DAY 52---CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA

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                     Our position today is at Cartagena, Colombia where we docked at noon.

                                                  At noon it is sunny and 85 degrees.

BACKGROUND INFO: 

        Cartagena is a port city on the northern coast of Colombia. It was founded in 1553 by the Spanish who built a wall around the old part of the city with cobblestone streets, squares, and colorful colonial buildings. During the colonial period it was the main port for exporting Peruvian silver to Spain and for importing African slaves. Now at one million people it is the 5th largest city in Columbia. Outside the old city it is a vibrant, modern city. Tourism, commerce, and industry make up its economy. Columbia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine unfortunately.

        This is our second visit here on this cruise as we were here back on January 18th.  Prior to that we have been here on several other cruises.

      The country's name is derived from the last name of Christopher Columbus.  The Spanish were the first Europeans to explore here in 1499.  The Spaniards found large amounts of gold treasure in the interior native villages which they melted down into bars and sent it back to Spain.  Large plantations were established for food and also shipped to Spain.  The Spanish galleons bound for Europe were the favorite targets for pirates.  The Central America country of Panama is its northwest border and was actually part of Columbia until 1903.  During its history there have been several rebel movements and wars to oust the Spanish.  In 1886 the country became known as "The Republic of Columbia".  Since then there have been bloody civil wars and guerrilla fighting but the fighting has lessened since 2010.  The US has been involved heavily with Colombian efforts to fight drug cartels and the smuggling of drugs out of the country.

       Colombia, South America's fourth largest country, is very rich in natural resources and exports:  fuels, oil, precious stones (mainly emeralds), forest products (paper & pulp), coffee, meat, cereals, vegetable oils, cotton, sugar, fruits and other agriculture products, fish, beverages, machinery, electronics, ships, airplanes, vehicles, chemicals, cosmetics, clothing, leather, and construction equipment just to name a few.  You may also be surprised to learn that 70% of the cut flowers imported by the US are Colombian.  Coffee is practically a mandatory souvenir here.  Colombia really is an economic powerhouse.

       Colombia has a population of over 51 million which is the 3rd most populous in Latin America behind Brazil and Mexico.  It is 1/8th the size of the US.  Put another way, Colombia is about twice as big as the state of Texas.  Bogota, the capital, is located well inland, basically in the Andes mountains, with a population of 8 million.  I have flown over Bogota many times on my flights from DFW to Buenos Aires.  It would be in the middle of the night so have never seen it during daylight.  In my humble opinion, Colombian women are by far the most attractive in South America.  Colombians are also some of the best educated in South America.

LAST NIGHT:

Two guys on deck 6 right below our suite washing the windows in Compass Rose which is on deck 5.

        Cocktails in the evening in Horizon Lounge which is on deck 6 very back of the ship.

The Starlight Duo (from Hungry) playing in the Horizon Lounge during cocktail hour.  Just a hand full of folks in the lounge last evening.

As we left our suite at 6pm there were these three workers trying to unplug the toilet's vacuum system right outside our door.  They had the longest plumbing snake I had ever seen.  Probable 30 feet long.

                                We both ordered the "tiger prawns" for our appetizer. 

           They were just regular shrimp and not the larger tiger prawns so I sent them back.

                                             Then they returned with the larger prawns.

                          I also had this potato & arugula soup.  It was pureed and very tasty.

I had ordered the chef make this fried chicken thighs special for us.  I order 6 pieces but I could only eat two and Rebecca 1.  Pretty sure our waiters ate the rest.  It was very good.

                     Just before the show started.  Andy Hackbarth was the entertainer last night.

Andy is from Carbondale, Colorado, which is northeast Colorado.  Opposite corner of the state from us.

                                      He was the best classical guitarist we have ever heard.

                              He was also a great singer and doing a Johnny Cash number here.

                 In addition to playing and singing, he had some very funny lines.  Fantastic show.

        We sat next to the Todds during the show.  They also loved the show and mentioned that the four of us should have dinner with Andy.  I am working on trying to arrange that for tonight.

        During his show he mentioned the Ukraine invasion and told the orchestra (all Ukrainian) we all hoped their families would be safe.  This got a standing ovation from the audience.  So on our way out of the theater I ran into Paul Reynolds, our cruise director.  We and other passengers thought Paul should have mentioned our Ukraine crew members the night before so I let him have it for not doing it.

I'm certain I am on his "shit list" now.

        As we departed Colon last evening the Captain said he expected rougher seas.  He was correct as we did do some rocking and rolling all night long.

TODAY:

        I took several photos this morning as we sailed into the Bay of Cartagena.  I did my treadmill at the usual time but Rebecca waited until we were in calmer waters approaching Cartagena so as not to reinjure her knee.

Old small fortress entering Bay of Cartagena that was for the cities protection back in the 1600s and 1700's.  Also a small lighthouse here.

                                              In the Bay of Cartagena approaching the city.

As you can see from these photos this part of the city is very modern but there is an Old part of the city not visible as we sail in.

              There is a nice boulevard running along the bay and these modern buildings.

Statue of Virgin Mary, the Virgin of Mount Carmel who is the patron saint of divers and navigators.  It was placed here in 1983 but was struck by lightning in 2015 and destroyed.  Divers searched the bay for body parts and found 3 big pieces and several smaller parts.

                                                      Other side's view while sailing in.

                    We will be docking on the pier ahead with RCL's Grandeur of the Seas.

Men in this small boat will catch the mooring lines from our ship and securing them to the yellow dolphin in order to secure our ship to the pier.

                              This tub is ready to assist our Captain when docking if needed.

                  There is a greeting party awaiting us on this dolphin with several sea gulls.

                 Our dock is in the industrial part of the port with cargo and container ships.

        I had no tours scheduled for this afternoon.  Glad I didn't as it is 90 degrees which is too hot.  We are overnighting here in Cartagena.  I do have a tour tomorrow morning at 8:30.  It is only a 2 1/2 hour tour most of which is in a bus.  It's going to places I have seen before but will get some photos for you on this blog.

        I have been told that our dinner request with Andy is not happening tonight.  We have previous plans for the next 3 nights and Andy's second show will be on March 2nd.  Guess we will not be able to do dinner with him.

        We have another new entertainer who will be in the theater at 9:15 tonight.  Ruben Vilagrand is a comedic magician.  Marcia informed us that she had seen his show before and he is very good so we plan to attend tonight.