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Isla Chiva

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    • TravelerPanama Cruise 2025
      Day 6

      Cartenga Columbia

      January 7 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      What idiot books a tour at 7 AM? That is my first thought when the alarm goes off at 5:30 AM. Then I realized that it was me. I am so not a morning person. I check my bag to make sure I have everything and head to the restaurant. One word: coffee. I can't stomach an omelet today, so I go for cottage cheese and fresh fruit and granola. Also, coffee, lots of coffee.

      We meet on the pier at 7:00 AM. Our coach is air-conditioned, thank goodness. It is a hot and humid day in Cartagena. There is a haze in the air that will impede picture taking. Cartagena is split into two parts: the old city and the new city. The new city looks like a metropolitian anywhere in the world, and the old city is surrounded by a stone wall and has all the quaint charm of years gone bye. Our first stop is a bodega on the beach in a poorer section of town. Here, we have some coconut water and watch one of the locals cast the fishing nets at the shore. I think the egret was more successful. The only part that was sad was the amount of litter on the beach h. Then we stopped at a restaurant on the beach for a traditional breakfast of egg fried in cornmeal and one with meat. The coffee here is incredible.

      Next upnwas the Emerald Museum. They had some interesting facts on the mining of emeralds. The jewelry was very expensive but pretty.

      We have now stopped in the old city. It is surrounded by a wall that is from the 15th century. The streets are brick, and the archetechure is amazing. The balconies here are made out of mohangy wood. We can't even get that in Canada.

      I have bought some coffee beans and a couple of charms from Pandora to go on my bracelet.

      I visited the cathedral. It is very beautiful. They still have their Christmas decorations up. Too hot for Christmas!

      Before you get back to the ship, they have a small aviary with a sloth, iguana, parakeets, macaws, and peacocks. It was a beautiful way to end our stay in Columbia.

      Back on the ship, it is a quick lunch, shower, and nap time before dinner. I once again enjoy dinner with our solo group.

      Just to add to the perfect day, I found out this evening that the last condition has been removed on the purchase of my new home. The day before I left, I had put in an offer for a condo. The closing date is February 27th, so I will have 6 weeks once I get back to pack up.      Read more

    • TravelerSouth America 2024
      Day 9

      Last day in Medellin, 14th Nov.

      November 14, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      Today was both my last day in Medellin, and an overnight travel day to Cartagena. There were a couple of things left to do in Medellin - before I could 'tick it off'.
      The cable cars that form part of Medellin's public transport system are a cracking idea. They allow people living in both the poorer areas (and the favelas) to easily get around town. It was a typically grey day, but the ride was well worth the approx. 50 pence it cost.
      Later in the afternoon, I went hunting for a plaza that the people in Medellin are quite proud of: A major artistic figure to come out of the city is Fernando Botera. His paintings and sculptures of comically large human figures (real and imagined) are apparently influential and lauded. I thought of a contemporary British artist, Beryl Cook. I'm not sure who might have influenced who, but Beryl died before Fernando.
      That's it. The day was almost over: Food at a nice cheap cafe, pastries and a coffee in another small cafe with a couple called Fransisco and Tatiana, and a last ice cream. A mad dash back to my digs to collect my rucksack, and a walk to the bus terminus - just dodging the afternoon rain (again).      Read more

    • Weltreise
      121121112
      Day 89

      Cartagena - Kolumbien 🇨🇴

      November 3, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

      Am Hafen angekommen, überraschte uns ein wahres Vogelparadies. Wir fanden viele Aras eine Art der Papageien die langschwänzig und sehr farbenfroh sind. In der Vogelzucht sind sie beliebt als Begleitpapageien beliebt, aber in freier Wildbahn ist das Vorkommen eher bedenklich. Außerdem sahen wir den Weißhaubenkakadu und die Jägerliest, besser bekannt als "Lachender Hans" welcher zu der Gattung der Eisvögel gehört. Und den Fischertukan auch Regenbogentukan genannt. Des weiteren viele Pfauen und ganz viele kleine Lisztaffe - eine Primatenart aus der Familie der Krallenaffen. Der gebräuchliche deutschsprachige Name karikiert die Ähnlichkeit seiner Haartracht mit der des österreichisch-ungarischen Komponisten Franz Liszt.

