Colorful Cartagena

After over five hours of travel with our extremely friendly bus driver who gave us bananas and told us a lot about Colombia, we arrive in the hot Cartagena on the afternoon of September 1, 2022. We can't muster the energy to do much more than look for something to eat - and even that seems to be too much because we feel very sick all night...

The next morning, our stomachs still haven't fully recovered and we spend the day mostly in our accommodation to gather new strength. In the evening, we venture out again and experience the vibrant party metropolis of Cartagena with its crowded streets, illuminated squares, loud party buses, breakdancers, colorful graffiti, colonial balconies, many restaurants, and rooftop bars.

On September 3, 2022, our newfound friends from the wedding also come to Cartagena, and we spend the next few days together in a small Airbnb apartment in the colorful neighborhood of Getsemaní.

First on our list are the Islas del Rosario, so on Sunday morning, we meet our guide near the port. If you think that we actually start at the agreed time, you don't know Colombia well... First, we wait in the park, where we are at the mercy of the obligatory vendors who offer sweets, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, jewelry, hats, drinks, and more. Then we go to the port, where our boat can hardly find a place to dock among the many other tourist boats. After about an hour, we are finally on the fancy motorboat, leaving the city behind. Throughout the day, we stop at various beaches on the beautiful Caribbean islands off the coast of Cartagena. But we really wouldn't recommend scheduling this trip for a Sunday... It's incredibly crowded, noisy, and populated by party guests from all over the world.

The highlight of our day is undoubtedly snorkeling with countless colorful fish and swimming in bioluminescent plankton, which surrounds us like a glittering skin in the dark water of the night. Finally, we take the bus back to the city from the last peninsula.

On our last day, we explore the city a bit more and indulge in Colombian cuisine with Sophie, Chris, and Johnny. On our way through the city park, we discover something (for us) incredible: two sloths hanging in the branches of a tree! This experience is so unexpected that we are filled with joy. And other species also cross our path here: three large iguanas stroll through the grass and climb surprisingly quickly up the trees. The day before, little monkeys were jumping around in the trees, all in the wild. Incredible!

In the late afternoon, we take a little trip to Castillo de San Felipe, a fortress from the time when Colombia was still occupied by the Spaniards. From here, you have a great view over Cartagena. The special feature of the architecture is especially the labyrinthine corridors that make any potential intruder's footsteps instantly audible everywhere.

We end the evening in a karaoke rooftop bar, having fun with travelers from different countries.

But now that we have spent enough time here, on September 6, 2022, we continue our journey to Medellin by plane.