CARTAGENA

I was spending some time in Miami recently and wanted a quick escape, to somewhere new and different. I had heard great things about Cartagena for awhile, and it was on my short list of places to visit. Just a two and a half hour flight from  Miami, Cartagena is surprisingly accessible: about the same time as getting to the Hamptons from NYC….haha.

And what a world of difference: Cartagena is a real, vibrant, city where people work and live; it’s a destination for travelers, rather than a “tourist trap.” . And of course, the large historic center dates back to the 1500’s when the Spanish arrived, and began their plundering of the new world’s riches.

Here’s a typical street scene in Cartagena, which contains many beautiful old buildings in a colonial setting.

There are also some awesome museums not to be missed:  The Torture Museum, which as the name implies, contains real torture devices used to suppress the population back in Spanish times. Here is a beautiful painting by Lucas Posada, a Colombian artist, whose work was displayed in the courtyard of that museum.

 

Also so worth seeing is the Museum of Gold, in the square opposite The Torture Museum. It was an incredible experience to learn about the history of Gold in Colombia, which dates back 2000 years! Here is a sample of gold jewelry and pottery about 1000 years old:

Apart from these museums, one of the greatest pleasures about Cartagena was simply being there, wandering the streets, hearing the street sounds, meeting the local people, and savoring the delicious food. And I am pleased to report that there were almost no chain stores, and of course, great local coffee (Starbucks please stay away). I hope to return to Colombia soon to explore more of the country.