Breakfast and a walking tour

We were up earlier than we needed to be, so we were able to have a leisurely breakfast before heading off on our walking tour.

Here, we have a choice of 3 breakfasts - typical, healthy, or Anerican.  I chose the typical Colombian, and Mark ordered the American.  Both came with a fruit plate, watermelon juice, and coffee. I then had Huevos Pericos, corn cakes, freshly-made cheese, and sour cream.  Mark had bacon and eggs with pancakes and maple syrup.  We both had enough food to keep us going all day!

After breakfast, we organised a backpack to take with us and walked to the starting point for our walking tour.  There, we met our guide, Legacy, and then chatted to a British couple while we waited for everyone else to arrive.  It was already 34 degrees with very little breeze!  It would end up being the hottest day we have had so far.  Once the walk started, Legacy tried to keep us in the shade as much as possible, but we were soon melting!!  Luckily, there were plenty of helpful vendors constantly on hand to sell us cold water and other beverages 😀.

Our first port of call was Plaza de los Coches just behind the Clock Tower, which is currently covered in scaffolding as it undergoes restoration.  As you enter the plaza through Puerta del Reloj, there's a real wow moment.  It is beautiful.  Previously known as Plaza de la Yerba, it was once used as a market for enslaved people. It is lined with old balcony houses with colonial arches at ground level. The arcaded walkway, known as El Portal de los Dulces, is today lined with confectionery stands selling local sweets. The statue of the city's founder, Pedro de Heredia, is in the middle of the plaza.

Legacy explained to us about the history of Cartagena from pre-colonial times to the founding of the city by the Spanish.  It was all very interesting. 

Our next stop was in Plaza de la Aduana, the largest square in the old city, dominated by a large statue of Christopher Columbus, after whom the country is named, even though he never came here.Read more