Colombia-Joyas y Cafe Day 9

Day 9 - Tuesday, April 1, 2014 - Fly to Cartagena by Way of Bogotá; Some Free Time

We were able to sleep in until 7:00 this morning as the whole day was devoted to travel. After breakfast we thanked our hostesses at the Hacienda and boarded the bus.

The airport is very close so it took Hector no time at all to take us to the domestic terminal. Once again, Edgar took care of all of our bags and checked us in as a group. He has been great about controlling this as it saves so much time standing in line.

We arrived at the airport at 9:30 and went up stairs to the general waiting area and then met Edgar who gave us our boarding passes so we could go through security.

Avianca has its own waiting room, which was much less crowded and cooler. We were going to the Caribbean coast today and will prepare ourselves for the heat and humidity.

The last time we were in Cartagena in 2010 it was during the month of December so we will see the difference the temperatures are in the springtime. The flight was scheduled for 11:02. The inbound flight did not arrive until 10:20, but they seem to have short turn around times.

On Edgar's signal, we all gathered to get on right behind the people traveling with children and first class. The Airbus 318 was almost full but the air was on so we were comfortable while we waited for the others to board.

No one came to sit in the third seat so Gennie moved to sit by the window giving us plenty of room for the 30-minute flight. The flight was on time and until we got close to Bogota, it was very smooth. There was quite a bit of turbulence as we went through heavy clouds.

There is not a direct flight from Pereira to Cartagena, thus our return to Bogota. The flight landed on time and we had enough time to sit down and have lunch at Pan Pa Ya, meaning Bread Right Now.

The time to pass through security is listed on the ticket as well as the time to be at the gate. Our gate was #10 so we went to the other end of the terminal and easily passed through security. Two members of our group were stopped because she was carrying one of the Botero sculptures and the X-Ray did not recognize it.

After a few minutes, Edgar told us that the flight would be 20 minutes late, as the connecting plane did not arrive. Finally, we were able to get on and the plane loaded as quickly as possible and by 2:20 we were wheels up and on our way.

The Avianca gods were with us today as we had an extra seat in our row again. The flight had several empty seats; so unusual on most domestic flights in the US.

The flight was only an hour, but it is always nice to have a little extra room. We were offered fruit juice, coffee, or water and we shared a package of the plantain chips Edgar had given us.

We arrived at the next jewel of Colombia, Cartagena at 3:15 and by 3:45 we were on the bus and met our driver, Javier. Edgar gave us an idea of what we would be doing this evening as we drove to our hotel.

Javier drove along the malecon, the waves crashing on the sea wall, the walled city from the 16th century in 1533, and then the downtown shops.

This city is a stop on the cruise ship circuit so there are souvenirs, post cards, and stamps. We made a quick stop at the post office for Gennie, who has been carrying her post cards since Bogota!

The temperature when we arrived at the hotel was 85° and the humidity was 75%. The cool fruit drink they offered us was very refreshing and the AC had been turned on to welcome us – thank you Edgar!

We had about 30 minutes to get settled into our room and then at 5:00 we all met in the lobby and went for an orientation walk all around the old city. We arrived at the top of the city wall just in time for the red sun to set into the Caribbean.

All through the walk, we checked our maps to see first of all how easily the city is to walk, and secondly, to know how to get back to our hotel by following the roads to the Plaza Fernandez Madrid.

When we were here in Cartagena in 2010, we ate at a wonderful crepe shop. We went there again tonight but the shop was so popular it had expanded and was now housed in a new three-story building.

We ate with five others in our group on the balcony overlooking the city. We shared a Capressa, a sun dried tomato, arugula, and buffalo mozzarella cheese crepe and a dolche de leche sweet crepe for dessert. Others had different orders, but we all raved about quality and moderate prices of our meals.

With map in hand, we found our way easily back to the hotel. It was 8:00 before we even began to look at pictures and complete the journal. When we finished our work, took a shower, and said goodnight, it was well after our normal bedtime.

Accommodations: Hotel Bantu - - - Meals included: B

To receive $100 per person off your first reservation with OAT, mention the following information when reserving your Overseas Adventure Travel Trip: Mr. Victor Garcia Customer #673062

Any rumblings with the Earthquake offshore and impending tsunami? Be safe, love you guys!

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Day 13 - Saturday, April 22, 2022 - Depart for U.S.

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