Salsa. No chips. Plenty of hot sauce.

Someone suggested that we go to Cafe Havana, a salsa club outside the walls of the old city.  “Just walk to the clock tower, head through the arches, past the open expanse and when the road forks, go left and keep walking…”  It was dark.  It was crowded on the streets but on we went and we reached Cafe Havana.  You haven’t seen salsa dancing until you’ve seen it done by people who have been doing it since they were teenagers.  I’m not entirely sure it would be legal in the US.  Cafe Havana got full about 11 and the more crowded it got, and the louder the live salsa band played, the more interesting our view became.  The rhythm and the energy are infections and the dancers are so much fun to watch.

The next morning we spent the morning at a cafe in the old town and had brunch where we met a young international couple that had spent the last year in Cartagena.  She is italian and a PhD working for an NGO here and he is spanish and works in finance.  They met in Thailand, are heading to Cuba for holiday and then back to Europe.  They are truly citizens of the world.

Later we headed to the locals beach for a people watch.  The beach is along a boulevard accessible to the entire city.  What a great amenity to have when you live here. The little blue cabanas are for rent but it doesn’t look like they’re much fun!

Cartagena has been so fascinating because unlike other cities that have a reputation such as Paris, Rome or Rio De Janiero, we did not know what to expect.  The food has been fabulous from one meal to the next, and very, very reasonably priced!  It is not overrun with tourists so you do feel like you can get the local flavor and the locals go out of their way to help you.  If you can speak a little spanish, all the better.  We don’t but have gotten along just fine.  In all, a clean, fun, pleasantly surprising visit.  Tomorrow we take 4 stops to get to Punta Arenas down in Patagonia Chile.  Before we head out, join us for a wonderful sunset overlooking the Caribbean.