Cartegena

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Originally uploaded by aliciamalia.

The best analogy for Cartegena I've been able to come up with is this: Venice + Cabo San Lucas. The architecture is lovely and ancient, and flowers spill from windows. The weather is balmy - even at 10 pm - and just a touch humid. The old city (smallish, a minute 15 walk from one side to the other) is surrounded by a (surprisingly low) wall to keep pirates and enemies out, with a bay and ocean on either side. Most of the time they allow cars on the narrow streets, which is a pity. On holidays they block traffic, making Cartegena an ideal city to stroll through.

Prostitutes are rampant, the city outside the walls unsafe and rundown, and harrassment from beggars a constant. The water is too polluted to swim in. It's really crowded, and expensive (prices comparable with those at home).

So...it's not perfect. But it's well worth a two day trip.