Colours of Cartegena

We've been settling in to the Caribbean vibe of Cartegena. Despite the cruise ships and the holiday season the streets seem a little less chaotic than our first brief impression. The spruikers are still out trying to make a living, but they are good natured and pretty funny at times. We were given a run down of the colourful history of Cartegena, but you can infer most of it just from opening your eyes. A sheltered harbour provided the perfect trade entrance to South America from the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic. It was a highly desirable destination for European colonisers, merchants, slave traders, pirates you name it. All these influences are seen in the food, the music, the accents and even of the features of the population. Cartegena lacks the natural beauty of the mountains, but it is certainly colourful and packs a lot more spice.Read more