Today is a relatively short and semi-weird timed call in Cartagena – arriving at 11a and sailing at 6p.  Since we’ve been here a bunch and have done a lot in and out of town, our plans are to just wander around, grab lunch and then hang on the ship.  Should be a nice easy day.

We actually arrived early, at 10:30a, sailing through a thick fog bank on the way into port.  Per usual, we headed out right away, even though we knew we’d have to cool our heels for lunch – but better to be walking around on land then just hanging around the ship doing nothing.  A huge bonus of our early and weekday arrival is that we finally get to tour the City Hall building, the Palacio Consistoria, which I’ve wanted to see since our first visit here ages ago.  Our timing never worked out – today though breaks our streak.

While there are tours there, the next English tour isn’t for a couple of hours, so we just do our own little tour of the 100 year old gorgeous building. We start off in some small artist gallery displays, then traverse the incredible marble lobby to get to a huge exhibit on the Cavite y Santiago de Cuba Monument, which turned 100 years old just yesterday.  There were signs on the walkway into the city explaining the history, and now here there is more information, solo en Espanol!  But we do our best with translations, loving a miniature cork reproduction of the monument and watching a fascinating video presentation about the monument, it’s creator and all the dignitaries, including the American Ambassador, who came to Cartagena for the unveiling.  

A few pictures of the marble balustraded grand staircase and then the exterior of the Hall, and we are on our way for a walkabout before lunch.

While totally foggy and cold at the waterfront, a few blocks away and it is gorgeous, sunny and much warmer.  Incredible what weather can do!  We meander through the pedestrian main street, looking at a fun t-shirt store (unfortunately with all the designs on the back) then popping into the Iglesia Castrense de Santo Domingo for a quick look around. 

We end up walking all the way down Calle Mayor, to the end of the old town pedestrian walk, just wandering around looking for restaurant potentials and enjoying exploring the more “modern” area of the city.  Before long, though, we reverse course back to Calle Mayor, walk all the way back down almost to the waterside to the aforementioned Plaza Heroes de Cavite and the monument to the heros of the war.

On our two trips up and down Calle Mayor we has passed a cute little bar called Bar Columbus, Mi Viejo Café.  Well how can you resist that?  It was the typical old, local bar where we are the only non-Cartagenians there, and definitely the only ones who want food at this time of the day, even though it is just turning noon.  Everyone else there is chatting over cappuccino and espresso, while we navigate the menu and help the old waiter set up the table with tablecloth and utensils.  Perfect!  We order a traditional meal of thin sliced chorizo and pulpo and have a lovely meal in a great cozy atmosphere. 

Now it is time for exercise!  We are climbing up to the fortress and back.  Get our blood pumping and work off the chorizo and bread we just had for lunch.  We know exactly where we are going as we’ve done this before, just in the opposite direction.  Up through town we go, passing Jardin Romano Cuesta de la Baronesa, the small little garden with the gorgeous mural.  Then onto the mirador in front of the Catedral de Santa Maria la Mayor where you can see the fog trying to break up over the water.

Then up the steps and out onto the broad walkway above the Roman Theater.  The views down into the theater never cease to amaze us!

Continuing up the hill, we finally reach the fortress, with more views out across the theater as well as the new amphitheater, as the fog starts rolling inland in waves.

We circumnavigate the fortress, getting a good peek at the Bull Ring which is under construction of some sort.    Looks like they are renovating which may be cool to see on our next visit here (of which I’m sure there will be one – isn’t there always a stop in Cartagena on these cruises?).

Back around the side of the fortress, we come out where we began and start our trek back down to the waterfront.  The map below shows our route up to fortress.

A quick supermarket stop for supplies and we are back on the ship, hanging out and awaiting our sailaway to Malaga.