January 11, 2025 - Emerald Shopping

 Twenty three years ago I visited Cartagena with a friend.  We both bought emeralds.  Since then, she's regretted that she didn't also buy an emerald necklace.  Today, I went back to the same store to shop for her, Caribe Jewelry and Emerald Museum.  Coincidentally, it is the same store that my most excellent driver recommended as the best place in Cartagena for emeralds.

It wasn't a surprise that the price of emeralds has gone up exponentially.  But, hey, it wasn't my money I was spending so I was happy to look around.  Unfortunately I was so focused on emeralds, I neglected to take many photos.    Here's what I have for today...

There were set emeralds...

And loose emeralds...

Emeralds of varying quality...

And they can make any custom piece of jewelry you'd like.

A wine-drinking friend is visiting soon so I was checking out the reds.

I have no idea if Gato Negro is any good...

but they had a lot of it.  The grocery store has a large liquor selection but not much wine.

These are all Christmas themed.  But not on sale. I thought Christmas here ended on January 6.

The lines were long and slow today at Carulla.  I'll stick with early morning visits from now on. And, yes, I was in the line for geezers and pregnant women.

I always carry a fan with me and appreciated it while waiting in line.

I LOVE gooseberries!  Or, golden berries as they are sometimes called.  Expensive in Florida, but grown locally so dirt cheap.  Yay!

This couple was getting settled into my favorite spot by the pool.

I hoped to see sunsets from my balcony but the angle is wrong this time of year.  I walked across the street but just missed it.  

These folks seem to have all come back from the beach at the same time.  41 floors, three elevators.

I may not be able to see the sun go down but the view of the sky from my balcony is pretty nice.

The hot tub is busy from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. when they close the pool.  And, that sky...