Adios Cartagena

We have all loved Cartagena. It's the most vibrant, bustling, colourful, hot and steamy city, full of photo opportunities, excitement, noise and delight.

The last morning was spent in Gethsemani, an area on the wrong side of the city walls, so the proper Cartagena. It was grimey and unloved but still fascinating, we specially the graffiti.

We passed one square that paid recalled to the slave trade that was prevalent in the city. There were even still metal rings in the floor where the slaves were chained to.

One street, known as Thin Alley, for obvious reasons, used to be the local drug centre of the city. Now cleaned up we loved its use of the ordinary plastic bag to create a simple and effective decoration!

As the temperature was getting a bit much we headed back through the clock tower gate, into the walled city and to ice cream heaven! More walking round, a visit to the Museo del Oro (another gold museum!), more heat, and then a drink stop was required. I had eyed up the Sofitel, a grand looking building that needed investigating. It didn't disappoint! An oasis of lush green calm, in a courtyard alive with hummingbirds, and two Botero sculptures!

Before I knew it the time had come to check out of our hotel, Hotel 3 Banderas. Well positioned between Plaza Madrid and Plaza San Diego it was a cool haven amidst the frenzy, and the fact that the gates were always locked to ensure no undesirables entered just added to the fun!

The flight back to Bogota was uneventful, and before we knew it we all complained that we were too cold!!! We had left 35C and arrived to 20C.  I suspect I will completely shrivel up when I hit the UK.

To celebrate our last night in Colombia I went with a couple of the girls to a tapas bar at the end of the street.