      Schreibt Justine gern an für mehr Infos über die beobachteten Vögel, es würde den Rahmen hier sprengen 😄🤭

      In Cartagena sahen wir uns die historische Altstadt an, obwohl es auch einen hochmodernen Großstadtteil gab. Der kolumbianische Stil ist wie immer bunt und laut. Wir kehrten in einem der schnuckeligen Café's ein.      Read more

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    • TravelerD & P Viking Neptune WC 23
      Day 7

      Cartagena, Columbia

      December 28, 2023 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

      Wow, we have never seen this many shipping containers in one spot. They are like the blood cells of our bodies that supply equipment, goods, food and provisions to the world container by container. We are all connected and the globe is smaller than we might imagine. Welcome to Cartagena, Columbia, population 2 million where public education is from preschool - 5 years old through high school, and it is free! Retirement is 57 y/o for women and 62 y/o for men, they have designated bus lanes for public transportation. US $$ are used and can be changed in most shops. Colombia has the best flowers, cocoa, gold mines, coffee and it has newly found stores of oil and gas reserves. Weather is hot and hotter… this is the dry season November - May. The Old Fortress was built in 20 years and finished by the Spanish in 1657 to defend the Port as this Port carried the riches back to Spain. We lost two passengers in the shopping center… you don’t want to be that couple… a 12 ‘ high wall was built around the old city for 11 miles. One of the neighborhoods we toured was called San Diego and the tile roofs are called Islamico. They call the wooden balconies colonial (16-18th centuries) and the concrete balconies are called republican (19th century). We are touring with several white OAT buses today in the old city. The new city was an island they filled it in and now it is a peninsula. Regular Gasoline is $4.00/ gallon regular, $5.00 premium. Healthcare is supplemented by the government for all. Slavery was practiced with indigenous and African people brought to Colombia. We went to an aviary and a monkey liked me. We left the port and joined the building of the Panama Canal lecture at 2:30.Read more

    • 52 Tage Amerika und Kreuzfahrt
      Day 12

      Hafen von Cartagena

      March 12, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

      Am Hafä vo Cartagena häts e wunderbari Oasä mit freiä Papageiä, Tucan, Flamingos, Eichhörndli, Äffli, Schildkrötli, Kakadus, Pfaue etc. Ich han mich sehr gfreut zum en wilde Tucan z gseh und all die farbige tolle Tier! S Eichhörndli isch Handzahm gsi und het Samä us de Hand gfrässe. Au s Äffli isch frei uf em Gländ gsi, ich hets am liebste grad mitgno 🥰Read more

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    • TravelerSouth America 2024
      1
      1
      Day 11

      Cartagena, 16th Nov.

      November 16, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

      Up with the larks and a hearty breakfast in the cafe area. It's strange, but the food is beginning to look and taste the same - regardless of whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner. Still, it's very cheap and 'filling'.
      Today was about exploring the old town areas, and I wasn't disappointed. Cartagena has a lovely feeling about it: colonial yes, but a relatively genteel air to it. There seems to be more money here, with less of a sense that people are either just getting by or worse.
      I really like Cartagena. The people seem really pleasant on the whole. The weather is just about right: 30-32 degrees, sunny and dry - without the regular afternoon downpours of further south.
      I'll wax lyrical about Cartagena, and Colombia in general, in a later post before I move on. It deserves a deeper analysis.      Read more

