Cartagena 

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© 1996-2006 John P Dudley
In late June, before heading back to the United States, I decided to make a trip to Cartagena, Colombia to visit Isabela.  I had heard a lot about Cartagena, how beautiful, historic, and grand the city is.  I had also heard it's quite safe, and my experience there confirmed all of these things.Caribbean Colombia

Cartagena is one of the most romantic cities I have ever been to.  Essentially occupying a narrow peninsula, the original city was built in 1533 by the Spanish as a walled city - a large fort surrounding the city.  This area is now referred to as the "old city", and inside the still-formidable walls of the fort are perfectly maintained buildings dating back 500 years.  These buildings are now shops, restaurants, cafes, galleries and more.  Interspersed are beautiful small parks with statues, trees, and fountains.

The newer part of the city is on the end of the peninsula, with hotel towers surrounded by white sandy beaches.  Being on the Caribbean, the weather is terrific, and the water warm year-round

I had a major surprise one afternoon when Isabela and I were sitting at an outdoor cafe in the old city section.  A motorcade pulled up, and who got out but Bill Clinton!  Rumor had it that the Clintons are buying a house there.

While there Isabela and I took a boat trip to Isla del Rosario, me to go diving at a coral reef national park, and she to hang out by the beach and pool.  The diving was excellent! 

Photos from my trip are below.  Click on any image below to view full screen.

For more information on visiting Cartagena:

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Read Washington Post Columnist Darryl Fears' recent column on his Christmas 2002 visit to Cartagena.

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Visit Cartagena de Indias official tourism web site

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Cartagena on $10/day

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www.cartagenainfo.com

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Cartagena Online Travel Guide

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If in Cartagena, go diving with Diving Planet, a safe PADI diving outfit that ensures a good time!

Part of the old fort

At the entrance to the bay that to Cartegena are the remains of a fort the Spanish built in 1500.

Pool at Isla del Rosario -

Where Isabela hung out while I went scuba diving

Daniella -

Isabela s friend Daniella, relaxing at the hotel

Isabaela, me, and Daniella -

Is any further description really needed?

Daniella

Isabella -

This was taken on the top of the fort wall of the Old City. Love that view.

Iglesia viejo (old church)

Built around 1500 A.D., still in use today as a place of worship

The altar at the same church

A rubenesque statue

This statue, outside the old church, was where Bill Clinton's motorcade pulled up and stopped. This was the first thing he got out and saw - could it have reminded him of Monica?

Clinton himself

Pretty close, huh?

Part of the old city -

And possibly the best part - the large pinkish/orange building is filled with many different confectioners' shops. Yum.

More of the old city -

Very reminiscent of small villages in France or Italy...

Another old church

Shops, restaurants, cafes, and galleries.

Isabela

The newer part of Cartagena

Rising hotels and white sandy beaches

Carriage ride

Isabela and I took a carriage ride through the old city one evening

Old city at night

A park in the old city at night

JD the Pirate

JD the Pirate, Part II

Taken at the Isla del Rosario resort, on an island off of Cartegena where I went diving.

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