So far so amazing.....

Colombia has exceeded expectations on every level, particularly Cartagena and Providencia.

Casa villa colonial our hotel in Cartagena was a big step up from the hostel in Bogota and the cold shower here provided a welcome relief to the sweltering heat. Cartagena is an old walled city founded in 1533 (and raided by Francis Drake in 1586!) it has a very colonial feel to it. 

On our first day we walked without any real plans, the city is easily walked in an hour or two. Beer o'clock struck while we were in one of the old squares, a great vantage point to people watch from and to see the small horse drawn carriages called huelepedos (or farties!) take tourists on a romantic tour of the city.

We've seen very few European tourists, in fact the majority of tourists here are Colombian.

We have been treating this first part of our trip as a holiday and so have eaten well in some very nice restaurants - the first night we ate in Gaucha just over the road from our hotel - when we offered our card to pay the bill the owner apologised saying that he only accepted cash and asked if we would return the following day to pay, he wouldn't accept any kind of surety - I just can't imagine that happening in London.

Dinner at Gaucha

It was in the Cafe Lunatico next door to our hotel, where we breakfasted everyday that I perfected saying "Quisiero dos tinto americano con poco leche - mas negro, por favor".

On Tuesday after some exploring we went in search of El Bistro a restaurant that Abs had read some good reviews about - it was so hot and so we stopped for a diet coke and tried to work out where El Bistro was on a map, not far by the look of it. Then just as I'm finishing my drink I see a Trip Advisor award for excellence on the wall, presented to El Bistro - turns out it was closer than we thought.

At Beer O'clock we head back to our hotel and start talking to Marta from Holland who is travelling alone, she's here to visit the children's home where she was put up for adoption 33 years ago, she'd like to trace some family members but she isn't hopeful as there were very few records kept and no paperwork. We leave for Providencia in the morning so have cocktails and dinner with Marta - very brave of her to have made this trip alone, I hope she is able to trace some members of her family. See you in Providencia! Raine x