Paradise in one island

We did not know it, but we reached Cartagena in a bus company that belonged to the Pablo Escobar´s group of narcotraficantes. The Ochoa brothers. Just when we arrived, we were told that the company is not very popular, because people in their revenge for the bad things the gangsters did to them, use to burn down those buses. Well, we travelled safe and with no incidents.

The position of Cartagena is amazing. The entire city was constructed on an island connected to the main land by some bridges. The reason back in 1600 was protection from the pirates. The walls still wear the marks of the bombs, bullets and whatever other weapon was available back then. Pretty hard to conquest although many have tried. The reason is simple: Cartagena was the departing port for Spain, in other words, big majority of the richness the spanyards would ripp off from poor indigenous people would first have to pass through here. Histoy is written on the walls, and people know lots of legends about mighty fights and one eyed pirates.

What is now left is a beautiful city in the old part. With colourful houses and balconies, narrow and maized streets to confuse the intruders or just to protect the inhabitants from the heat.

One would think Cartagena is a great place to live if it hadn't been for the horrible sun. An esquimos here would die in great pain. And the funny thing is we were there in extra season, when the sun is not that hard ???!!!

One of the most important things we did in Cartagena was staying in Rosa`s house. She and her mother took good care of us and we had a blast! Besides the fact they are adorable people, we were conquered by their happiness and good way of living.

On the last day, we took a must do tour to the Rosario archipelago. Some 30 islands spread around a remote area away from the main land. We had to take a big boat full of tourists to get there.

I didn`t know an island could be that beautiful. Tropical green, loads of birds, cristal clear water... incredible! Some of the islands were private, some only for the celebrities' eyes and some were still in the state's property, like the one we visited.

Next stop of the tour was Playa Blanca on the island of Barú. If you remember the pictures you've last seen in your normal magazine about exotic beach destinations with white sand and palm trees hanging above the sea, coral reefs and clear water, you`ve got Playa Blanca in your mind. I thought photos are somewhat not true, such beuty could not exist for real. But it's reeeaaal!!!!

The only thing Borja had to complin about was the hot sea water. Very difficult to please: hates the cold current of Humboldt, hates the hot waters of Carribean... At least I am happy!

And to conclude our journey to Cartagena, at night, after the beautiful trip to the paradise islands, we had a salsa class with Rosa and her mother. The view was funny because people there live with their door open because of the heat. So that neighbours passing by would watch us dancing in the house. I guess it was just another normal Sunday night for them...

We are now in Santa Marta and hoping to start our jurney to the Lost City tomorrow. No news from us for the next 6 days!!