I feel like two days were wasted just trying to get to Cartagena…  

Attempt #1 resulted in my arriving at the airport only to discover the flights were full.  Attempt #2 began early yesterday morning at 5 am, when I checked in for my 7 o’clock flight, which was delayed nearly 6 hours; I didn’t get to my hotel in Cartagena until 7 pm.  

I’ve come to accept that all of South America works on a kind of Hawaiian time.  Things slowly get done.  There’s really no sense in rushing anyone.  

Cartagena is a jewel of a city.  The entire old town is walled in a similar fashion as Dubrovnik (Croatia).  The entire old town has a colorful, lively, Caribbean feel to it.  The buildings are colonial style and a blend of bright pastel colors.  The streets are maze-like and it’s easy to get lost and found in the same place you started.  The weather here is perfect in the morning, then grows to hot and hotter.   

I toured the streets all afternoon, starting from my hotel and walking to the main promenade and El Teatro Cartagena.  I walked along the Corridor of Dulces and then soaked in the quaint streets around Santo Domingo.  Around lunchtime, I watched the locals congregate around La Plaza Bolívar, then took my own break from the heat by indulging in a $6 lunch near La Plaza Santo Domingo.  After lunch, I walked around the walls surrounding the city.

I love the feel of Cartagena and I love how there are very few tourists in this country!  The locals are extremely friendly and I feel absolutely safe and welcome here.  Alas, since I have little time in Colombia as a whole, I will try to explore more of its Caribbean coast.  I’m plan to take a bus (about 5 hours) to Taganga, a small fishing village with some good snorkeling.  There, I will try to arrange a trek to the Lost City in Tayrona National Park.  Depending on whether there is such a trip in the coming day or two, my stay in Colombia will look something like this:

Option A: Taganga - Lost City - San Gil - Villa de Leyva - Bogotá Option B: Taganga - San Gil - Villa de Leyva - Bogotá - Manizales - Salento

If you don’t hear from me in the next few days, it means I’m in the jungle, heading to the Lost City (a 6-day trek)…  On to the next adventure!