April 4, Santa Marta, Colombia

After a 4 1/2 hour shared taxi ride I arrived in Santa Marta. Not bad....the taxi was full but still lots of room. It would have been faster but there was about 1 hour of driving in the cities.. dropping off and picking up people. Nice as it was door to door.

The country side is very dry as we followed along the coast. Lots of trees but not many leaves and the grass is all brown. We passed through a mountainous area, although not that high and there was 1 sign to a volcano.
Santa Marta is very nice. Not as colonial as Cartagena's historical centre but still nice. There is a mix of old and new buildings. I am further from the beach this time, all of 2 more blocks.

I spent the afternoon walking around. There are not many people around. Interesting as the container port is right in the centre. I did find the tourist information office and got a map and then I did find a travel agency... so I hope I will get the tour I want to the far eastern part of the country.
I have put my name in and I hope that there is a group going soon. But no rush, I have lots of time!


April 3, Cartagena, Colombia

A lazy day today.. I spent it at the beach. Nice as only 1 block away. I rented an umbrella for the day, 10,000 pesos, about $4. Nice as it was a hot sunny day. A great way to spend the day.
But the best part was the coffee after! I went to a coffee spot that is in a 1954 Jeep which has been converted to have a coffee machine. It was excellent. I ended up talking to the guy. Turns out it is a family business that actually grows the beans on a plantation in the Coffee Zona, not far from Bogota. They roast the beans in the back of the Jeep and then make the coffee. It is even organic! They have only been in business for 5 months and this is the only Jeep in Colombia but he said he has a cousin that has one in Manhattan! It was very interesting to talk to him!


April 2, Cartagena, Colombia

Today I walked into the historical centre. It took about 30 minutes, so not far but it was hot and humid very early today... I was soaked by the time I got there. Very nice as I was able to walk along the city walls. Apparently there is 9 km left of the original 11 km. They were built in the 1600s by the Spanish. The old part of the city has some amazing building and they have been very well maintained. They are mostly shops and hotels with some restaurants and coffee shops mixed in.

I walked around many of the street. Of course stopped for coffee a couple of times! Ok...one guy that said he had very good coffee.... well it tasted like Nescafe instant! Just ok!
I went into the Naval museum. It was great. I did have to pay for this one but it covered the whole naval history of Colombia! Not just the Navy parts! It was very well done with great displays, but 99% was in Spanish. I was surprised to learn that the British

April 1, Cartagena, Colombia

Up and out early as taking a tour bus to Playa Blanca (white beach). I was to be picked up at 8 and I was sort of, walked a bit down the street and then wait a bit more and then on bus.... on the bus for an hour before leaving the city. By 10.30 we arrived at beach. It is only a 1 hour drive! Very interesting. This beach is out in the middle of nowhere, but nowhere has at least 3 km of restaurants, bars, and fish places all along the beach.

And of course there are umbrellas for rent, very expensive, beach sellers seller beer and cocktails, cervice, massages, sea doo rides, banana boats, snorkeling.....I don't think I have missed anything! It is a very busy beach with lots of people, and yet plenty of room for more! The beach is whiter than the beach in the city, but no where near as white as the beaches in Mexico!

It was a nice day as I got out of town and I was able to walk most of the beach. The water is very clear even with all the swimmers and the sea doos darting in and out! It felt great!