Cartagena, Colombia

My flight to Cartagena went through Bogota. At the airport in Lima, I had to pay 25 US dollars because I didn't have the ticket printed but only online. Great. Arriving in Bogota, I had to pick up my luggage because I had to check it in again for the onward flight. And then over six hours layover. I went to a restaurant with all my luggage and ordered salad and mango juice. About 10€ together. Completely fine for an airport. Meanwhile, I read some horror stories about drug smuggling at the airport and prisons in Colombia. I wasn't so hungry anymore, so I checked all my luggage again - better safe than sorry. 'Que hora es?' suddenly a guy approached me. 'Hmm.. Un ehh mitad? Oh, fuck, half past one', I still can't speak Spanish. Then he wanted to know if I was from the USA and 'tienes hombre?' - help! I quickly thought, 'he probably wants to smuggle drugs for me'. But when it finally came to check-in, something completely different became my problem: my last name. Since 'Häuser' is written in my passport, but 'Haeuser' on my flight ticket, which I had already received in Lima, the lady at the counter said I couldn't fly with that. She said something to me in Spanish and disappeared with my passport and ticket. I waited.. She eventually came back, a colleague joined her, she made a phone call. I only heard my name... and was told to wait. I glanced at the clock with some concern: boarding should start soon. Then I finally got my 'correct' ticket with 'Hauser' handed to me - great... and I ran towards the gate, or of course, I had to look for it first, quickly through the carry-on baggage control, and Gate 17 was of course in the middle of nowhere. I was lucky that the last passengers were still lining up for boarding and I made it to the plane just in time. Phew!

When I finally arrived in Cartagena, I dutifully took an official taxi right from the airport, but the taxi driver didn't know the address of my hostel and complained that my navigation on my phone wasn't working. I wondered if that was actually my job or his. Well, the ride was really a bargain for about 4.20€. But I still have to get used to the currency: 1€ is about 3575 Colombian pesos. I quite like my hostel, with a small pool and a hot tub on the rooftop terrace. It's quite nice with temperatures around 30 degrees. I then went on a search for food and a sightseeing tour and was thrilled. The streets and houses are just sooo pretty. Everything is so colorful. Each house is painted in a different color, the doors are ornate, the windows have wooden beam grilles, and everything is decorated with colored flowers. I really feel the urge to take a photo at every door here, and I don't think photos can really capture the beauty of the city because it's just so impressive when you walk through the streets. It's also quite touristy, of course: full of shops and restaurants.

On my second day in Cartagena, I actually managed to buy contact lens solution in a pharmacy in Spanish. Yeah:)) After I had strengthened myself in a small cute vegetarian restaurant with vegan cake (the café is great and the cakes and muffins too), I made my way to the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. It was crowded and extremely hot, but a bit of culture can be nice in between ;-) But I was also glad when I was back in my little cute old town. Everything is sold here: for a photo of two traditionally dressed women 1$, another young woman approached me, spoke to me in Spanish, held her arm next to mine, she somehow wanted to tell me that her skin color is darker than mine, and suddenly she took a bottle from her top, which was stuck between her breasts, and wanted to pour something on my arm. I quickly moved it away, 'no gracias', ok even sunscreen is sold here. Otherwise water, fruits, necklaces, bracelets, hats, headbands, and sweets. But despite the tourism, I like Cartagena and feel very comfortable, especially in the alleys of the old town (even if I constantly get lost). And I also feel safe here - even in the evenings. Security guards are stationed in front of the ATMs and so far I haven't had any reason to be afraid :-)