Cartagena! Or, as we've heard it called repeatedly on the ship: Carta-GINA. :/

We made it to the beautiful port of Cartagena today.  This is a new port for us, AND we've never been to South America so it's doubly exciting.  This is a beautiful city, but it's definitely a city with more than 1 million people living here.  Today, being a Sunday, things were a bit quieter, despite the fact that there were two ships in port.  

We booked a tour privately (meaning, not through the ship) with a woman named Marelivy.  She was born in Columbia, and has lived in Cartagena for most of her adult life.  She toured us around the city for almost 5 hours, showing us all the it has to offer and we had a fabulous time.  Cartagena has history that goes back to the 1500's when it was a port city.  That section of the city, known as the Old City or Walled City was, at one time, completely protected by a wall that they made of coral.  There was one main gate to get in and out, and it was only open from 6 am until 6 pm.   This part of the city was our favorite because it reminded us of some of our favorite places - Italy, New Orleans, and Puerto Rico.   

Marelivy was very knowledgeable about the history of the city, and she told us many great stories.  We also got to wander around one of the large public markets for a while.  We didn't buy anything, but we did get some food from the street vendors (a preferred activity for me), including an arepeas, which is like a grilled cheese sandwich except the bread is masa flour, and a lemonade (which we would call limeade).  $4 well spent for the two!   

When the tour was finished, we spent a few minutes wandering around at the port, where they had a bunch of different kinds of birds wandering around.  Andrew was in heaven.  

Tomorrow is the Panama Canal - stay tuned! 

Green parrot sleeping after gorging on papaya

Parrot eating

Tiny monkey - he could have easily sat in your hand, but that would be gross.
Also, he didn't look very friendly. 

Squirrel!

View of Cartagena from La Popa

Inside La Popa.  The bougainvillea everywhere was gorgeous! 

The chapel inside La Popa.  The center is the statue of the Virgin Mary.  She has an ENTIRE wardrobe
that people have made for her, and they change her clothes on a regular basis.  Weird. 

The balcony and ceiling of the chapel

Steps leading up to La Popa.  It was built in the 1600s, which I always find amazing. 

Castillo San Felipe - the fort built starting in 1536 to protect the city from land attacks.
Like the wall around the city, it's also made of coral.  The used slaves from Africa to build it.

A typical street in the Old City

Door knocker in the Old City.  The size and type of door ornaments indicated
the social class and, sometimes, occupation, of the residents.

More of those coral walls, and more bougainvillea.  

A huge banyan tree.  Couldn't fit it all in the picture it was so big!

Some church.  I was really fascinated by the coral stones they used everywhere. 

Large public square.  Reminded us of Italy.  

This building was the site of persecution during the Spanish Inquisition. 

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Sorry - I could NOT get enough of the coral stones.  

Look carefully - the grey blob to the upper right of the middle of the pic is a sloth
hanging out in a park. 

Andrew thought this bird might want to be friends.  He was wrong.  Chomp! 

More birds.  

Pretty, but still gross.  

What the hell is this thing?  Anyone??