[03/04/2024 – 10/04/2024[

Intro

Thanks to our last weeks guest editor all is said about the wonderful relaxing days at the resort in Santa Veronica. With everyone being fully relaxed and after a wonderful human size Jenga game Thursday night. We packed our stuff and made the short trip to Cartagena. The girlz haggled with the Uber driver that took them there about the return trip, and Stefan and myself rode the bikes. Leaving the hotel we were a bit faster then the Uber driver, but he had the need to overtake us, at least once, which of course he did. Even though there were some speed cameras along the way to Cartagena. Entering Cartagena from the North East the road took us directly along the coast by the old town wall to our first accomodation. A high rise building in Bocagrande, somewhere high up. Modern building 3 bedroom appartment, and thankfully (for me at least) working air-conditioning. I have to tell you 34°+ and humidity i need a really long time to get adjusted to, and it was not yet nearly enough. Central America is going to be interesting from that perspective, and hopefully the adjustment will happen.
As it has been clear that in Cartagena we will have passed the 30´000 km mark with the bikes, I contacted an official Yamaha dealer in Cartagena and have been discussing about the service. Sadly the answer was never a clear yes or no. So on Friday, after dropping our luggage in the new location and leaving the girlz for an initial sightseeing tour, Stefan and myself went to the garage to leave our bikes there. The trip to the garage took as almost as long as the trip from Santa Veronica to our home in Cartagena. Thanks to our gear we reached the garage as wet as one can get after passing through some tropical rain shower, 34°C will do that. After a bit of a discussion we were assured that the service will be done and they will keep us updated about their progress.
With Ann-Kathrin and Birte leaving on Sunday and Manuela leaving on Wednesday, at least three of us had plenty of time to experience Cartagena to the fullest. Which leads me to say three weeks have gone in the blink of an eye, so did the 4*ish months that Stefan and me have been travelling in total.

Cartagena

Friday – After quick refreshments, the group made out into the city to end up at the Terraza Municipal. Good food and drinks (streetstyle look and feel) made for a very good first impression. Myself being still a bit under the weather due to a fever I was running (allegedly) during our transfer to Santa Veronica we left Ann-Kathrin and Birte to go partying while the rest of the group went for bed.

Saturday – After Pre-Breakfast aka Coffee at home we went for breakfast at Pascals and then moved aimlessly through old-town. After ending up at a nice rooftop, Stefan, Manuela and myself walked back home, walking at 34°C, humidity and sunshine does strain the stamina a bit. Stefan and myself did jump into the ocean before a little more relaxation. Ann-Kathrin and Birte meanwhile went on a bit of a shopping spree ;-). Dinner was served at Celele a highly awarded restaurant and a personal recommendation of a friend.

Sunday – 07:00 homemade breakfast was served, as Ann-Kathrin and Birte had to leave for the airport at 08:00. The rest of us packed up our stuff and parked it at checkout hour with the concierge of the building as for us it was moving day as well. After a quick stroll through the nearby mall we went back to old town, and ended up at Cafe San Alberto. Luckily we got our new digs much earlier then the official check-in time. From the cafe it was like a three minute walk. Once the formalities were dealt with, Stefan and myself went to get the luggage from the previous location. Afternoon drinks, more old town and dinner at Pepe Anca – not as highly awarded, but as well really good food, and a personal recommendation of the three of us.

Monday – Monday was spent with mainly with a visit to Fuerte de San Felipe de Barajas. Very interesting, the history of the fort and thus the history of Cartagena. Moved back to the other part of old town with the sunset, just to find a rather nice and quiet plaza which we first stopped for a drink but ended up staying for dinner.

Tuesday – The last full day together with Manuela. Three weeks went by with the snip of a finger. Dinner at La Mulata, a restaurant the girlz had discovered on their initial exploration of old town.