Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (Part 1)

Cartagena is one of Colombian's favorite vacation spots. Every day it becomes more popular with foreigners and is finally a Cruise stop again. Cartagena is also very popular for destination weddings. The most beautiful location for wedding pictures is probably in Cartagena. I have a hard time imagining a wedding dress with a 40 C° + humidity weather, but it is so pretty that it is worth it. I did consider Cartagena for our wedding, but it was more expensive and it hard to coordinate.

Cartagena is located in the north coast of Colombia, in the Atlantic Ocean. It has many beach resorts and boutique hotels. Most of the boutique hotels are located in the Old City "La ciudad amurallada". The beach is not that pretty, but a short boat ride will take you to the Rosario Islands where you can see the typical clear caribbean waters. If you only have a few days I recommend to stay in the historic Old City. There are many other places that have better beaches than Cartagena.

I spent many of my summers and Christmas breaks in Cartagena. I have to admit that as a kid I did not like to go here because of the "ugly" beach. I hate to admit it, but it is true. I grew up in a City and my idea of vacation was a resort by a nice white sand beach. I was obsessed about San Andres Island and only wanted to go there. When my parents wanted to go to Cartagena, it meant that I had to go to a dark sand beach and spend many of my vacation days visiting museums and churches. This is what I cared about when you are a kid and a teenager. I now regret it...

After moving to the US, I didn't go to Cartagena for several years. When I returned in 2004, I was surprised to see how the City had improved. Many of the old houses were renovated and converted into chic hotels, the old plazas had a nightlife, and there were many more things to do. I did the City tour again, but this time I enjoyed it. I only have a few pictures that are scanned. I didn't get a digital camera until after 2004. I can't wait to return to Cartagena and take many pictures. My parents were there last year for a few days. I requested some of their pictures to add to this blog. I'll add them as soon as I receive them. I will also make a post about the places to see and some recommended hotels. A friend that will be going to Cali for my wedding will also be traveling to Bogota and Cartagena. I promised to tell her everything that she needs to know, and I thought it could help somebody else along the way.

Every region in Colombia has its own typical dish and music. In the north coast the typical dish is fried fish with coconut rice and fried plantains (tostones). The regional dance is cumbia. I found this video with some dancers. I love that song and the sound of the clarinete. When we are in elementary school we have to make dance presentations at the end of the year. I had to dance cumbia but I had to be a boy. I went to an all girls school and since I didn't move that well I had to be a guy EVERY YEAR. I wish I had pictures of that.

My parents in their Honeymoon, 1964

with my aunt at the same place of the picture above -walls from the San Felipe Fort

Dark sand beach

Taking a carriage ride with my parents

At the beach with my cousin

These are some links from weddings in Cartagena from the photographers that will be shooting our wedding. I am not trying to show the wedding pictures. I just added the links because these pictures were taken in the most beautiful places around the City.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/efeunodos/sets/72157626384756678/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/efeunodos/sets/72157625578035125/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/efeunodos/sets/72157624599184896/

I also found this video where you can see the City