Wednesday Jan 14, 2026
Hi All! We had a great day in Cartagena, Columbia today! Cartagena is a beautifully preserved old walled city with lots of colorful characters! We got very used to saying “No Gracias” (No thank you in Spanish) since everyone seems to be wanting to sell you something. But they were never pushy or rude.
I actually got up very early today and hit the gym (had to after that huge meal at Prime 7 last night!). Then grabbed a shower and a quick bite of breakfast and we were out the door by 9:15 AM. Our excursion today was called “Old Town Roadsters” and it was soooo fun!
We boarded a bus right at the pier and they took us into town where we all (4 passengers each) loaded into these classic 1950’s convertibles. Not only was it cool driving thru the Old Town area of Cartagena in a convertible but all 8 of our cars drove thru as a convoy and all the people were waving and taking pictures and videos. I truly felt like a celebrity!! It was a very neat experience.
After the drive we walked thru the Old Town area with our guide explaining some of the buildings and history. We then stopped at this restaurant for refreshments and a light lunch. We each had a plate of some shrimp, fresh ceviche, meat, plantains and some fruit. It was very yummy!
After lunch we walked over to Simon Bolivar park where his statue is and it’s the gathering place for many locals. Of course there were lots of interesting characters there too! Before she even knew it, some lady was rubbing lotion all over Kathy’s legs. Too funny!
We then got back on the boat and chilled for the afternoon. I’ll do an update tonight after dinner. Happy Hump Day to all!
PS: I know many people were concerned that we were going to Columbia given its proximity to Venezuela but we had no issues and never felt unsafe. For those concerned about International travel given how volatile the world is right now I’d say just go for it! Of course take precautions but live by our World Cruise motto… have a Sense of Adventure! Safe travels to all!
The Wandering Italian 