Colonial Cartagena, CO Day 3
Colonial Cartagena, CO
Day 03 - Friday, December 24, 2010 – Walking Tour of Getsemani, La Matuna, and San Diego Neighborhoods, Afternoon at Leisure, Christmas Eve in Cartagena
Gennie and I began the morning with breakfast at the hotel and then we met David for a walking tour of several of the neighborhoods surrounding the hotel. Because the hotel is ideally situated to the Old Town and Centro Districts, it is easy to get around.
We began by walking southeast of our hotel to the Getsemani District. This area was once slave quarters and the home of the Africans who were brought here in the 1700’s as laborers during the Colonial Period.
David had advised us all not to wear flashy jewelry and to be aware of our belongings as in any other big city, but we had no problems. We met many vendors and people out shopping for last minute Christmas presents.
Everyone was very friendly and spoke to us as we passed and wished them a Feliz Navidad. Our first stop was a visit to the Plazuela de la Santisima Trinidad where we saw a statue of Pedro Romero who led a slave uprising.
After walking down the narrowest street in Cartagena we came to the walls of the city fortress and walked along the top of the wall. We had a prefect view of the Old Fortress and La Popa above the city where we were yesterday.
We entered La Matuna District and noticed right away that the shops were more prosperous and the homes were more affluent. David stopped at juice bar and bakery called Pan Dorado so we could have a cool drink and pastry. It was 86º and the humidity was 76%.
At 10:45 we began our walk again through the market where we saw fruits and vegetables, fish, meats, toys and clothes. I stopped at a flower market and bought a few Christmas roses and some CDs of typical Colombian/Caribbean music.
We visited an antique shop where we saw many beautiful and interesting pieces of furniture, dishes, and house wares from the Colonial period.
We walked a short way to the Old Dungeons, Las Bovedas built into the fortress in 1792 and now home to 22 tourist shops.
There was a Princess Cruise liner in town today so the shops were packed with tourists looking for souvenirs. Instead of fighting the crowds we opted to people watch until the remainder of our group was ready to move on.
David had promised us a ride on one of the local buses. We crossed the road dodging a constant stream of yellow taxis, risking life and limb and then waited for a bus to take us to Boca Grande.
Most tourists do not ride the local transportation and the Cartagenians were home getting ready for Christmas so the bus was not as jam-packed as usual. We rode a few miles around the sea coast and then had to yell “Parada” - Stop - so we could all get off the bus.
David circled the “tourists” and cruise buses on our way back to the hotel and we arrived at 12:30. We walked to a near-by restaurant David had recommended only to be very disappointed in the reception.
The hostess did not seem to have time for us at all. Only when we saw a mini bus full of cruisers did we understand her preference for different customers.
Back at the hotel we shared a sandwich and then came back to the room to look at photos and transfer the music from the new CDs.
Christmas Eve is the most important and most celebrated part of the Christmas holiday in most of South and Central America. David had made arrangements for us to have Christmas Eve dinner on the rooftop of the hotel.
We gathered on the rooftop at 7:00 and had a very pleasant dinner with our five new best friends as we shared Christmas 2010.
We had a choice of many entrées, two chose steak, but five of us enjoyed the Cartagena/Caribbean Specialty; fish and shrimp cooked in coconut milk served with mixed vegetables and fried plantains.
After dinner when it had cooled down a bit, the Princess Cruise ship had sailed, and all of the vendors were gone, we went back and strolled through the Centro neighborhood to take photos. We saw many young families enjoying the parks and the Christmas lights.
At 9:00 we had arranged to do a Google video chat with our son Eduardo so we could talk with him on Christmas Eve.
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Accommodations: Hotel Monterrey - - - Meal: B
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Comments
Goods to Market
La Matuna Florist
Getsemani District
Las Bovedas
Feliz Navidad from Cartagena
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