Breakfast was on a rooftop balcony. Very pleasant with outlook over the neighbourhood.
Our hotel:
I liked that this group were all wearing Panama hats!
And I liked this juxtaposition of the Botero in front of the church.
Amongst other things, Cartagena is the home of Gabriel García Márquez. The winding streets of the Old Town, bursting with colonial mansions complete with wooden overhanging balconies wreathed in bougainvillea, stunning churches and horse-drawn carriages obviously provided inspiration for Márquez in his writings.
More Old Town pikkies:
After a siesta of sorts to break the afternoon heat, we walked back into the Old Town via the Getsemani neighbourhood which is nearby our hotel. This is a bohemian barrio and we really liked the intimate feel of it, although apparently it is an up-and-coming hot spot with restaurants and hotels being set up. On the other hand, we liked the ordinariness of it; and some of the houses had amazing interiors, colourful tiled floors and wonderful antique-looking furniture that wouldn't look out of place in an English country house.
We met the others up on the city wall at a popular bar where people congregate to watch the sun set. The wind was blowing and was very cooling.
Dinner was arranged for 7:30 p.m. So My Friend and I made a beeline for Agua de Mar which I had read about. Alistair, an Englishman with a Mexican mother has made a lovely restaurant based on tapas and mixed drinks particularly gin-based ones. He was very hospitable and we could have (should have?) stayed here for our main meal. He has a mixologist (her name is Camila) and along with Fernando the bar-tender, they put on a great performance with the mixing of the drinks.
However, a ceviche dinner with the group had been planned. Ceviche is a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of the Americas, especially Central and South America and is typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, such as lime or lemon. I didn't realise it was a RAW fish dish so I broke one of my travel rules about not eating raw food - hope I don't get sick! Will let you know ...
A small group of wandered on to a salsa bar but the volume level of the music was too loud for My Friend and I so we called it a night.
We had another wander this morning around the Old Town. Like I said yesterday, it is colourful and touristy. And hot. Even the dogs thought so - and this was at 9 a.m. (!)
This is by the sculptor, Edgardo Carmona. His iron sculptures are displayed in one of the plazas of the Old Town.
I liked that this group were all wearing Panama hats!
And I liked this juxtaposition of the Botero in front of the church.
Amongst other things, Cartagena is the home of Gabriel García Márquez. The winding streets of the Old Town, bursting with colonial mansions complete with wooden overhanging balconies wreathed in bougainvillea, stunning churches and horse-drawn carriages obviously provided inspiration for Márquez in his writings.
More Old Town pikkies:
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After a siesta of sorts to break the afternoon heat, we walked back into the Old Town via the Getsemani neighbourhood which is nearby our hotel. This is a bohemian barrio and we really liked the intimate feel of it, although apparently it is an up-and-coming hot spot with restaurants and hotels being set up. On the other hand, we liked the ordinariness of it; and some of the houses had amazing interiors, colourful tiled floors and wonderful antique-looking furniture that wouldn't look out of place in an English country house.
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Dinner was arranged for 7:30 p.m. So My Friend and I made a beeline for Agua de Mar which I had read about. Alistair, an Englishman with a Mexican mother has made a lovely restaurant based on tapas and mixed drinks particularly gin-based ones. He was very hospitable and we could have (should have?) stayed here for our main meal. He has a mixologist (her name is Camila) and along with Fernando the bar-tender, they put on a great performance with the mixing of the drinks.
However, a ceviche dinner with the group had been planned. Ceviche is a seafood dish popular in the coastal regions of the Americas, especially Central and South America and is typically made from fresh raw fish cured in citrus juices, such as lime or lemon. I didn't realise it was a RAW fish dish so I broke one of my travel rules about not eating raw food - hope I don't get sick! Will let you know ...
A small group of wandered on to a salsa bar but the volume level of the music was too loud for My Friend and I so we called it a night.
Hi. Heavy rain & wind have come through from the south. Wind storm hitting Melbourne yesterday. Paul (LoP) down in Gundagai (arrived this afternoon) - he said there has been a big hail storm down that way (I suspect it may have come through via Albury as well?).
ReplyDeleteMedellin & Cartegena very interesting ........ & I liked the photo of the dogs lying on the cool tiles. Am enjoying the updates. xxx