Cartagena

Hi all,

Okay at the moment in Cartagena, again my description will be that it is yet another old colonial town, expanded now into one of the biggest cities in Colombia, like Cali as well, as we went to a zoo in Cali which was interesting and colourful, we took a bus that literally went around all the city before arriving at our doorstep and we saw how huge the suburbs were, the grey inner layer which was just dirty poor city and then almost country side and beach hut style architecture around that.
Then on thursday evening we took a "direct bus" to Cartagena, which ended up being changing in Medellin anyway and waiting there for an hour and then a trip that stretched by 2 more hours as we stopped really often, so we were in total perhaps 23 hours in the bus. Most of it in the night so that was alright, and then during the day it is interesting anyway as you look at the landscape. Colombia is so much more rich with nature, rich with openess and culture in contrast to Ecuador which seems so much more tranquil, people, climate and landscape wise, I guess these are all connected. Like people and climate in Finland.
Yesterday I was robbed yet again on the street here, but they took a piece of paper which in the end effect was quite funny, it was still kind of scary as somebody just grabbed my arm from behind, held it and took whatever was inside.
Today we looked around the old city centre which is where we are staying in a hostal thats owner is from Vienna.. its really beautiful, broken down dorms with brick walls and some sort of brick oven(?) and a kitchen on a balcony outdoors.
The old colonial city centre is really gorgeous, we went to the beach as well where everyone tries to sell you everything, women just start to massage you etc. the city is beautiful, but we want to see some nature and have some more natural beaches, so tomorrow we are most probably heading on to Santa Marta, visiting some islands there and going snorkling. We did meet some really nice people here, people get married so early, I find it so funny when people are shocked that I don´t have children yet with twenty..
Today perhaps going to the cinema, maybe just going for a drink somewhere.
We had these horrid American guys from Alaska who were in our hostal in Cali that coincidentally took the same bus to Cartagena. I hate speaking English here, especially since everyone thinks you are american anyway, it was literally so annoying and embarassing as they had this dominant air of wanting to ask all the questions needed to be asked that we could have done so much better with our Spanish, they speak with the "du" form of German instead of "sie", tu not usted.. and that just makes them come off even more rude and ignorant.
Colombia is quite pricy, buses are so incredibly expensive compared to Ecuador, stupid as we travel alot with them and long journeys.
On the bus ride got stopped by military again, but a very routine check up, friendly man, its good that there is the military on the streets not guerillas. IT still takes alot to get used to to see men with machine guns on the street.

Send my love from the beautiful Caribbean sunshine