Cartagena... just beautiful

from Wed 21 Feb 2007

After a long 13 hour bus ride to Cartagena we arrive around 9pm, and taxi thru to the closest cheap (ie rough) part of town to the centre. The people are the first thig we notice. Its like being in Africa. Or Jamacia at least, loads of very dark skin. We have been looking forward to the Carribean for a long time so this is very encouraging.

A few drinks in the Havana Bar close to our chosen budget hotel are well deserved. The old boy who gyrates periodicaly to the load Cuban rythems is quite a sight too.

Next day we arise to some lovely heat. At last!! Our plan is to cruise for a couple of days then start the organisation drama of moving over to Panama, by sail boat or plane.We dont want a repeat of Medellin where we spent ages faffing about with such practicalities.

But in a lucky move wealmost stumble on to the local yatch club within 10 mins of leaving the house. And sure enough there is a sign for crew wanted. 5 mins later we find the captain and his wife, Brian and Jamie of ¨Cats Paws¨. They have been living out of boats for over 26 years (cool) and are quick to admit they dont normaly take passengers, unlike others who regularly make the crossing for financial gain (normaly smuggling drugs underneath the backpackers on board).

They seem cool, and their 40 ft boat is very nice indeed. THey are looking for 3 or 4 to pay the trip (which they are doing anyway..) and charge the standard $250US, expecting to take 5 or 6 days. As it happens our third crew member also shows up in the form of Welshman Mark. And just like that, its all on. We agree to meet tomorrow to buy provisions and set off on Monday. We are stoked that the organisation was so easy, and hope that dynamics between us all go well...

The next three days we cruise around Cartagena, enjoying the sun and beautiful architecture. Just like the guide books say, its like a time warp back to the 1600´s with all the Spanish building still very well intact.

A bit of beach time is had, over on the rich end of town. It feels like Surfers Paradise, with loads of high rise apartment blocks and hotels, all looking very new and polished.

The touristy nature of the centre or old town takes a bit of getting used to. We havent seen this type of thing since Cusco in Peru. Loads of touts hassling us, and restaurants that charge the bloody earth. We decide to sit in the main tourist restaurant square and treat ourselves to a couple of overpriced drinks to ge the ambience. One corona cost 6,000p... to put it in perspective a set menu lunch will cost around 4,000p ..and thats two courses and a drink...

We talk quite a bit about how we perceive our Co captains to behave with guests for the first time, and eventualy decide just to hope for the best.

Central America here we come!!