Shelter Bay to Cartagena, Colombia

Hola Friends and Followers...We arrived back in Seattle from Cartegena, Colombia on June 18th. Our last few weeks in Shelter Bay, Panama after returning from the San Blas Islands were spent biking, walking and preparing Serena Ray to be left idle for 3-months, while we again Land Cruise the PNW. The rainy season was in full-swing in Panama by the time we departed and the summer rain/humidity required that we leave a couple of dehumidifiers running inside to fend-off mold, a major problem for boats in the tropics!!



The Sunday before departing Panama we joined our Dutch cruising friends Nick and Josie (s/v Jedi) and Chris, the manager of the Shelter Bay Hotel and Restaurant for a great brunch in Colon. A spectacular feast of seafood, salads, pastas, Panamanian meats and desserts!



Nick, Josie, Chris and Rosie wait out a downpour!



Dessert anyone!!


Rain pouring off the Hotel roof

You may also recall Leo, the French chef that crewed with us on Serena Ray from Costa Rica to Panama City. He has been working as a “linehandler” on other canal transiting boats since then and also making/selling jewelry creations in Panama City. He stopped by to show us his work and also say good-by, as he had just landed a paid crew position on a sailboat heading to the Galapagos Islands.


Rosie trying on some of Leo's jewelry creations.
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Though we had decided to leave Serena Ray in Panama for the summer instead of Cartagena, we still really wanted to visit this historic city. We decided to pay a visit before flying back to the States…which was a really good decision!!
Cartegena is a very beautiful and interesting city with a very rich history.
With a population of over 1 million it is located on Colombia's northern coast, facing the Caribbean Sea, and is the most visited city in the Colombia. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas and is now populated by an ethnic mix representative of Colombia's history. The city has basically two main parts: the walled colonial city ("ciudad amurallada") where we stayed which includes the neighborhoods of Centro, San Diego, Getsemaní, and the more modern area, La Matuna, and second a long strip of hotel towers and condos fronting onto the beach, known as Bocagrande. The walled portion of the city is quite safe and is still intact, retaining the civil and military architecture of the Spanish colonial times.



Overlooking Cartagena


Street Market Flowers


Clock Tower and Main Entrance
The first morning we were on our own walking the walled city when we met Manuel, a local independent guide who offered his services for $25 ($50,000 pesos).  The Colombia peso is different than Mexico's and currently trades at 1,750 pesos per US dollar.  We had a good feel about Manuel so we hired him and it turned out to be a great day!!...5 hours walking the city hearing all about its history and exploring places we would have never found on our own. 

One of many plazas in the old city


Governor's Offices


Monument to Cartagena's founder



Sculptures in front of Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, the church constructed in honor of the priest St. Pedro Claver, who was the first saint of the new world for his work with slaves.


Our tour guide Manuel


Typical street scene within the walled city


Sculpture of Blas de Lezo y Olavarrieta also known as "Patapalo" (Pegleg) and later as "Mediohombre" (Half-man) for the many wounds suffered in his long military life, was one of the greatest strategists and commanders in the history of the Spanish Navy. He is best known for participating in the defense of Cartegena in 1741 and lost his right leg, arm and eye in battles to protect the city


The wall is still intact and surrounds the old city


Construction of the walls took over 20 years


Newer Cartagena in the background


Santo Dominggo Plaza

Inside the house Sir Frances Drake occupied in 1586 when he destroyed a portion of the city.

Cartagena Street Vendors




Castillo de San Felipe, a fortress designed by the Dutch engineer Richard Carr and built in 1657 by the Spanish for protection against pirates while shipping gold out to Europe.


We are currently in Seattle getting the RV ready and attempting to acclimatize to the PNW weather. Until our next update from our summer land trek.....