Friday, January 24, 2025

January 24, 2025 - Science and Respect

 When I was a kid, we had a large arroyo behind our house in Tucson.  My brother and I loved playing in the sand there.  One of our favorite things to do was use magnets to collect iron filings.  We'd just rub the magnet against the sand and the tiny iron pieces would stick to the magnet.  I collected jars of the stuff.  We also collected sand rubies, which are actually tiny garnets.

My favorite 7 year old, Eileen, was telling me about a science experiment she did at school this week.  So I told her I was going to conduct a science experiment on Playa Bocagrande.  My hypothesis was that the dark streaks in the sand were iron filings.  To test my hypothesis, I needed a magnet.  Hence, the trip to Caribe Mall yesterday.  Ok, it was also a good excuse for a road trip.

Eileen's mom, Lori, served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador and her hypothesis was that what I was seeing was just volcanic sand, which is common in Ecuador.  One way or another, the magnet would prove what the dark streaks in the sand were made of.  

You'll have to watch the video to see the results.  I bet you're on the edge of your seat!  

In other news, I'm having a quiet day at home.  Got another massage, which was wonderful, and did my laundry.  It's a good great day.  

Now, the photos!

What the heck? Why were all these people headed to my beach at 6:30 a.m.?

Ah, dude.  Stick with the fish.  That trash will kill you.

Notice the dark grains?  Is it volcanic sand or is it iron filings? Spoiler - there's a video at the end of the post with the very sad results.  They are volcanic sand, not iron filings.  Dang.  Eileen doesn't believe that you can actually find tiny pieces of metal in sand.  BTW, in related news, I'm bringing my metal detector with me next time I come to Cartagena!  

The surfers were out, just before dawn on another spectacular day.

Who's been riding a 4-wheeler here?

This is the hotel next to my building.  I wanted to Google it.  Cheap prices (less than $60 a night) but not great review.  Check Morros City instead!


Another nice shell but I already have mine.

The tide is continuing to eat away at the beach.

The view toward El Laguito.


I'm so sad my magnet doesn't work in the sand.  


This little hand isn't at all creepy.  

The sun rose in the east again.  That's pretty special.


Tomorrow, JC and I are going walking at sunrise in the Old City again.  We'll also be stopping at Mr. Bono for deditos de queso (cheese fingers - made with cassava flour) and coffee.

I've been walking on this beach for 3 1/2 weeks and just noticed there's exercise equipment.  


Did you know that Cartagena is on the very southern edge of the Caribbean hurricane zone?  No worries about major storms here.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Just a man, sitting on a pile of chairs, watching the mall.

That's the main road (Carrera 1) along the beach in Bocagrande.

Tough choices - walk on the beach or walk on the seawalk next to the bay and watch the sunrise?  Both are spectacular.

La Playa Bocagrande.

A blonde pigeon.

Another cool shell.

These three guys were intent on a project.  They seemed to be building a lean-to, connected to the seawall.  Why?  I don't know.  But they were working hard at it for at least 30 minutes.

Still working.

Surf's up!

That's my balcony!  On the right, on the first level.

More sand being swept out to sea.

Clever guy - he packed some sand into a little seat.

Remember the big group heading to the beach when I started my walk?  I assumed it was some sort of religious thing - lots of people in white, heading to the beach at dawn.  Boy, was I wrong!  It was buff men and women, getting their photos taken in their thongs and banana hammocks.

I've seen fashion shoots in Buenos Aires and it was very different from this.  Not sure what the group is.  I think they are some of the same people who were in the same spot exercising yesterday.  

Everyone seemed to be waiting patiently while two photographers took photos of each person.

This easy-going dog lives on the street, according to the security guard in my building.

This guy is an example of why I love it here.  I was standing on the curb, waiting to cross the two-lane street to my building.  As this guy approached, he looked me up and down and smiled and said hello as he passed.  As I stepped into the street I glanced in his direction to make sure no traffic was coming.  This guy had stopped to watch me cross and was motioning that it was safe for me to go.  Imagine a 40 year old man in Orlando pausing to make sure a woman made it safely across the street.  Once I was safely across, we waved at each other and he kept going.  Notice the friendly dog in the foreground.

The dog was hoping to be my friend but I've learned the hard way about fleas, so I kept my distance.  But he really wanted into the apartment building.  The guard had to lure him toward the street so I could dash in.  

I took a shower and put on a robe after my walk.  And saw this tag.  It is a laundry tag from the 2024 Holland America World Cruise.  I loved my two months on the ship last year but am just as happy in Cartagena and it is exponentially cheaper.

Lunch time view from the couch.

Lunch was a chicken sandwich, chips and tomate de arbol - a local fruit that is cheap and tastes like a cross between persimmons and mango.

I enjoy people watching.  Here's a dad teaching his son to dive.  Mom was in the background, videoing.

Mexican food, delivered!  I had very low expectations but my high hopes were rewarded.  The taco al pastor was excellent and the shredded pork nachos were good but had no cheese and a tiny amount of salsa.  I'll happily get the tacos again.  

Plus, the great Mexican food came with a view.  Hard to beat.


Science in action.  

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