It is not just the sun the blue sky, But with the oppressive humidity, The heat outside feels as if I will die If I do not escape from its cruelty. But I am without any place to stay, So I have to hug the walls in the shade, And I wait for the ending of the day With the night’s air not worthy to evade. The breeze will blow in from the salty sea, Brushing away the sweat across my brow. It is then I can finally find me, Not the discomfort the sun will allow. Will a time come when we see Summer end, Or do we just continue to pretend?
When the Spanish started to establish their foothold in the Americas, one of the first places that they made their presence known was in modern day Cartagena, Colombia. One of the ways they made sure that people coming to this port city knew of their power was the fact that they built a fortress on a hill overlooking the bay and then they stocked it with cannon to repel any enemy force foolish enough to try to overtake the fledging city. Despite its early formidable presence, the fortress changed hands many times and eventually was abandoned as modern warfare made its structure obsolete. It still stands looking over the city, and is now one of the premiere tourist sites there.
The fortress itself is a big block of concrete and stone that sits on top of a hill on the edge of Cartagena. It was built in stages and there are many stories that come from the many centuries that it has stood looking over Cartagena. What looks like a formidable fortress actually has some hidden secrets to it as well.
In many places, there are open gates that allow you to move deeper into the fortress. What surprised me about the place was the winding passages and hidden rooms that can be explored underneath the towering mass of brick and concrete that sits on top of it. These paths show that there was a lot more to this place than appears on the outside, and they could be used to house soldiers, detain prisoners, and hold slaves. It not only adds depth to the place, but also opens up stories, and history that makes this one of the premiere places to visit in the city.
If you are planning on visiting this sight, it is important to know that it is very hot. We visited on a day of clear blue skies, and heavy humidity, and we were constantly being zapped of our energy, and had to consume mass amounts of water to feel like we were not going to collapse as we toured the place. Even the underground passages get really hot, and those are pretty much the only place where you can find shade at this sight during the day. We went there early in the morning to try and avoid the heat, and it was still too hot for us when we arrived.
There are many people selling water and hats outside of the sight, and you will want to make sure that you bring some water with you inside. There is only one store on the top of the fortress and it only sells souvenirs. You will not be able to find any water once you get in. There are a few people that will sell hats and other trinkets on the concrete path up to the top, but they do raise the prices of things as soon as you get inside, so plan accordingly. Also, you will find people who are asking you if you want a guide. This does add some to the experience because the signs you can find on the sight are few, but they are written in both English and Spanish. They will tell you enough of the story of the place, but a guide can really make it come to life.
The Castillo San Filipe de Barajas is easily the must do location of Cartagena, and it does help to bring the city to life. It is a great place to visit though you will only need to be there for an hour or two to get the whole experience. It is also close enough to the old part of town so you can make a day of exploring the fortress and the city itself. It will cement Cartagena in your minds as one of your favorite cities as it did for me.
The Caribbean is filled with many sandy islands surrounded by clear blue water, and marked by tourists as a destination that they would love to add to their bucket lists. So with all of the islands out there to chose from, why would Isla Baru in Columbia be up for consideration? Can it compete with the other ones with great getaway experiences with a great hotel that allows you to relax at the same time? Does the fact that it is so close to the coast of the continent change the feel of it, so it no longer feels like you are on an island, but instead just an extension of Columbia itself?
Well, to start off, Isla Baru is close to the historic city of Cartegena, Columbia. From there, it is rather easy to get to. You can book a boat to take you out there in a matter of 45 minutes, or there is also a bridge from the mainland that takes a little longer but less expensive of a trip. There are people that have residents on the island, but the main focus like many Caribbean islands is tourism. There are a few hotels on the islands, but I elected to spend a few nights at the Sofitel with its own private beach, and enough amenities that I would never have to leave the grounds. The plan was to have a do nothing vacation, and this looked like the perfect place to do just that.
The place gives you everything you need for that relaxing vacation. There are three different restaurants with varying food choices, and a rooftop bar that also served limited selection of sushi. If that is not enough, during the day, there is a taco truck on the beach where you can get some food as well. They also have a good selection of drinks as well, so you never have to go far to get what you need.
Of course there is a beach to spread out on, but there are also numerous pools that you can use if you wish to avoid the sand and salt water. It is tempting to use, but the water is always a little cooler than what you would find in the Caribbean. They still have nice places to lounge out on, and you can dip into the cool water anytime you start to feel a little too hot in the sun. They also have a specific pool dedicated for adults if you do not wish to be inundated with the screams and laughter of little children. Also, no matter which pool you choose to go to, there is always a bar nearby with a server that comes around to see if they can get you something refreshing to drink.
Sofitel has also made sure that there is plenty of entertainment for you. On any given night, you can find a bonfire with traditional Columbian dancers, or a jazz band playing on the rooftop bar. They also have markets come in once in awhile to sell artwork and jewelry made from the locals. If none of this is your cup of tea, there are also many oversized and regular sized games to be found around the grounds. We sat on the patio from our room and watched many games of chess played out in front of us, but there is also checkers, Parcheesi, Battleship, and even an outdoor ping-pong table.
I know this is not the vacation where I spent my time touring old sights, going on long hikes through beautiful scenery, or experiencing the ins and outs of a new culture. Not all vacations need to be about that. Sometimes all you need is a sandy beach on a remote island where you can just unwind from your busy schedule and let the minutes tick away. Isla Baru in Columbia is exactly this place, and it was wonderful to decompress there for a couple of days.
