January 4, 2025 - Tour of Cartagena

 Great news!  Juan Carlos is back - he's fine and it seems to have been a combination of a communication and technology breakdown.  We've straightened that out and spent a great morning together today.  We left at 8 a.m. and did a tour of the city, including the main neighborhoods and Pie de la Popa.  We started at my apartment in Bocagrande then headed by the port to Getsemani, a neighborhood known for its colorful murals.  Then we went to the Old City then on to Manga.  Years ago I looked at buying a condo in Manga and still love the area because of the old homes and trees.

It was fun to recognize areas I've visited before.  It was also wonderful to do it before the narrow streets were packed with tourists.  And, when it was a bit cooler.  Here are lots of photos...and I'll even more in another post.

My view when I woke up. 

Breakfast was yogurt from Carulla (big grocery chain).  I don't think I've ever had orange yogurt before.  Loved it.

There's a cruise ship in port and there were lots of crowds.  

These folks were waiting to board the boats for a trip to the Rosario Islands and other nearby islands.  The beaches in Cartagena aren't gorgeous.  They're similar to the beaches in Central Florida, with darker sand.  The nearby small islands have the white sand and blue waters typical of the Caribbean.

This is one of the most iconic sites in the historic Old City of Cartagena.  Called the Torre de Reloj (clock tower), it is a common meeting place for tours.  January is the busiest month for tourists in this UNESCO Heritage site.

One of the many sculptures in the city.

The view from the port area toward Bocagrande, where I'm staying.  The city of 1 1/2 million is relatively compact and easy to get around.  Having said that, the streets are narrow and drivers need nerves of steel.

Entering the barrio of Getsemani

Color, flowers and friendly people.

We posed with the statues in front of the Iglesia de la Trinidad.

Mi amigo, Juan Carlos.  

The Iglesia de la Trinidad - the Church of the Trinity is in Getsemani.

Getsemani is known for it's colorful homes and murals.

Panama hats are a popular souvenir, based on how many are for sale.

The streets are colorful and narrow.  And almost empty early in the morning.

That's the Colombian flag hanging over the fruit vendor.

One street is covered with dream catchers.

I believe my HOA would have an issue with this color.

A mural of a beautiful young woman.  Who just happens to be Juan Carlos' niece.

This is the girl's grandmother.

There are many talented artists in Cartagena and paintings are a popular souvenir.

So I look sweaty?  It was only about 85 but humid.  I'll take being too hot over being too cold any day.

Creative mural with 3-D butterflys.

I had to laugh.  I have a similar Christmas decoration from Guatemala.

I'll be heading back to Getsemani during my stay, to just wander and have lunch.

Fruit is readily available and less expensive than in the U.S.  

People were out early, cleaning the streets. Cartagena was founded in 1533.  Some of the walls show the wear of the years.

Need a rest from the walking?  There are places to relax and get a cup of coffee all over.

Another mural.

Which country started the "umbrellas over the street trend?  I like them.  Just curious and too lazy to Google.

Cartagena is near the equator and has flowers year 'round.

Well, I'm old and out of touch.  No, I didn't recognize Shakira.  

I loved this orchid, painted on a house.

This is the wall of a fancy restaurant.  Here's the menu.  https://celelerestaurante.com/menus/ For reference, 100,000 Colombian pesos is about $23 USD.

Entrance to the restaurant.

These paintings are beautiful.

Most of the subjects of the paintings I saw are women.

Well, that's a bit of Getsemany.  For more photos, check out the next post.

January 3, 2025 - Well, That's Not Good

My plan this morning was to go for a ride with my new buddy Juan Carlos. I was waiting in the lobby at 8 a.m. as planned. He didn't show. I texted at 8:15. No response. And it's now 10:00 a.m. and I still haven't heard from him. I hope he's ok.  I decided to just stroll around the neighborhood. I walked for an hour (Buddy would be so jealous!) and am now dripping with sweat. Here are some photos.

The Old City at 6:00 a.m.

And a bit later

The beaches are empty until later.  Understandable when normal dinner time isn't until after 9 pm.

Taking a break from cleaning the pool area.

The lobby of MorrosCity has several seating areas.  I fear I'd never be able to get from this low couch.

This guy is my hero.  Bocagrande is a long, skinny peninsula.  I was walking across the peninsula to see the view to the east.  There are lots of cars but very few stop signs let alone traffic lights.  It makes crossing the street an adventure.  Luckily, Bangkok and Mandalay were even worse so I have experience in surviving urban Frogger.  He was waiting at the street when I walked up.  After a few seconds, he turned to me and said "Listo?" (Ready?")  and stepped out in front of a motorcycle, with me right beside him.  We both waved at cars and yelled "Gracias".  After we'd stepped up on the curb, he said the Spanish equivalent of "Have a good day." and headed off. 

This was interesting.  The sidewalk briefly became a parking lot.  They marked the sidewalk as parking spaces.

These apartments have a playground.  

Peligroso. Dangerous. No kidding.  Four lanes of Frogger.  I love that the No Crossing sign is ten feet from the cross-walk.  The drivers actually didn't seem to care.

View toward Castillogrande, another popular neighborhood with great ocean views.

A public park with a water view.

This is the malecon - a bike/walking path.  

A view toward the other end of the malecon.  This is where I'll be walking most mornings.

I was on the east side of the peninsula, looking west toward my apartment.  It is a very narrow peninsula.

This is looking east toward more neighborhoods, Manga and Getsemani.  Getsemini is known for being very colorful with a lot of amazing murals.  

Day trips to the Rosario Islands are popular and they were loading groups into speed boats.  

After the malecon I started strolling through the interior of the peninsula to see where I could spend money on things like food and massages.  I found both!  I found one spa close to the apartment that is about $58 for a 90 minute massage.

Always nice to know help is nearby, lol.

This vendor was selling fruit on the street.  I bought four large mangoes for $2.30. 

This is the store near where I bought the mangos.  Fancy plumbing stuff - faucets, bathtubs, etc.  Suitable for the plethora of fancy condos in the area.

Cartagena was named after a city of the same name in Spain.  I may have to try the tapas.

Is it just me or did you read this as "Disco"?

Why are there no traffic lights?

This is the entrance to the pool area at my apartment. To use the pool or other amenities you need a bracelet signifying that you have access.  But when I checked in, the young man told me I didn't need one.  It seems they only give them to short-term vacationers.  When I walked into the pool area, there was a man checking bracelets.  I started to explain that I didn't have one because I'm here for two months.  He interrupted and said "You're in apartment 703, correct?"  That isn't my apartment but I'm next door.  I was impressed that he knew who I was.  Then realized he was the guy cleaning the pool when I was on my balcony this morning.  Nice young guy who speaks English but was willing to converse in Spanish and correct my errors.  The reviews mentioned rude staff in the building but that has not been my experience at all.

The pool area is large and well maintained with options for partial shade or sun.

The following photos are shots of the pool area.  There's also a gym, steam bath and sauna.

The mangoes are huge and ripe.

This view still amazes me.

I checked out the bar next door.  Cool seats at the bar.

I ended up at McDonald's for a late lunch.  Like the chicken place yesterday, you place your order in a machine rather than a human.  Then either wait in line for your food or sit at a table with a number, if you are eating in.  Fast food seems to be a misnomer.  It took about 30 minutes to get my food.  

The clouds started coming in for an afternoon shower.

I had Google translate while I was grocery shopping online.  Some of the descriptions were hilarious.

The clouds and rain came.  The weather so far has been like Florida summers used to be, with brief, intense showers in the mid-late afternoon.

The beach goers did not care!