Cartagena de Indias

Day 105 – Saturday 10th, July –> Day 108 – Tuesday 13th, July

With an hour delay we arrived on the new continent, and were nicely surprised. A sleek modern designed airport and a friendly taxi driver with salsa music, being our tour guide at midnight on our way to the hostel, announcing a normal fare, were the first thing we encountered in Colombia. At 0:30 we finally arrived at the hostel Casa Viena, that we had called beforehand, since it was peak season now and the popular hostels would most likely be full. The hostel was in a somewhat seedy part of town and was cheap (Getsemaní).

Street near our hostel

The next morning we explored the city and went in search of a place to watch the World Cup finals. This turned out not quite as easy as bars with televisions were rare and full. Just in time for kick-off we found a place, which mainly looked like an ice-cream place, which we initially looked with four people. Later, it quickly filled up and it was a cool afternoon.

Another continent, another kind of buses!

Cartagena was the main port for Spain in the north of South America. Accordingly, the city had acquired vast wealth. This in turn led to the most beautiful and impressive old town, which we have seen so far and probably still to be seen. Moreover, the whole town is surrounded by a huge wall and heavy canons. Cartagena was attacked several times because of its natural wealth and the city walls after all, fought off the British. Enough of the history of the city … After the game we saw all kinds of tourists through the city and witnessed prices even higher than in Panama.

Old town street

Playing football on the city wall

The next day we met up with Maja and Jan, they also were once again in the city. They already went to the Ciudad Perdida (Lost City), a trek leading to five days through the Colombian jungle to Ciudad Perdida, ruins discovered in 1975. They raved about them so much that now I was convinced about five days through the jungle. Although the fact that Maja’s legs were completely bitten legs was a little discouraging, we ready and willing to do it!

Maja’s legs after Ciudad Perdida…

The rest of the day we visited museums and the citadel, which had for an entrance fee of 7, – a little disappointing.

Flags of Colombia in the Maritime Museum

The next day we went to the Gold Museum – Museo de Oro, and also to the Museum of Modern Art. This was a big step for Lorenz after the confusing Guggenheim museum in NYC, swearing he will not visit another Modern Art museum for a few years … In the end, both were worth seeing. However, it started to rain so strongly, that for some time we had to stay in the Modern Art Museum. On the way back the roads were partially flooded, so much that you needed a Jeep to drive through.

Museo del Oro

An Orc?

This one just looks funny…

Modern Art Museum

Policeman forced to take a nap due to the heavy rain…

The streets after the rain…

No, that car is not going through a swimming pool…

In the afternoon we booked a minibus for the 6-7 hour trip to Santa Marta, which is located east of Cartagena on the Caribbean coast. From there, we wanted to start the trek to Ciudad Perdida and perhaps even visit the Tairona Park. Cartagena was the most beautiful and most impressive of all the colonial cities. And otherwise, our first impression of Colombia was very positive.

Misses Colombia

In the center

Fishermen on the bridge on the way to the citadel

Maja & Jan on the citadel

Entrance of the old city