Cartagena, Colombia
Approx 25th Oct to 29th Oct 06
04.11.2006
- Referred to as the jewel in the Sth American crown. This place is impressive. An old Spanish Colonial town this place has retained its architecture and history.
- Nestled on the coast of the Caribbean, its a little hard to believe you are in Colombia.
- Checked out the old town, saw the churches and cathedrals, got a bit of a history lesson and checked out the night life.
- Cartgena is famous for being a port that the Sapniards used to store the gold and resources they extracted from the rest of sth america and then send it back to Spain. The British attacked it several times and eventually the Spaniards built huge defensive walls and a fort on top of the mountain to safeguard it from attack.
- It was also a port where black slaves where delivered and sold by the Portugese and
to the Spaniards. The Jesuits led by Priest Clevar were intrumental in freeing many and giving them a better option than slavery (they were converted into Cristians and given rights).
- I was staying in the old town but in a bit of bad area, we were warned not to travel alone at night. After 10pm this place changes, dealers and prostitutes take over the streets and shops etc lock their doors. I went down the street to pick up a some drinks and found it amusing when a young bloke at the corner store asked the shop owner for some coke (the snorting kind) and was handed a small bag in full view me - welcome to Colombia where coke is sold at the corner store!
Posted by allan01 12:13 PM
