A botero sculpture in one of the plazas
There is something so inextricably pleasing about sitting in a plaza that I can hardly control myself whenever the opportunity presents itself. I love the idea of being enclosed by beautiful architecture. It’s a serene and tranquil environment to relax and really appreciate your surroundings. It’s a haven away from all the hustle, bustle and stuffiness of small narrow streets. Cartagena is one of those places where you find yourself being drawn to anything and everything simultaneously. Every street you walk along looks prettier than the last and invites you wander for hours and linger on the cobbled streets. It's also one of those places that requires much restraint when every other shop sells local art, delicious food, books and souvenirs (both of the tacky and expensive variety).
The small city is loaded with color and character
One of my favorite things about Cartagena is the never ending supply of food vendors on the street. This morning my breakfast consisted of a huge fruit shake from one of the many stalls located near my hostel. As I described in Bogotá, there are many fruits to choose from and it's all so cheap. I large cup of freshly squeezed orange juice for example (the juice of eight oranges - I counted!) cost me only 2,500 pesos. That's about 50 pence! Besides the streets, churches and plazas there is also a number of castles and fortresses which were built due to the city's vulnerable location and the city itself is still surrounded by the original wall which protected it against frequent attacks from the Europeans in the 16th and 17th centuries. Of course, now the city has developed beyond the old walls and now sprawls outwards to support a current population of just over 1 million. I wish I had more time to explore the city but my mind is set. Next stop, Santa Marta – the final destination!
Typical architecture in Cartagena
