Cartagena, Colombia - November 10, 2012

The one word that comes immediately to mind when I think of Cartagena, Colombia is HOT--and the second word would be humid!  And it's this way, from what we were told, 365 days a year!  Why anyone would want to live here is beyond me.....

Thank goodness for the air-conditioned bus that took us around on our tour of the city!!

The first stop on our shore excursion was to the
La Popa Monastery--high on a hill overlooking
the city of Cartagena.  Quite a view!!

Another view of Cartagena from La Popa Monastery
with the Bocagrande section of the city (the peninsula
were all the beaches are located) in the background--
and the Caribbean beyond

View of the Cathedral of San Pedro Claver (built
in the late 16th century) as seen from La Popa Monastery

Courtyard of La Popa Monastery (built in the 16th
century).

San Felipe Fortress, built in the 16th century, and
named in honor of King Philip IV of Spain.  This was
only a photo stop and we didn't get inside.

Blas de Lezo statue in front of San
Felipe Fortress.  This great Spanish admiral
repelled the British forces under
 Edward Vernon during the Battle of
Cartagena in 1741.  He was known as
"half man" because of his battle injuries:
he lost his left leg and his right arm!

Gayle at the San Felipe Fortress.

But then it was time to get out of the bus with A/C and WALK!!  We were in the Colonial section of Cartagena for our walking tour--and it was absolutely lovely.  But did I mention that it was HOT and HUMID??!!

All of the buildings were festooned with flowers--gorgeous!

...and plantings of all kinds!

The architecture was exquisite, for example
at the entrance to the Inquisition Palace...

As the name "Inquisition Palace" implies, this was a
place of torture.  Here's Jim watching our guide
give a demonstration of one of the torture devices... 

...and a model of another torture
device!  Scary place....

The Inquisition Palace is on one side of Bolivar Square--here is
one of the fountains in the Square.

Like all of South America, Simon Bolivar is revered!  Here in the Square named in his honor he sits astride his horse...

On another side of Bolivar Square
is the Cathedral of Cartagena.

And further along, as we left Bolivar
Square, we came to the front of the
Cathedral of San Pedro Claver.
Unfortunately, we did not go into
any of these churches...

A section of the walls--old Cartagena was a walled
and fortified city.

The city's beaches--taken from the bus--as we
headed for Bocagrande (the resort section of the city).

Jim posed for a picture in front of our ship as we returned at the end of our shore excursion.

As the Infinity sets sail from Cartagena, we have a great view of La Popa Monastery atop the hill overlooking the city.