DAY 4-CARTAGENA, COLUMBIA

Historical/Background Info:

       The country's name is derived from the last name of Christopher Columbus.  The Spanish were the first Europeans to explore here in 1499.  The Spaniards found large amounts of gold treasure in the interior native villages which they melted down into bars and sent it back to Spain.  Large plantations were established for food and also shipped to Spain.  The Spanish galleons bound for Europe were the favorite targets for pirates.  The Central America country of Panama is its northwest border and was actually part of Columbia until 1903.  During its history there have been several rebel movements and wars to oust the Spanish.  In 1886 the country became known as "The Republic of Columbia".  Since then there have been bloody civil wars and guerrilla fighting but the fighting has lessened since 2010.  The US has been involved heavily with Colombian efforts to fight drug cartels and the smuggling of drugs out of the country.

       Colombia, South America's fourth largest country, is very rich in natural resources and exports:  fuels, oil, precious stones (mainly emeralds), forest products (paper & pulp), coffee, meat, cereals, vegetable oils, cotton, sugar, fruits and other agriculture products, fish, beverages, machinery, electronics, ships, airplanes, vehicles, chemicals, cosmetics, clothing, leather, and construction equipment just to name a few.  You may also be surprised to learn that 70% of the cut flowers imported by the US are Colombian.  Coffee is practically a mandatory souvenir here.  Colombia really is an economic powerhouse.

       Colombia has a population of over 48 million which is the 3rd most populous in Latin America behind Brazil and Mexico.  It is 1/8th the size of the US.  Put another way, Colombia is about twice as big as the state of Texas.  Bogota, the capital, is located well inland, basically in the Andes mountains, with a population of 8 million.  I have flown over Bogota many times on my flights from DFW to Buenos Aires.  It would be in the middle of the night so have never seen it during daylight.  In my humble opinion, Colombian women are by far the most attractive in South America.  Colombians are also some of the best educated in South America.

What We Did Last Night:

  Dinner in Compass Rose last night was with Ricky Ballinger, the Food & Beverage Director, Pichie Guansing, the Head House Keeper, and Susanne Peters.

                           The tables in Compass Rose are set with these chargers.

  Chargers are Versace so are expensive.  The plate and bread & butter dish are around $100 each.

The production show was cancelled last night due to the rough seas.  The dancers could not safely do a show with the ship moving like it was.  The show has been moved to Tuesday night.  The movie, "Sully", was shown in the theater instead.

WHAT WE DID TODAY:

                                     Approaching "new" Cartagena

                  Fortifications were on both sides of harbor entrance to protect against pirates.

 Next 3 photos are of the new part of the city with nice hotels and luxury shopping.

                                     View from ship at pier

                                           The old fortress

In old days these were barracks for the Spanish soldiers and later a prison.  Now made into a shopping area.

                                        Lots of street vendors

                                        Buildings are very colorful.

       We are sailing at 1:30 this afternoon so we can be ready early tomorrow morning for our transit of the Panama Canal.  This evening we have reservations at Prime 7, the steakhouse.  Tonight's headline entertainer in the theater is pianist, Terry Davies, who will be playing Billy Joel & Elton John tunes.