What a difference a day makes! The night before I was totally exhausted and the parts of the city that I saw did not look like it was worth the hard ride to get here. Today, after a good night of sleep, and in the daylight, things looked very different.
The City of Cartagena is located in north eastern Colombia with the Caribbean as its waterfront. Old Cartagena has a huge wall which surrounds it. The wall was built to protect the city from pirates, the English, and the French, to name a few. Today, within these walls are the best restaurants, shops, and other tourist type places. Old Cartagena is a very beautiful place with narrow streets and many colorful buildings. Next to the restaurants and shops are the local markets selling every kind of knick knack, street food, and fruits. Cartagena also has a beach resort which reminded me of Cancun, Mexico, with a few super hotels.
While walking in Old Cartagena I saw a fellow GS rider coming around the corner. I walked over and introduced myself. His name was Javier and he was from Spain. We talked for a while and he mentioned that he had traveled with an Englishman for a few days, but he had to suddenly end his trip and return to his family. I thought for a moment and I asked him if the Englishman was named Steve. Javier said yes, with a surprising look. I told him that Steve had ridden with me and the group I had traveled with in Mexico a few weeks back while attending the BMW Motorcycle Rally. Steve had mentioned to me that he had a friend from Spain that he hoped I could meet someday. It is a small world after all.
Javier from Spain