Monday, January 10, 2022 – Photo of the Day – Cartagena, Colombia

Queen of the Caribbean Coast

MONDAY, 10 JANUARY 2022 CARTAGENA COLOMBIA Arrival: 8:00 AM

DRESS CODE: CASUAL
For Ladies: DRESSES OR BLOUSES AND PANTS
For Gentlemen: SPORT SHIRTS AND SLACKS

No shorts or flip flop type footwear after 6:00 PM in indoor venues

TODAY’S WEATHER Breeze Afternoon High: 88°F 31°C Low: 74°F 23°C

CARTAGENA DAS INDIAS
On the continent’s northern tip, Colombia is the only South American country that fringes both the
Atlantic and Pacific. It’s rich in emeralds, coffee, and oil. And because it straddles the equator,
it’s one of the lushest countries in terms of tropical flora and wildlife — there are more
species of birds in Colombia than anywhere else in the world.

You can jump on a plane and in less than an hour find yourself in a different dramatic setting — be it the
cobblestone streets of a weathered colonial port, the stalls of a crowded market where Guambiano
merchants still speak the tongues of their ancestors, or at the base of snow-covered peaks rising
sharply from a steamy coastal plain.

A city of explorers, Cartagena was founded in 1533 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia on the
ruins of a local Karib village. This first settlement was nearly abandoned when Heredia realized
that access to freshwater was limited — an issue that would haunt the city in the centuries that
followed.

Cartagena’s magnificent city walls and countless fortresses were erected to protect its riches, as
well as to safeguard what had become the primary African slave market in the New World, receiving
hundred of thousands of slaves until the cruelest industry was permanently halted — although that
didn’t happen until the mid-19th century.

The city would also be first among the first to fight against Spain for independence, doing so twice, with the first battle in 1811 (after a declaration of independence in 1810); Cartagena was first to raise her voice for Colombia and would later take
the moniker “La Ciudad Heroica” (the heroic city), given by the great Simón Bolivar himself.

SIGHTS
• Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas
• Plaza de la Independencia
• Church of San Pedro Claver
• Palacio de la Inquisición
• Las Murallas (city walls)
CUSINE
Cartagena has excellent restaurants offering seafood, traditional Colombian dishes, or international cuisine.

Here is a selection of photos from our morning tour of Cartagena by a horse-drawn buggy into the Old City. What was enclosed was pretty special – a superbly-preserved collection of colourful colonial houses, lavish churches, and huge palacios that were so evocative of times gone by.

But, rather than being just a living museum, the thing that marks Cartagena as special is its local colour and vibrant street life.

When we returned from the city tour we returned to a bird aviary.

The first of our Tale of Tales special events, Fiesta Cartagena got us moving to the rhythm of Colombia’s vivacious music tradition. See and hear performances in various dance styles and try some amazing local cuisine surrounded by unique colonial charm. We got a glimpse into this with an amazing World Cruise Event that was full of music and dance – pulsating drums that turned our walk from our outside venue to the restaurant into a full-on street carnival.

The story of Cartagena de Indias unfolded this evening through a celebration of its food and culture, from the bold simplicity of street food. The party began in Proclamation Square where independence from Spain was declared in 1811 (specifically at 11 AM, on November 11, 1811, therefore the lucky number of 11/11/11). The entire square was blocked off and set up for our Grand Adventure. After two hours of appetizers, colorful costumes, multiple bands, dancers, performers, and stage shows, we “paraded” a few blocks by bands and dancers (our procession was applauded by the people on the sidewalk) to Casa 1537. 1537 was the year in which the construction of the cathedral church of Cartagena is completed, presided over by Bishop Fray Tomás del Toro. The same place where Casa 1537 currently operates. It is a place of historical significance where the forward-thinking creative genius of celebrated local chefs tantalized our senses. Tonight we feast on traditional dishes reimagined with unique ingredients, symbolic of Cartagena’s reverence for its past and zest for the future. We about 200 guests, our show was put on by over 290 workers, servers, and entertainers.