish 400 years ago.
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In conclusion, Cartagena is a nice place to visit but not to stay long. I enjoyed my time there and hope i never return unless there is a good reason, like i won the lottery and have to collect my winnings in Cartagena. Then I would consider returning.
Oh, and I am in Bogotá now!