Cartagena

 Back on board the ship they had British pub day in one of the specialty restaurants that you pay extra to go to.  This day they were providing the food complimentary, but everyone was buying Guinness and other English beers to go with the fish and chips.  A part of the soft sell that is nice on this ship.  This 

 was one of our best meals on the boat, I have to say and I only had a ploughman’s lunch with cheddar, a crusty roll, ham, and pate.  Keep it simple sometimes works out for the best.  Even such a small time in Aruba took its toll and all we could do was take a nap, lie around the pool, and get in the  hot tub before getting ready for dinner.  Besides, we have to save our energy for Cartagena and running from drug lords…

 Cartagena

We got clearance a little late to get off the boat, but were able to secure a taxi with another couple that were going to the old town too.  They were from Mexico City and fluent in Spanish, which made our taxi

driver, Tony, love them and agree to come back for us at 2:15pm to the spot that he dropped us off.  This was cutting it close for back on board by 2:30pm, but we decided to let it ride and see what happened.  We walked all around the historic district

of Cartagena with the wall around it and could feel ourselves burning again despite sunscreen.  We had to start stopping and resting in shade, getting more water, and it was only 87 degree, but this is warm for December.  And talk about 

  a hard sell, everyone was trying to sell something at rock bottom prices, the best were the “emerald dealers” that could make emeralds fit into your price range—like $30 dollars for a pendant.  Small stone of course, and a pretty green color, but I’m fairly certain that even in the capital of emeralds they aren’t going for that cheap.  I gave it a thought as a good souvenir even if it wasn’t genuine, it would be a way to remember Columbia, but thought better of it.  We were able to get into the churches even with it being Sunday, went through the market place that used to be the slave market, past the requisite Bolivar statue and realized that I’m woefully ignorant of South American history.  Before we return, I have to remedy that, because it is so much more meaningful to travel when you have an idea of the history behind what you are seeing.