Cartagena Colombia-Emerald Lady of Colombia

Cartagena,
The Emerald Lady of Colombia

The hot days and cool nights are surpassed only by the beauty of the sea and the festive atmosphere of the Emerald Lady of Colombia.

CARTAGENA-HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE:

Cartagena was founded in 1533 by Spanish Conquistador Explorers. Within months of their landing, they had decimated and enslaved the indigenous native Calamari tribe of Indians and became the masters of this soon to be very important port. It became the treasure city of the Spanish Main and served as the primary transshipment port for precious gems and minerals destined for the coffers of King Ferdinand. Many Spanish Galleons, laden with riches from the new world, were attacked and seized by Pirates and English war ships. King Ferdinand ordered the city to be fortified to protect Spain's treasures. The fortress you see today and the Castillo San Philippe took nearly 200 years and 245 tons of gold to build.

Cartagena suffered invasions and sackings in 1544, 1560 and in 1586 (by Sir Francis Drake). In 1741, the English Commander, Edward Vernon, with 186 ships and 25,000 men laid a three month siege to the city. He was so certain that Cartagena would be his, he had a medal struck commemorating his expected victory. However, the Spaniards, outnumbered seven to one, held firm behind their walls and fortresses. The smaller cannons on the English ships were able to bombard the outer walls of the fortress seen today as you drive along Boca Grande beach but could not reach the distances and heights of Castillo San Philippe. The castles cannons on the other hand, made prime targets of the English ships whenever they ventured within range. Vernon lost over 70 ships and 10,000 men in his ill fated attempt to take the city.

Today, Cartagena is a lazy seaside city boasting great restaurants, cobblestone streets, rows of colonial-era homes and high rise apartments along its seaside beaches. Surrounding its' old city is a wall, built half a millennium ago, fifteen feet thick and topped with cannons. Amid violence in many other parts of Colombia, Cartagena lies in a tranquil setting overlooking deepwater ports and glistening seas. Its' inhabitants enjoy a slow paced lifestyle during the always present hot humid days and party atmosphere at night, fueled by the cool Caribbean breezes. Although tens of thousands of Colombians, displaced by Civil War, have moved into squatter camps less than a half hours drive from the city, very little of the strife felt in other parts of Colombia can be seen in Cartagena. The US State Department lifted its travel warnings to Americans in May of 2005 but still mentions the dangers of traveling in Colombia and did not exempt Cartagena. http://www.medellininfo.com/advisory.html However, cruise ships laden with Americans, including the US based Princess Cruise Lines, deposited over 200,000 passengers, nearly 95% Americans, in the city of Cartagena in 2000 and 2001. The mayor of Cartagena proudly asserts to the US State Department that not a single incident has occurred involving an American cruise line passenger.

There are many fascinating places to visit and explore in Cartagena. From museums in the old city, a wide variety of restaurants which boast local, American, Asian and European cuisine, to just sitting on the old fortress walls and viewing the pristine waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Because of the warnings, many people do not consider Cartagena as a possible vacation destination. That may be the reason there is a noticeable absence of T-Shirt and other typical touristy types of shops. Cartagena is truly, unsullied by artificiality and remains the Emerald Lady of Colombia.

And now, for more on why male travelers are making CTG a destination of choice:
I hope all of you enjoy this report as much as I enjoyed capturing the moments!

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