The Log of the Traveling Denholms

Cartagena, Columbia We arrived in Cartagena, Columbia on Monday, March 12th. Our friends, Mike and Joan met us at the airport. Mike is currently stationed in Bogotá with the State Department. When we told them about our trip, they suggested we get together for a few days in Cartagena. We stayed at the Hilton, which is a first class hotel. It has three pools, one with a slide that we used extensively one day.    Cartagena was a nice way to wind down after all the craziness back in the States. We did a half day guided tour of the city that included the monastery, San Felipe fort, and the old walled city. San Felipe is one of 24 forts that the Spanish built to defend Cartagena from pirates, including Francis Drake. Many of the forts and buildings in the walled city were built from coral reefs. Now you know why Cartagena is not known for its snorkeling and diving.       Our last night in Cartagena, we took a horse drawn carriage ride around the old walled city. We ate in San Domingo Square, which had 4 or 5 outdoor restaurants. When our carriage stopped in the square, we were accosted by restaurant waiters shoving menus at us. Everyone wanted us to come to their place for dinner. We escaped the chaos by going to an indoor bar on the corner and getting a drink. In the bar, we came up with a theory...the merchants bother couples not pairs of men or women. So after our drink, Mike and Pete became the advance team. They went out and found a good restaurant without being accosted. After they were seated, Joan and Karen were able to just stroll up and sit down. Of course, once we were seated, the fun began. Street merchants selling jewelry, cigars, lighters, paintings, and hats stopped by our table. Strolling guitar players were there as well. Mike and Pete wanted cigars so they negotiated with one vendor and got 5 Cuban cigars for $20 USD. Later another cigar vendor offered to sell them the same number and type of cigars for $10 USD. So much for excellent negotiating skills. The vendors were so aggressive that the waiter actually brought out a tabletop plastic holder with a sign that stated No Gracias. Then when a street vendor would stop we would just point to the sign or hold it up. Of course one smart ass said he could not read it and kept playing his guitar. After 15 minutes of fighting off the vendors, they left us alone and we ate in peace.