Continuing our journey south in early March, 2014, we reached Cartagena, Columbia. This is a big city on the north edge of South America. It has an interesting and important history and so a tour will likely be focused on the older walled-in city and the fortress built to defend it.
Read about Castillo San Felipe de Barajas
It is a long way up to the top of the fort and you can bet the temperature will be very warm.
Here are a few typical street scenes.
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| These small taxis seem to be a popular way to get around. |
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In this photo you see three large entrance ways ... these are the
way into the old, original, walled city. |
Some typical scenes once inside the walled city ...
One of the most impressive sites we visited was
the Cathedral of San Pedro Claver.
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This is a panoramic photo pieced together from several shots.
You can't get far enough back to get the whole thing in one frame
without a special lens on the camera. |
The interior of the church is beautiful and San Pedro Claver Corberó was an interesting and important historical figure.
Unfortunately, Cartagena was a destination for slave traders. Claver's primary mission was to help the slaves and minister to them. The statue above commemorates Claver's efforts.
Special Note
Special note for followers and visitors: I always appreciate your kind comments. Please understand that my motivation for John's Island is primarily to preserve a sort of virtual diary. The impetus comes from my grandmother who religiously kept a written diary almost all of her adult life. I was lucky enough to be the family member who received the entire set of her diaries. Almost every year she filled up an "Aladdin Composition Book" ... one of those wire-bound books with a brown cover. She passed away before the first consumer computers were introduced (mid 70s) so I wonder what she would think about recording her thoughts and experiences today in this virtual environment. My reason for mentioning all this, in relation to comments, is that I always try to thank those of you who leave the comments and usually do so by going to your blog to do that. Some of you do not have blogs and so I may not be able to get back to you that way. Normally I do not reply on the blog to comments since, from the beginning, I've felt that people rarely will return to see if there is a reply to their comment ... they simply don't have the time. So, as opposed to many other bloggers, I don't feel John's Island is a means of generating income with page views or just for communicating to keep-in-touch. Although I enjoy following a large number of blogs, I simply do not have the time to regularly watch all of them, much less make a comment. The bottom line is I do appreciate all your comments and taking your time to post them. I will try to get back to you. Thank you for stopping by John's Island!
Next segment of the journey: Panama Canal.
I LOVE your virtual diary! and this looks like a cool place to visit :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the trip to another place which I may never get to visit in person.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice that we have this type of media for keeping a diary of our lives and important events. When did you travel to Cartagena? It looks like you had a nice trip and I love the Spanish style buildings.
ReplyDeleteI visited brasil in January and would love to go back to Sth America, see more countries. Loved this look at Columbia through your eyes.
ReplyDeleteHi John, I enjoy reading about your travels as always. Indeed the interior of the church is beautiful! How I wish I can also have the opportunity to travel to such wonderful locations like you do! For now, I am content with my growing postcards collection :)
ReplyDeleteI liked reading your special note. My blog used to be an online journal but I converted it into a hobby blog after several setbacks in my life. I am still into keeping a e-journal though, but it's kept in private. I wish I can be like your grandmom keeping a written journal. But e-journal is a matter of convenience cause I'm usually at my computer desk. Real written journal has the more sentimental appeal still for me though. I just have to make do!
It looks like you have done some traveling since I last visited John's Island. I truly enjoyed your tour of Cartagena! John, I feel you really captured the character of the city through your fantastic photographs. Such interesting architecture and building colors. The cathedral is especially impressive. I can only imagine how large it is seeing it in person. It's a pleasure viewing a part of Columbia through your eyes. Your virtual diary is stellar!
ReplyDeleteAlso, a big thank you for the lovely comments left regarding my photographs and blog posts. Your kind thoughts mean so very much to me!
Looking forward to reading about your travels to the Panama Canal!