Cartagena (days 3 and 4 and hopefully 5)

I'm writing this just as I re-uploaded the last post.  I am having a heck of a time with the blog.  

Yesterday, I decided to walk over the bridge, away from the safety of old town, the the Castillo de San Felipe (I think).  There are two bridges close to my hotel.  I decided to take the less busy looking one in the morning.  It crosses the water alongside some mangrove trees. Saw this guy and his half (or vise versa).  Orange cheeked parrot or something like that.

The castle is actually a fort.  It used to overlook the entrance to the harbour.  That has since been filled in, making Getsanami no longer an island.  Anyway, it is right there on the other side of the bridge. 

I climbed up and immediately saw a door, which I immediately entered.  Down a dark stone staircase.

To a dark stone tunnel. It wasn't sideways when I was in there.  

This isn't the best or creepiest picture but it's the only one I took horizontally 

There were quite a few of these tunnels, some had exits, some were deadends. At least one had no light, which I only discovered when the people I was near left with their flashlight.  I had to wait for someone else to wander by with slight so I could find the exit. 

Back up top for some wandering and enjoying the view.  

It was hot, again.  I decided to head back over the other bridge.  I had seem a big grocery store from the top of the fort and it was in that direction. 

I found the mallplaza which contained the grocery store.  I bought some bullion cubes for my mom.  I left the store and somehow missed the giant bridge to my left and, of course, went right.  Eventually, as I wandered around the industrial district, I realized my mistake.  Turned around.  Crossed the bridge.  

Other side, there is a weird paved park along the mangroves.  Saw some birds.  None of which are new I don't think but I haven't had time to look them up. 

And a guy washing his horse. 

I knew exactly where I was so naturally I got completely lost again.  Somehow I ended back in Getsanami!  How!?

Anyway, that meant got to go back through the monkey/sloth park.  I am pretty sure this was the inspiration for the monkey army in the wizard of oz. 

(I'm in Medellin now, praying I have better WIFI). (It seems to be working!!!!) 

Day four.

I didn't really have an agenda on this day.  I just headed in the direction of the part of Getsanami that I had stumbled across the day before.  I actually found it which is no small miracle.  

Normally I would look at my pictures to remind myself where I went and what I did but I think pictures are the problem.  I'm going to give it a try.  

Hey I just found some pictures I forgot to include in the last post.  There is a lot of street performers all around the city.  This was my favourite.  

Ok, back to Getsanami.

And through the clock tower gate, back to old town. 

I finally bought something, a couple of pairs of earrings which will immediately be turned into pendants, Valerie willing.  

Stopped into few shops.  They sell emeralds here. No asked how much for the tiniest chip of a jewel.  $200 american!  It was the size of a flea!  Nope.

Stopped into church.  

Someone is being dramatic!  

Wander, wander.  Lost but not completely since I wasn't actually looking for anything this time.

I found the beach, sort of.  

I went into another gold museum.  Mostly to get out of the heat for a bit. 

Eventually I had some food, a shrimp cocktail, and headed home before dark. Guess what!  I took a different fork in the road, literally, and when I followed a different route, my hotel was RIGHT THERE.  like minutes away from the clock tower.  Finally, I'm oriented!  

Day five

I headed back over the bridge to find the 'local' market.  Bazurto market.  As in, for the locals, not the tourists. This was shockingly accurate.  I was the only tourist.  I only took a few pictures because it didn't seem appropriate.

It was far, about an hour's walk, and if course it was blazing hot.  I left early but it was easily over 30 by 9 am. I got there around 10, in time for the fish!  

Enjoy these photos, I endured many hardships to get them. 

There is an old convent at the highest point in Cartagena.  My guide from the food tour said it was worth a visit.  Turns out it was quite close to the market.  But it was way up!  I think I may have mentioned the heat.  

I asked a taxi but he wanted $20000 ($5!) so I decided to just walk up or find a cheaper taxi.  But as I was standing on the side of the road, probably looking confused, a moto taxi, or maybe just a guy with a motorcycle, said he would take me up for $2000.  Deal! 

The convent.  Zero information on it, sorry.  Great view, cool old building. 

Then I had to get back down the hill.  Apparently, people who get a ride up the hill have also arranged a ride down the hill.  The road is very windy,  blind curves and no sidewalks so I was told multiple times, it is too dangerous to walk.  

The drivers waiting in the parking lot for their organized passengers, spread the word and found one of them who could get me down the hill.  $30000.  So, no savings whatsoever.  But I was back in town. In time to get to the airport. 

I have never used UBER before but I thought, hey why not.  I ordered an UBER.  I got a text he was close by and I should wait out front.  Reasonable since a stopped car on these narrow streets means stopped traffic.  

A car matching the make of my UBER arrived.  No license plate number was provided.  Are you Isaac? Checking my phone.    Yes.  I'm Joanne.  Great, get in.  

We get to the airport.  I get out.  Remember, I've never used UBER so I don't really know the protocol.  And there is a serious language barrier.  He says I have to close the ride or something along those lines.  I do kit know how to do that.  Plus I don't have wifi until I get into the airport.  

He gives me access to his wifi and we discover that I have taken the wrong UBER.  It maybe I just got into the back of some rando's car?  Anyway, he wants me to pay him.  I'm like, I've already paid dude.  Impasse.  I gave him a few bucks and walked away.  I do not think tos was on me. 

I get inside and I'm being asked to rate and tip Isaac. Plus my receipt for my ride. I waited a bit to decide how to deal with that when I get another message that my trip was cancelled and a refund on the charge.  Now I feel bad about the other guy but he's long gone.  And that's the start of my first, and probably last, UBER ride. 

Ok.  I'm going to see if I can make these pictures a reasonable size and then start my day.  

