Where We Be
Picture of a typical Cartagena street, taken from the
16th century defensive wall that surrounds the city
Walled City -- Cartagena, Colombia
Walled cities are so atmospheric! Cartagena's
fortified Old Town is instantly likeable with its
16th century walls, flowered balconies, colorful
colonial buildings, leafy squares, and narrow
cobblestone streets. The climate is tropical --
this is the Caribbean coast -- but sea breezes
keep it from getting too sweltering. We loved
our four days here and could've stayed longer.

Our Airbnb was located right in the heart of the
Old Town next to the University of Cartagena.
Students chatted in coffee shops, horse-drawn
carriages clip-clopped by, and tourists like us
had an embarrassment of riches when it came
to choosing a restaurant for lunch or dinner.
Soaking up the ambience of this walled city is
the main thing to do. Being planners by nature,
we mapped out the sights we wanted to see
first, but after that we let ourselves wander
down random streets that called to us -- which
is really the best way to appreciate Cartagena.
If you're in need of a quick pick-me-up, Juan Valdez Cafe is the Starbucks of Colombia
We really enjoyed the views from the city walls -- but
be aware it can be sweltering here and there's no shade
We liked the juxtaposition of the old city walls with the modern skyscrapers
These fortifications were essential because Cartagena was Spain's gateway to South
America -- and thus a target for pirates wanting to plunder all the treasure stored here
This image gives a good view of the city walls,
with the highway on one side and Old Town on the other
Atop the city walls is Cafe del Mar, a hopping place each evening. People
come here to watch the sun drop into the Caribbean while sipping cocktails.
Nearby is Plaza Bolivar, a shady square in the heart of the Walled City
Several key sights surround Plaza Bolivar, most notably the
Palace of the Inquisition (now a museum about the Inquisition)
On one side of the Palace of the Inquisition is the Window of Denunciation where heretics were denounced.
On the other side is a deceptively lovely entryway through which heretics were led on their way to being tortured.
On another corner of Bolivar Plaza stands the
beautiful Cathedral of Santa Catalina de Alejandria
Near the center of town is the courtyard of the University of Cartagena
Later on we visited the famous Clock Tower. It stands at the entrance
to the walled city and is one of Cartagena's most photographed landmarks.
The square with the Clock Tower -- Plaze de los Coches -- was once a slave market.
Cartagena used to be a central entry and trading point for slaves in the New World.
Traditionally dressed women sell fruit on the plaza
Today Plaza de los Coches is a popular place to go for an evening stroll
Near Plaza de los Coches is lovely Parroquia San Pedro Claver,
named after the patron saint of slaves who lived and died in Cartagena
After we'd seen most of the key sights, we spent the rest
of our time in Old Town happily wandering the streets
Random wandering is what Cartagena is made
for with its beautiful balconies and sunlit walls
Old Town is enclosed with walls so you can't get too lost
Bougainvillea spills over a wall
Flower-draped balconies on a sunlit afternoon are what Cartagena is all about
This is a city for lovers young and old
Plaza Santo Domingo is also home to one of
Fernando Botero’s most famous sculptures, "La Gordita"
Plaza Santo Domingo is one of the most welcoming
squares in Old Town with its many outdoor cafes
For dinner we wanted a balcony with a view and
found one close to home at Revoltura Restaurant
Our dinner with a view was the perfect way to finish up a busy day
We enjoyed dinner while people watching on Carrera 7
Continuing along the street paralleling the sea, you'll see
plenty of stately buildings -- and horse-drawn carriages
Next to the seaside street are the impressive 16th century defensive walls
The city and sea view from our Airbnb was lovely
Our first visit was to the house of Colombia's most famous author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who won
the Nobel prize for works like "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and "Love in the Time of Cholera"
A picture of Marquez -- and a pretty amazing door -- grace this hotel's facade near his home
Looking down the street near Marquez's home
Exceptional doors, windows, and balconies can be found throughout the city
Teatro Heredia (aka Adolfo Mejia Theater) practically glows in the Caribbean sunlight
Teatro Heredia is also famous for what's on the
inside -- a magnificent stage curtain and cupola
The Airbnb was compact but its central location in the
heart of the walled city trumped everything else for us
Our walking tour inside the walled city started and ended at the red dot
Taking breaks from the heat is important here. We popped into our
Airbnb for a blast of AC then broke for lunch at nearby Pezetarian.
Clock Tower lit up at night
A sunlit fruit cart adds a splash of color
Across the street was this cute pup in
the display window of a fashion boutique