Cartagena
Photography
Food
Excursions
Transportation
Cue the maracas and salsa baby because we are heading to Colombia! Cartagena is a small coastal village located just off the southern tip of the West Indies. This tropical paradise is one of the hidden Caribbean jewels that has been frozen in time for the past 200 years. It has miles of winding cobblestone streets and little back alleys that are surrounded by beautiful colonial structures that tower over the city. Hanging off of these structures are hundreds of balconies that support a system of wines and flowers that stretch down to the luminous walls below. Every morning these colorful walls seem to come to life as the sunlight begins to dance across them opening each flower one petal at a time.
Surrounding the city is a massive wall built of ancient coral, rocks, and bricks. From here you will have a soaring Birds Eye view of the streets below. As the sun continues to rise, the streets begin to fill, and a thriving market appears down below. It is filled with magnificent paintings and beautiful woven purses, all of which can be negotiated for. Walking this market was one of our favorite things to do. With every step we found ourselves falling in love with this new culture, and sending ourselves deeper and deeper into history.
Photography
Torre de Reloj
(10.423132, -75.549258)
This amazing feat of colonial architecture lies at the center of Cartagena. The beautiful stone features and neutral colors complement each other by distinguishing its refined sharp edges. This is a beautiful spot to take a photo that showcases the Spanish influence in this city, however it fills up very fast with vendors so you must get there very early if you want to get a clean show.
Rock Wall
(10.424047, -75.553684)
Stone, coral, and brick are just a few of the elements that begin to make up the hundreds of textures you can find in this massive wall. This unique mixture has a way of popping small details that seem to tell a story of Cartagena’s history. If you angle your camera just right, you can also get the deep blue Caribbean waters that lap the shoreline just a few feet away. When combined, the wall and the ocean blend in a way that is indescribably beautiful.
Calle 32
(10.422387, -75.550935)
Although almost every street in Cartagena is worth stopping to admire, Calle 32 was one of our favorites. Its unique luminscent colors give off a striking light that wraps its subjects in a glowing warm blanket. This along with the colonial balconies and windows gives off an effect that produces a scenic mixture of dramatic history and cultural preservation.
Plaza de los Coches
(10.423259, -75.549303)
Plaza de los Coches is an absolutely breathtaking arena surrounded by color, history, culture, and plants. It acts as the gateway to the old city with every road leading to a great tower of cathedral. It does not matter which street you choose to photography because this plaza truly does not have a bad angle.
Food
La Esquina del Pandebono
When it comes to cuisine, Colombia is known for their classic Spanish dishes, like Empanadas and Arepas, but on the world stage they are not normally recognized for their bread. Well, let us be the first to tell you, you have to visit this restaurant!
If you’re looking for something light, you can get the pandebono served filled with gooey cheese and painted with butter (our favorite). If you’re looking for something a little heavier, you can get it filled with all sorts of meats and vegetables. Chicken, bacon, ham, cheese, spinach, mushroom, sausage, and even meatloaf. The possibilities are endless. But what about dessert? They have that covered. Some of their sweet breads include things like creamy caramel pastry, guava sauce, and even a smooth chocolate filling. If you’re going to this city, this is a MUST to visit!
Transportation
Getting around in Colombia can be very difficult if you are not prepared. In an effort to protect millions of jobs produced by their taxi industry, the government has decided to outlaw ride services like Uber and Lyft. Although you can still gain access to them, it is considered illegal to use.
Yes, that’s right you will probably at one point or another need to negotiate, in a foreign language, because like many other industries in Cartagena there is no set price for this service. A driver can charge you whatever he or she feels like. Once again this can become a big issue when you do not speak the same language. So how did we do it? Like most other things, we winged it! Going into the trip we learned about this by reading other blogs just like you’re doing now. So we took the liberty to give ourselves a crash course on the Colombian Peso, and tried to teach ourselves as many numbers and negotiating tactics in Spanish as we could.
It was definitely super intimidating the first time we had to get a taxi from the airport. Our research paid off though (literally). The first driver that approached us was way too high on price and not willing to budge, but eventually after walking around and attempting to bargain, we came across another driver that was willing to come down to a fair compromise. At the time this experience was utterly terrifying, but afterwards it was extremely satisfying knowing that we had conquered this dilemma, and could get around if we had to. By the end of the trip, it felt like we were negotiating experts.
Excursions
Castillo de San Felipe
(10.422801, -75.539271)
This historic hilltop fortress is an incredible piece of Colombian history. It was originally built by the Spanish to protect the wealth of the city. Now it serves as a world heritage site that visitors can walk through and explore. It is filled with dark winding tunnels that burrow through the hillside. Thousands of bricks line the textured walls that eventually lead to a point at the top. From here you can only gasp in amazement as you overlook the beautiful colorful city of Cartagena.
Getsemani
(10.422519, -75.547055)
A short 10 minute walk from the old city will lead to a quiet little section called Getsemani. This beautiful little suburb is centered around Holy Trinity Square where locals gather every night to play chess, dance, listen to live music, people watch, and simply just enjoy each other’s company. The colorful walls surrounding the square are brought to life with all the murals and graffiti that seem to inspire the laid back culture that encompasses this community.
Playa Blanca Beach
(10.296122, -75.588717)
There are 2 ways to get the Playa Blanca Beach which is located just south of Cartagena. You can travel there by boat or by bus. Upon arrival, it is a little overwhelming because you are flooded with vendors, but once you get out on the white sandy beach surrounded by turquoise water it is worth it. There are several small tiki bars spread out across the beach and a few shacks where you can keep your belongings for a fee. The slight breeze that flows across the shoreline hides the incredible heat of the Colombian sun so make sure you wear plenty of sun block!
Bocagrande
(10.409843, -75.550980)
Bocagrande is the modern city located in an upmarket area just outside of the old city. It is filled with dazzling skyscrapers, casinos, and restaurants that seem to stretch out into the ocean. This updated part of the city is the perfect area if you’re looking for a fun night out on the town or a simple day excursion. Although the city has no public transportation, it does sit next to a bus station that brings in visitors from all over the country.