Fruits and Candies of Cartagena

 I love to try new things.  And who doesn't love fruit and candy.  We've been trying candies and today picked up a variety of fruits we'd never eaten.  Here's my report.  I'll be adding more as we eat them.  Ok, we've been too busy eating all the candy to write about them but that will happen soon.

This photo shows two mangosteen and a caimito  I learned to love mangosteens when I lived in Myanmar.  I rate mangosteens a solid 9.5.  Roland rated the mangosteen a 7.

This is a caimito, also known as a star apple.  I'd rate it a 6.  I'd be happy to eat it again, but it is bland so I wouldn't buy it again.  Roland gave it an 8.

This is a passion fruit (maracuya).  It is hard on the outside, almost like a gourd.

I liked this one a lot.  I'd rate it an 8.  Loved the taste, not wild about the seed crunchiness.  Roland rated it a 5.

This is zapote.  It looks like a potato.

Called nispero in Spanish, loquat in English.  The taste and texture is just like eating pumpkin pie filling.  I'd rate it a 8.  Roland gave it a 7.  His lower score is because he's not a big fan of pumpkin.  I'd definitely buy it again.  It would make great ice cream, I think.

This guy is the size of a small apple and called lulo.  Very popular here it is like a cross between a pineapple and a lemon.  It is very tart and often used to make juice.  

Roland laughed at my reaction after my first bite.  It is very tart!  Especially after the rather bland zapote.  I'd rate it a 7.  Might be good with sugar, as a juice but a bit too tart for me, plain.  Roland gave it a 2.5 - it was just too tart.  He compared it to eating rhubarb.

This is a nispero. It looks like a cross between a coconut and a potato on the outside.  It has a large seed on the inside, similar to a mango.  But the flesh is more solid.

The skin is tough and it is harder to cut up than a mango since it is mostly seed.  But delicious.  I scored it a 5 because it is a lot of work.  Roland rated it an 8.  I'm lazier.

This is a granadilla.

Lots of small, crunchy seeds that look like fish eyeballs.  Having said that, I'd rate a granadilla a solid 9.  Not to sweet, not too tart.  I'm just a huge fan of crunchy seeds.  But delicious and I'll definitely eat it again.  Roland rated it an 8, which is high, for him.

This is all the flesh from 1/2 of the large fruit we haven't identified yet.  

This is a la pitaya or dragon fruit.  

The dragon fruit, to me, is very bland.  I rated it a 7.  Rolando rated it an 8.


  

January 31, 2025 - Gordo, Flaco and Langosta

 Another great day!  JC picked us up at 8:30 and we headed to Baru.  Our plan was to stop at the National Aviary and then go on to Playa Blanca.  I told JC that we're not big beach people.  Seeing the beach and maybe a quick swim was plenty.  

We drove through the industrial section of Cartagena and continued for about 90 minutes to the Aviary.  TBH, we had low expectations.  We were wrong - it was awesome!  It cost about $20 per person.  JC got in free because he was our guide.  During the live show, the birds, on command, were flying over the audience and back to the stage.  At one point, when the birds would be flying over us, I touched JC's shoulder.  He jumped a foot and we all had a good laugh, including some people behind us.

After a few hours we took a quick trip to Playa Blanca, where we went to a restaurant on the beach for a drink.  We parked and were doing the 10 minute walk to the beach when I fell.  Boy, I picked the right place to fall!  JC and Roland immediately tried to help and a group of young Colombian men raced over to help me up.  I got up under my own speed, which seemed to impress everyone.  A bit embarrassed but unhurt, we continued on to the restaurant.  Where JC reminded us of the langoustines we'd eaten in La Boquilla.  "You only eat the tail of the langosta because that is where all the meat is.  You weren't hurt because you fell on your 'tail' - you're like a langosta!"

We'd been joking with Roland saying he was skinny and JC saying he was fat so I announced we'd now be known as Gordo, Flaco y Langosta.   

Instead of eating at Playa Blanca, which was busy and a bit loud, we headed to La Boquilla for another platter of seafood.

Enjoy the photos!

Last week I was telling a friend last week that a top item on my wish list was to stand behind a waterfall.  And here I am.  Standing behind a waterfall!

Gordo, Langosta y Flacko

Food for the birds, not our lunch.

More bird food.

The aviary is large, well-maintained and really pleasant, with the birds from a number of geographical areas represented, including rain forest and desert.

It wasn't crowded at all, which was a plus.

Cool way to feed the birds.

My mom loved doves, especially mourning doves.  

Some birds were very tame.

Roland the bird whisperer.

This guy was HUGE, as was his nest.

I was hot, tired and happy. Half-way through the aviary is a place to buy drinks and snacks.  Perfect.

That's a small waterfall.  There is a lot of moving water in the different exhibitions - good for the birds and very pleasant.

I looked like a sweaty mess but these guys were fresh as daisies.

The peacocks were very used to people.

This guy is an owl.

Lots of sun and blue skies.  It was about 87.  Very pleasant in the shade, with a breeze.

The stage for the live show that was as good (or better) than any show I've seen at Sea World.

The flamingos were amazing.

View from our table at Playa Blanca, after my big fall.

$12 USD for a beer, homemade lemonade and a bottle of tonic.

The people at the next table ordered the fried mojarra (fish) which is a typical dish here, served with patacones and coco rice.

Roland opted for a swim.  I get itchy if I don't shower right after a swim in the ocean so passed.

You can visit Baru on a boat like this.  About $100 for the day.  NOT a private tour.

After Baru, we drove for about an hour to La Boquilla, back to the restaurant where we had the great seafood a couple of days ago.  It was just as good today and now the server, who's the son of the owner, is a new friend.

They do a lot of kite surfing in this area.

I'm not sure what she was selling but was strolling the beach with it.

Crabs, langoustine, fish, shrimp, octopus, patacones, salad, coco rice and seafood rice.

We crushed it.  No dinner tonight.

That's a ceviceria cart on the beach.  We saw four more down the beach.  All pushed by guys in white uniforms, including a chef's coat.

I decided it would be a great post-retirement job.

I'll stick with the ceviche from the Sombrero Cevicheria but this is certainly convenient if you're on the beach.

Kite surfers in the distance.