The Americas 2013

Sundays the world over are  lazy days and Cartagena is no exception!! I Went out early with a view to walk the perimitre of the walled city to see the variety of suburbs that exist within the walls and beyond the touristic streets of the old town, and Cartagena did not disappoint. Like any town or city, it has its poorer areas however the carefree, caribbean, Latin American culture of colour, music, games and family was a joy to witness.

Sunday is obviously wash day so all the clothes are out in the sun to dry alongside barbecues where the entire neighbourhood seems to have congregated, loud salsa music blaring out of the boot of a car and kids playing baseball and soccer in the street! A carefree lifestyle that had aspects that reminded me of my own childhood but which seems far removed from the paranoid and closed off society that white South Africans live in today.

The constant companion to being in this part of the world is the heat which hovers around 35 to 40 by midday plus the accompanying humidity which makes being outside oppressive and an exercise in massive fluid loss…especially for us porras!!

The day was amazing, I am blessed to be here and had a lazy lunch and a bottle of wine after the walk whereafter a siesta was compulsory! Tomorrow, I hopefully get to meet with the captain of the good boat Jacqueline and to decide if this is in fact a viable option to get to Panama. I will keep you posted.

Part of the original defence system built by the Spanish back in the 1600’s.

Typical Cartagena street sign..

The original circus. The wooden ruins of the tent structure can still be seen in the background. 

Super hot indian chick with great boobs!!

Guard outlooks..

Washday in Getsamani, the poorer suburb of old Cartagena.

Street games, barbecues and super loud Salsa music..

The new and modern face of Cartagena..

More beautiful old street scenes.