Shakira Has a House Here!

We never found it, but there were plenty of other things to explore in Cartagena. The old city is absolutely breathtaking. kind of like Quito, every single building in the old town was colonial style and built on cobble stoned streets. There were even horse and buggy tours you could take around the city, super touristy, but it still kinda added to the atmosphere. The old city is completely enclosed, the moment you step outside the walls, there is a noticeable difference, and not in a good way. We spent most of our time within the walls.

My first view of the Caribbean

Searching for a hostel

On the plane ride over, we met Lucas, a Buenos Aires native, and his two traveling buddies Guido (no he is not italian) and Martin. We parted ways at the airport, but soon found them roaming the streets of old town Cartagena, looking for a hostel. We ended up joining forces and all looking for a hostel together, but it was basically impossible. Everywhere was full. We walked around for I think an hour and a half before we finally found a place. Oh, and it was HOT and humid and we were lugging our huge backpacks (significantly larger since our shopping in Otavalo...). Ten o'clock at night and I was sweating bullets, knocking on door after door only to be turned down. At one point, we found a queen size mattress and decided that it was warm enough outside to just spend the night there on that mattress. We didn't actually end up doing that, but the thought definitely crossed our minds. The hostel we ended up at was a total dive, one night there and then we relocated in the morning to a more prime location.

Flower vendors

The next day we were on foot exploring the streets of Cartegena. Briana and I ran into the Argentinians again in the morning and decided to hang out with them. They study architecture in Buenos Aires so I was suuuuper excited to see what they wanted to see. We wandered old town, all the while sweating like crazy because of the heat, and eventually made our way past the city walls and down to the original military fortress that protected the city. Under the fortress was a labyrinth of alleyways and small rooms lit by torches (well now they were lit by wall sconces with light bulbs, we we can pretend) and I was transported straight to a scene in Game of Thrones, geeeeek, I know.  We made several stops for fresh fruit juice, obviously. It is just so amazing that it's worth buying allll the time. That is one thing I definitely miss from the trip, Santiago is lacking in the department of delicious fresh fruit (apples and bananas are everywhere, but I'm talking mango, passion fruit, pineapple. orange, YUM!).

Looking of the city with our new friends

That night we cooked dinner in our new hostel, so much nicer, and hung out drinking beers before we went out dancing. Well, I was told there would be dancing, but there really wasn't. It was still really fun though. The nightlife in Cartagena is definitely crazy, there is always something going on. Just standing at the bar, while I was ordering a drink, someone came up to me and offered me coke. Like, what?! They are definitely not discrete about that stuff, I politely turned it down and was perfectly content with my beer. It was a really fun night, I talked to so many foreigners, basically no one at that club was Colombian, so touristy.

Perfection

Playa Blanca

In the morning we hopped on a boat and headed out to Playa Blanca. The boat ride seemed to take forever and we were just sitting on top of the boat roasting. I think I turned several shades darker just from that hour trip. At one point Briana looked at me and was like "ooo, you're pretty red" hahah. Thankfully I was just red because my body was overheating and not because I was super sunburnt. I have finally gotten in the habit of putting sunscreen on every morning, just as part of my getting ready routine, it's really effective. Regardless, that day I reapplied about 6 times. The rest of the day was just beach hopping and swimming in some gorgeous water, laying on some white sand, enjoying life. We had to head back to mainland Cartagena in the afternoon, but the Argentinian boys were staying overnight on the island. I was so jealous! If we had more time, we totally would have done that. We said our goodbyes and boarded for what would be the craziest boat ride of my life. A storm was coming in so the water was CRAZY rough and choppy. We were navigating through some HUGE waves, no joke I felt like we were in the perfect storm. For about 30 minutes, it was that constant feeling of your stomach falling up into your throat, like when you are on a roller coaster. I think 90% of the boat was barfing, thank god Briana does not get sea sick, I don't do very well with throw up. The captain did a really good job navigating the waves and I never felt in danger. Actually, that's a lie, there were points where I looked at the wave coming up and got really scared. Who knew the Caribbean Sea was so violent? I definitely did not.

Our time in Cartagena was too short, I could have stayed for so much longer. My first introduction to the Caribbean was absolutely incredible. Take me backkkkk. But we eventually did have to board a bus and head north along the coast. I knew there was even more beauty awaiting us further north, so that made having to leave Cartagena a little easier.

Living the life, vending ceviche straight from the water

Drinking straight from the coconut