    • TravelerSouth America 2024
      Day 12–14

      Playa Blanca, Cartagena, 17th - 19th Nov

      November 17, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

      Sorry, so sorry to anyone who still checks on my travel progress and might be wondering where the devil he's got to.
      It's just that I've been a bit off-grid - left both my phone and MacBook in my room (and having a good time it has to be said).
      I got an offer that was too good to miss from Jay, the owner/manager where I'm staying to join him, his partner and their friend who helps ruin the place in a Taxi ride to Playa Blanca. This is a spit of land jutting south-west of Cartagena leading to a small town called Barú.
      Apparently, the local government have chosen not to provide services to the area, so it's a bit of a 'hippy', beach commune complete with small entrepreneurs and people getting back to a 'simpler' way of living. All of the buildings are just a few steps from the Caribbean Sea and it's absolutely gorgeous.
      We stayed the last two of nights with a couple, Juan and Eva, in there 'to be completed' restaurant with rooms. Yep, it was damned basic but kind've fun for a couple of nights. We barbecued food on the beach, swam several times a day, drank and chatted (me mainly listening) until the fab sunset had long disappeared.
      On 18th I had a dive with PADI instructor/buddy Taiwana from Ecuador. Pretty good visibility at 10 metres. Felt good to be back underwater
      Great times, great people, great memories.
      The boat ride back to Cartagena was a drenching, diesel-fumed hell-ride, but we survived.
      I hope the attached photos do the place justice.      Read more

    • 52 Tage Amerika und Kreuzfahrt
      Day 12

      Akunft in Kolumbiä

      March 12, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

      Nach eme super feine Nachtesse hämmer e rächt unruhigi Nacht uf See gha. Es hät chli gstürmt und eus di ganz Nacht duregschauklet. S Zimmerpersonal hätt eus mit herzigä Tierli überrascht. Mer sind bime wunderbare Sunneufgang mit chli verspötig im Hafe vo Kolumbiä acho. Jetzt simmer parat für euse Usflug und warted bis d Gangway offe isch.Read more

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    • TravelerAb in den Norden ...
      Day 10

      Das schönste Terminal der Welt?!

      February 22, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ 🌬 31 °C

      Es zählt definitiv zu meinen TOP 3. Warum? Weil hier einfach nichts mit einem Terminal zu tun hat. Selbst manch ein Zoo wäre neidisch.

      Hier läuft man einfach in einen Dschungel voller Tiere. Papageien fliegen frei herum und manchmal begegnet man auch einer ausgebüxten Schildkröte oder einem Faultier Baby ☺️

      Und wie bei jeder guten Touristen Attraktion gibt es auch ein paar Shops. Und unsere Hoffnung steigt. Tatsächlich ist ein Kaffeeladen dabei und es gibt auch Empanadas 😊 was für ein Leben 😅😅
      Das soll jetzt nicht komisch klingen, aber Manu und ich wissen in dem Moment definitiv, was wir gerade für ein Glück haben und genießen ein wenig diese Umgebung, bevor es wieder zurück an Bord geht.      Read more

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    • TravelerSouth America 2024
      Day 10

      Cartagena, 15th Nov

      November 15, 2024 in Colombia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

      I knew, I knew it. It was always in my mind that I was going to like Cartagena (pronounced 'cart ah hay nah' - I'm learning). After the smog and bustle of Bogota and Medellin (good fun though it was), I was looking forward to some all-day sunshine, clean air, and the breeze off the Caribbean Sea.
      The bus from Medellin got me in at a sensible hour, in good time to find the local bus into the city centre and my digs for the next week, at least. It's not a bad place, scruffy but really well located.
      Looking around Cartagena for the first few hours, it looks just my kind've place. There are almost as many 50 ft catamarans to be seen in the harbour/marina areas as in Tivat, so I feel right at home. The people are. friendly, the air is clean-ish, and apart from the predictable rubbish in the water the city seems to be more comfortable and generally prosperous than the average Colombian city. It's great and I'm enjoying it already.
      I took a stroll down to the ticket booths for the boat trips to Islas de Rosario for the palm-fringed Caribbean beaches etc etc. These islands get so 'hyped' I just had to find out the options. Sadly, the reviews on Trustpilot are almost universally negative - the most common word used was 'ripoff'. But I might have a cunning plan B. The manager in my hostel is organising a small trip to one of the other beaches, and I might get out to the other islands even yet.      Read more

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