Cartagena (days one and two)

 Much cheaper taxi this time!  I'm learning. Or they are cheaper in Cartagena compared to Bogata.  

Another hotel room with no window. Three for three I think.  Lucky I got that room in Montreal so I had a window once.  The sun was never up while I was there but it's the principle  

I got in late so I didn't go out the first night in Cartagena.  I sort of read my little guide book and found a Old City and Getsemani tour.  Getsamani is the part of town just outside of the walled city.  It's where to cool kids live, aka 'bohemian'.  

Next morning, up bright and early.  Off to my 9:30 tour.  The city was very quiet that early.  

This is Columbus I think.

When I was looking for a tour for the next morning, I noticed a lot of options.  That should have been a clue.  There were so many groups trying to look at the same things. Most of them had microphones and loudspeakers.  My company uses bluetooth earpieces.  It was much better.  

Off we went.  Our guide was Christian.  

All of the Miss Colombias.

We walked around old town for a while.  I have better pictures from later so I'll add them then, if I can manage to upload anything.  

Then through the clocktower gate to Getsamani.  There is a park there that has sloths and monkeys.  We saw a sloth!  Terrible photo.  He was not up to the attention.

Then through some very tourist-target alleys with flags and umbrellas and a lot of girls risking life and limb for middle of the street selfies.  

It is taking literally hours to upload one photo!!!  I' m not sure if it's the wifi or my computer or the size of my photos or a combo of all three.  My computer is definitely hooped though.  So I am trying something new.  I've connected my photo card to my phone.  This is after unsuccessfully trying to pair my phone with my camera.  Let's give this a spin...

well, that kind of works if you all are willing to tilt your head occasionally.

On the way back fthrough that park with the sloth, I saw a monkey.  A good park day, or so I thought.  (Oh great, this one is upside down)

It was so hot.  And I got completely lost and turned around trying to find my hotel.  Remember when I said Bogota was easy to navigate.  Not so Cartegena!  I have been lost for every single outing so far.  My little lonely planet map and google maps use numbered streets.  But Cartegena does not.  They use street names.  But, I'm not exaggerating, the name of each street changes EVERY block!!!! The only place I've encountered that was harder to navigate was Venice. 

Anyway, I went the wrong way and did multiple circles around old town until I realized, find the wall and follow it.  

I did see this guy though. Yellow headed Caracas or something like that. 

I finally got back to my hotel mid afternoon and had a nap under the blasting air conditioner.  Then I did some laundry and read a bit and then went back to bed.  A slow day for sure but I needed to catch up after the previous hecticness. 

Day two.

There were so many people in old town the previous day.  Someone asked me if I was from a ship and it made me realize, ah yes, cruise ships come here, a lot.  So over a very mediocre breakfast, I looked up what ships were scheduled to be in town. The day before was a big ship, and also maybe a small one.  But this day, there was only a small one.  So I ventured back to old town. 

Our guide the day before highly recommended the maritime museum so I went there for a bit.  Disappointing since there was no English information.  I'm trying to find one decent picture I took in horizontal.  None.  

Here's a sideways one of a pirate full of arrows

I managed to find my way back to gersamani for lunch. But first I went back through that park to see if the sloth was still there.  He was, in the exact same, impossible to get a good shot spot.  But a whole troop monkeys were whizzing around overhead. 

There is a lot of street galleries around.  

I bought nothing.  Not even this! Although, as I post this, I have regrets. 

Lunch and then back to old town to get lost once again.  Oh wait, I had to go back through that park.  And our immovable friend was on the move! 

And there was another one on the other side of the park, also moving around eating the fruit on his tree.  He gave me some nice face shots! 

And his friend nearby. 

After getting lost, yet again, I got back to my room in time to sit under the AC to wait for my next event: walking food tour.  

But first, I saw this guy.  I haven't ID'd him yet.  Too many computer issues.  (Update, I think it is a juvenile of the Caracas above) 

This tour was was through Guru.  It was a bit disorganized but in the end, the three us us who showed up found our guide (name?) despite his refusal to open his umbrella. Umbrellas are the universal sign for walking tours buddy!  No wonder you lost for people. 

Brace yourself for lots of food photos. 

First stop.  Empanadas and other fried goodness.

  

Next, chorizo, unlike Mexican chorizo, and beer, child size.  

Then, more fried dough and cheese.  I was already getting full and so were the others so we started to share.  We each had one of the tiny portions. 

Then we shared an arepa.  It's corn meal stuffed with cheese.  These are everywhere, an absolute staple food.  My only photo is vertical so you don't want to see it. (I see I accidentally uploaded it anyway)

Next stop, my favourite of all, a fruit stand.  We got to try all of those weird fruits that never get imported to Canada.  I do not remember the names unfortunately.  Maybe I'll google image when I get home. 

Next up, shrimp cocktail.  Sorry sideways picture but it's too good to lose.  The three of us shared the smallest size possible.  It was delicious.  I would go back if I could ever find it, which I can't, obviously.

Then some sort of weird, somewhat unpleasant beverage (?), soup (?), cereal (?) Made of milk (?), corn ( for sure). It was salty and sweet and chunky. I can probably find this guy but will not.

Then a stop at the block that is all candy.  I had been there that day so I didn't need any more.  I had bought something with coconut in it.  I haven't tried it yet.  I wonder if I have a picture.  I know I took one of the guy who tried to short change me.  I may not be from here but I know how to read numbers numbnuts.  

It was starting to get dark.. I took a detour where I managed to not get lost, to go up to the top of the wall to see the sunset, such that it was.  Pink sky at least. 

And that was day two.  I'm going to end this and see if I can edit it on my computer now that the pictures are downloaded.  But first, bedtime.

Nope.  This is as edited as it gets.  No idea what the spacing looks like, or picture size, placement etc.  I hope it works.