January 7, 2025 - Yes, This Could be the Most Boring Blog Ever

I'm 74. I'm getting into my old lady groove in Cartagena.  Which means a long early walk followed by a lot of lounging around.  Exactly what I dreamed of for "Sea days".  The "feels like" temp is going to be 102F today.  That's 39C.  Perfect weather for enjoying the views from the shade.  While not moving more than necessary.  Doesn't make for dramatic blog content but works for me.  

Here are some photos from my walk this morning and the pizza I had delivered for lunch.This evening, Juan Carlos (JC) will be taking me to the Old City to see the Christmas lights, so I'll be adding those later.

There are lots of restaurants and bars nearby.

I've found the American Dream.

There are also a lot of spas, some in hotels like this one.   I thought I had an appointment this morning at a nearby spa for a pedicure ($6!).  But when I showed up for my 9:15 a.m. appointment (made/confirmed online) I discovered they don't open until 9:30.  Ah, well.  My toes will wait for another day.

Highly rated restaurant and colorful!  

Not surprisingly in a touristy beach town, there are a lot of fast food options.  I've visited two.  It took 30 minutes in one and 45 in another.

This chain seems to be what 7/11 is to Bangkok.  They are everywhere and a convenient option instead of a larger grocery store.  

Many of the restaurants have both indoor and outdoor seating.  Walking in the sun mid-day is brutal, but it is lovely to sit in the shade.

Another parrilla.

Another casino! 

If the local pizza options don't appeal, how about a US chain?

Like most places, the majority of restaurants are fast/casual.  But there options at all price ranges.

I'm telling you, Juan Valdez is everywhere! This one has a lovely patio.

There's also indoor seating.

Anybody remember the Jeno's pizza rolls and mixes from the '60's?  My family had them every Friday night.  Jeno Paulucci owned both Chung King and Jeno's Pizza.  I only know that because Mr. Paulucci moved into commercial real estate and helped build Heathrow, Florida.  Other factoid - Mr. Paulucci's daughter had a multi-million dollar home in Heathrow that was swallowed by a sink hole.  Anyway, I think the names are a coincidence.

Decent reviews and this place makes fancy cocktails, some with smoke!

A sort of food court, perhaps?  Four restaurants under one roof.

Oh, thank goodness.  It just isn't a city unless they have Dominos. Fun factoid!  In Africa and Asia, corn is very popular on pizza.  I don't know why but it is.  

This place looks good.  Interesting menu, good reviews and delivery.

I wish I owned an emerald store in Colombia.

Cartagena loves parrilla!

And, outdoor seating.  Works for me.

So many options.

This is a grocery store.  To me, the logo looks like it should be a gas station.

Just me or does it seem unusual that the two largest grocery stores in the area are almost across the street from each other?  Both are open 24 hours.  

I'm not obsessed with pizza restaurants, there are just a lot of them.

Doesn't look like too much from the outside but great reviews and the menu looks good.  The internet says it has outdoor dining.  Fancy octopus, here I come!

"My" grocery store.  Easy enough to walk to but a bit far to carry groceries home.  

Co-working spots have come to Cartagena.

I love the flowers.  

There are some amazing looking condo buildings here.  I'm planning to look at real estate while I'm here and wanted to research this place.

This appears to be a private home.  A rarity in this neighborhood of high rises, if true.

Another pizza place - with great reviews and outdoor seating.

I took the long way to the malecon.  What a view to start the day.

A freighter heading out to sea.

That's El Laguito in the distance.  More condos with great views.

I found the dog park!  Which also seems to be a kid park.

2 on 2 game in the park.

Interesting architecture.

In addition to basketball were guys sparring.

Near the malecon and sea views are lots of places to sit in the shade.

Once again, the sidewalk turns into parking spaces.

Another place that appears to be a private home.  That's some valuable real estate.

It seems watch cats are a thing here.

This was at the corner where I slipped and almost fell this morning.  I do NOT want to break a leg in a foreign country again.

Feels like being back in the States.

Yup - more pizza.

The toilets at the beach are not fancy.

This place faces the beach and has outdoor seating but not great reviews.  I thought this line in a review was funny "Great cocktails and high chairs."

Once again, the sidewalk ends when the parking begins.  

ROFL.  When I took this I thought it looked a bit artsy with the beach umbrellas in the foreground.  Now that I see it...I see something very different.

Tired of this view yet?  I'm not.

They do a deep clean of the pool once a week.

I've used this service for food delivery a couple of times.  Fast and cheap.

Los hombres de la basura.  Trash men.  With this heat it would be easy to have trash smell everywhere but these guys do a great job.

What, you thought I could just keep walking past all those pizza joints?

I ordered this 8 slice veggie pizza with extra cheese on Rappi.  It was delivered in 35 minutes, piping hot and delicious.  Cost about $11, all in.  Having cheap, good food delivery is so convenient.  And dangerous for my diet.

While I was enjoying my pizza, I looked out at the pool, where the guy had been cleaning, alone.  And saw what appeared to be a floating body.  I raced out to the balcony about the same time as he sat up.  And I saw he had a snorkel.  They take pool cleaning seriously.

After they opened the very clean pool, this woman and her husband brought their two babies to swim.  Very clever infant holders with sunshades.