We
arrived in Cartagena on 1st of June and were straight away in a new
atmosphere: loud music (Sound systems everywhere..., subtropical temperature (very very hot and
humid) and a nice Carribean vibe! We were sweating without moving...
My god! So hot!! Incredible when there were sub zero temperarures a
few hours earlier in Cusco (overnight) in Peru.
Colombia also meant at the beginning a few arguments with our favourite
airline LAN...First problem of our world trip with luggage: Our big
bag got lost and reached us after more than 48hours! We had to wear
winter cloths for 2 days when it was near 40 degrees outside!!
Guigui was lucky enough to get a new LAN t-shirt and underwear in
the emergency kit...Finally he wears nice cloths:) We
soon forgot about this when we discovered Cartagena and its very
pleasant old town and our favourite area called Getsemani- a kind of
bobo "bourgeois boheme" area with small squares, nice
churches, wonderful street art and tasty ceviche! We also dared
cycling to Bocagrande which is supposed to be the Miami beach of
Cartagena... But were slightly disappointed... Not much by the beach
but by the constant harassment of street vendors to sell us anything
and everything. You are on the beach to enjoy and relax and every 30
seconds...someone comes to ask you something. One lady even tried to
massage Guigui's shoulders with some oil to lure him into a full
beach massage... She was thanked by Guigui (not very gently) and
she moved on. Anyway the only thing we got that day was big
sunburns:). We try to get tanned before going back home...ahahahah!!!
Cartagena
is great but too many tourists!! So we decided to go for a week in a
"no foreigner zone" in a town called Tolu, 3 hours south of
Cartagena. Tolu is locally reputed amongst Colombians as a nice and
relaxed place by the Carribean sea! We were so happy we went there...
Only bikes in the street with even bicytaxis, nice beach restaurants
with fresh seafood, fresh fruit juice and the BEST hotel ever with an
open air room wiped by a constant warm wind and a massive double bed,
hammocks on the roof terrace... We can say this was a "near
paradise" experience and it will stay in our memories as a
proper chill out destination. Not to forget Guigui's birthday on
San Bernardo island where we spent a night in a kind of resort with
only us as customers...a bit weird but nice as well! This year,
birthday candles were on fresh lobsters!!
Following
this "holiday" break in the Carribeans, we flew to Bogota
and arrived just on time for the kick off match of the World cup!
Here it's the football Mecca and Colombians are crazy about the world
cup.. They convinced me to buy the Colombian football shirt and I was
proud to wear it the day Colombia smashed Greece! It was as if they
won the World cup in the streets! Crazy, very festive and nice
atmosphere in a grey and rainy weather...
