Tourists in Cartagena, May 2010

We have not had a lot of time to be tourists in Cartagena, but we have a few photos to share. We hope to have a bit more time, now, as we can't work too much while they are busy grinding and sanding. I MUST take more photos as it's a painters dream in Old Town!
They have the most fabulous fruit and veggie wagons!
You can buy almost anything off some wagon or other! Fresh coconut milk being served here.
Beautiful old doors!
Balconies of wood or stone...just a beautiful old city. It is completely surrounded by walls of stone, and the streets are very narrow.
Here I am looking for the emerald of my choice. I didn't buy here, but found a ring I loved in another shop.
Coffee in the plaza.
No, this is not out of the Wizard of Oz, although it appears to be the tin man in the making! This is yet another vendor...not sure what...with the garbage guy/sweeper-upper.
Grapes anyone? I do wonder how well those hand-held scales work?
Pop or beer, anyone?
This is the view out the door of our favourite breakfast spot, Cafe Luna Nueva (New Moon), on Calle Media Luna (Half Moon). $3.50 buys you fruit, juice, coffee, scrambled eggs (ham, cheese, onion,and tomato), a slice of cheese on the side, and toast and jam. Even get free coffee refills here, something they don't normally do here...I think it's because we've been here so often. We discovered it when we flew in from Panama City.
The sweeper, again, talking to the tailor across the street from our restaurant.
We have fallen in love with this kitten, across from the restaurant too. This is Greg's shot. I worry, as we sit there, about her running off into the ever-present traffic, as she is playing with something on the sidewalk. I don't want to be there for that.
A pair of pants for you in no time at all!
This fellow sits all day hoping someone will pay him for his statuary.
Hats and more hats!

Bags and more bags...

Candy and more...well, you get the picture!
More of the architecture in old town.
You can buy pop, water, and even beer on the streets from these guys.
The jewelery vendors taking a break.
During our stay here, the tall ships came in. This guy is selliing anything to do with that, hats, shirts etc. His suit is entirely covered with knots.
Ralph bought a hat from him, he wandered off, then we did too. We weren't 5 minutes away from where we'd met him, and he approached us again to buy a hat...we said we'd just bought one...he finally recognized us...I guess all us tourists look the same!

There is a lot of poverty here, although we feel very safe in Old Town.

Real silver...really??

Ice cream too.

These are the tiny little taxis in Cartagena. We had one of these, with Greg's bag strapped on top, and his wake-board and guitar on our laps....the trunk is full of propane gas tank.

This is a typical delivery in Cartagena. There are carts like this everywhere, some pulled by donkeys.

You can buy some time on a cell phone from this young lady. I guess business isn't that good, right now.

Woodwork anyone?

Another deliver of something-or-other.

We were very lucky to be in Cartagena for the arrival of the tall ships. There were boats from various countries including the US, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, etc.
We boarded the Mexican ship to have a look around.
It is very hot, and I'm trying very hard to be interested in various bits of rope and hardware...but, as you can see, I'm not very good at looking interested in this. Although, I must say, they are beautiful.
The Mexican ship, from the Brazilian one.
And, vice-versa.
Captain Ralph!
Loved the buckets, though!
Figure heads on all the various boats.
Here is the entire armada. We saw these on a different day.
The Colombian ship.

Captain Bligh...er Ralph!

This is the reason we didn't get to board any of the ships here. Apparently, every kid in Cartagena was on a field trip here on the same day we chose to view them.

The Coast Guard keeping an eye on things. They have 3 times 350 hp outboards...can't get away from them too easily!! That's it for this installment. More in the coming days.