Cartegena

Last night we had to set our clocks back and I discovered that my Fitbit hadn’t synced since we left Ft. Lauderdale, turns out it requires the internet, not Bluetooth like I thought. DUH! On me. I guess I’ll find out how much memory the watch has, at least.

We got up about 6, breakfasted lightly, went down to Mainstage to wait for our tour to be called. Almost to the meeting area, a man coming from there asked is we had our passports as they were requiring them. UH, This was news, as we thought photo ID was all that was required. We looked at each other, glad we’d decided to come down a bit early and headed up to retrieve our documentation. (Which was never asked for.)

Boarding a very nice tour bus, we met Hugo. He’s been guiding tourist for 32 years and seems undaunted by anything. 

A comment from a passenger about the number of fully armed and guard dogged Army and National Police we were seeing, prompted the news that the President of Colombia was in town for the day hence the extra presence. Although Hugo did note that Cartagena has a very visible police force as all Colombians are required to give a year of military service and many choose the police rather than actual military as they can stay at home and not be sent away to serve. Sounds like a great idea to me!

I did not realize Cartagena was only 10 degrees from the Equator. That explains the heat. And I’ve learned on this trip that the ABC islands and Cartagena are not in the hurricane corridor as they are too close to the Equator.  The varied architecture of this place reminds me hugely of New Orleans!

Our tour began with the San Felipe Fortress. It took a century to build this place; a definite comment the importance Spain gave to this harbor city in the time of Spain’s Treasure Fleets bringing booty from South America. I’ve spent years thinking St. Augustine’s Castillo de San Marco was huge, but it is diminutive compared to this massive structure. Deboarding the bus at the plaza was many passengers’ first experience with the hucksters who are so in-your-face in so many countries in this region.

 

Our second stop was the Las Bovedas Artisan Center. I found t-shirts for Caleb and B acquired emerald earrings. I wish I had a yen for fine jewelry. Sadly, that’s just not me; my bracelet and earrings do me fine.

We also visited the Inquisition museum and the San Pedro Claver church, honoring the priest who baptized 300,000 blacks back in the day when no one even saw them as human beings, just as property. The very colorful cathedral of Nuestra Senora de la Sanger (Our Lady of the Blood) was not on our list as Colombian law requires churches to close their doors to tourists for several hours each day or be considered (and taxed) as businesses. Nuestra Senora chose to be a “real” church and not welcome tourists. 

Once again, I am tickled to have a companion who can speak the language and help me read the signage. I can’t calculate how much I would have missed had I not been with Barbara here and in Spain.

I am astounded at the absence of graffiti on the walls of this city. 

We walked the Old City cobblestone streets for more than 2 hours before heading back into the traffic, which was so congested (Thank you, Senor Presidente!), we made it back to the ship with 10 minutes before the deadline. The port authority even allowed our bus to deliver us directly to the gangway, despite the law requiring tour busses to drop passengers at the Oasis, a park like area of sales and eateries between the dockyard entrance and the cruise terminal piers.

Back in 8082, we find our toilet is broken - the lid comes off completely - very discombobulating when that lid must be closed for the toilet to work. Calls to Guest Services have not yet produced a fix - it’s been 4 hours so I guess that’s a statement on this cruise line’s attitude toward passenger comfort. 

We grabbed early dinner then went to watch Spencer create a Tapas Party in America’s Test Kitchen. Barbara was as pleased with him as I was yesterday. His vibrant personality and professionalism are evident. We learned that potatoes are very different depending on how much starch each contains and each cooks very differently. And you should always use Yukon Gold potatoes when making a Spanish Tortilla!!!!

Spencer did warn us that Holland America is going green and trying to do away with paper, so from now on the recipe cards and instructions we collected at the door would no longer be available except on line. I decided this explains the miniscule note pad in our stateroom. 

Back from Spencer, we found our toilet repaired. Hurray!!

As we balconied, we espied a small, single-masted sailboat off in the distance. Neither of us wished we were aboard. I recalled the size of the boat whose captain QM2 had to rescue a few years ago and my first visit to Gypsy Moth IV in Greenwich UK. Sailors are/were brave!!!

Tomorrow is the Canal.

Random though for this day – How would America be different if our Army and police actively patrolled with machine guns and crossed bandoliers?