Cartagena, Columbia - May 02, 2014

It was recommended to us to visit the old town for our short stay here in Cartagena, we were here about six years ago on a tour so it was nice to spend a few hours wandering around the old town. Cartagena (the old town), it surrounded with fortress walls up to 20 feet thick, this was done by the Spanish as this town was a key trading center and gateway on Columbia's Caribbean coast.

The weather today was sunny, hot and humid, it was a day that you searched to walk on the shady side of the street. Cartagena is very easy to get around, taxis are aplenty and are reasonably priced. We simply walked out of the gate, quoted a reasonable fixed price and headed into the old town, some 20 minutes away in pretty heavy traffic. People were friendly enough and pretty much got it when you said no thanks to whatever they were selling. Back at the terminal there was an incredible aviary, so spending some time here was very pleasant as well, pink flamingos, pretty cool..., oh and $2 US for a beer, same price as a bottled water.

Tomorrow is an exciting day as we will be transiting the Panama Canal, exciting as we are in the 100th anniversary year of this amazing feat, first opened in August of 1914. Hard to believe that this is only 100 years old. So it will be an early day...

Two parts today, hope you enjoy.