CARTAGENA
After a brief stop in Punta Hermosa we had a pleasant 50 mile down wind sail to Cartagena. We anchored off the Club Nautico, which is located between the two centres of Catagena. On one hand you have the modern high rise apartments and hotels running along the beach and the other the old walled city, originally built in the 1500’s – famous for ransacking by Sir Francis Drake who stole all the Spanish gold and killed and raped the local population.
Although we stayed there for under a week we still managed to pack quite a lot in. We did a couple of tours to the old city, convent and main fortress and spent a day slumming it at the Hilton Hotel swimming pool. It’s quite strange being on a boat and not being able to swim. The water in the harbour isn’t the most inviting and there is no telling what you might catch.
We had a couple of great meals out with our friends – it’s is so cheap here – a 15 minute taxi fare is $2.50 and a good meal out with drinks is under $10. The old city is a beautiful place and the Colombians have done a great job in cleaning it up and restoring the old buildings