ABCs of Travel

Some of my favorite travel bloggers did this post last year. I loved learning more about them and reading some old posts. I kept thinking what my answers would be for these questions. Here they are but I will never top Andi or Oneika's list. My travel bug didn't start until after college. I really regret not doing a study abroad year or even just a summer. During my undergrad I was too worried trying to graduate fast and with honors. I wish I had known that "grown ups" only get 2 weeks of vacation a year!!!!!!

Age you went on your first international trip: 18!!! Blame my parents for not taking me out of the Country. Just kidding. I was happy going to San Andres Island since I was 3 years old once or twice a year. When I was growing up I always wanted to travel to Orlando and visit Mickey Mouse. Our US visa was in process for 13 years, so my first trip to this Country was when I moved here. My travel obsession began only a few years ago because I didn't want to be around certain people. I traveled alone during weekends and stayed at my friend's house. I loved not having to depend on someone else to travel because I couldn't afford hotels by myself. That is probably why I went to the same places over and over. Traveling helped me to open my mind to many things. 

San Andres Island

Best foreign beer you’ve had and where: I don't drink beer but I love Aguila light Micheladas (served in a glass with lime juice and salt)

Cuisine (favorite): Italian

Destinations – favorite, least favorite and why: Most of my life my favorite place was San Andres Island. I don't think I can pick only one favorite place. Some of the Cities that I love are Venice, NYC, DC, Cartagena, and San Francisco. I like them for many reasons but mostly for the architecture. My least favorite is San Juan, Puerto Rico. I expected a lot from this trip and was disappointed plus it is expensive it rained the whole week.

The Painted Ladies

Event you experienced abroad that made you say wow: Seeing New York City's skyline as I landed in the big apple for the first time. I was there for 3 days and I loved every single minute. I have been to New York several times and I still find it fascinating.

Favorite mode of transportation: I love flying. It is fast and someone else does the driving. Did I mention that I hate driving?

Greatest feeling while traveling: Probably when the pilot says "Welcome to..."

Hottest place you’ve traveled to: When you go into the hiding tunnel of the San Felipe Fort in Cartagena, Colombia is the hottest and most confined place that I've ever been. It is worth seeing so please do not be stopped by the heat. However, I live in Florida and all the summers are hot and humid.

Incredible service you’ve experienced and where: Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Everyone was nice in Mexico!!

Journey that took the longest: After our wedding in Colombia going to our honeymoon in Hawaii. We started flying from Cali, Colombia to Miami. Then we drove home to Tampa (4 hours) to catch 2 flights the next morning to Hawaii. We missed our connection in LAX and spent the night in LA. It was more than 48 hours in transit. Hawaii is so beautiful that it was all worth it.

Keepsake from your travels: I started my souvenir collection buying souvenirs for others. One coworker collected Hard Rock Cafe pins and I stated buying one for her. After a few trips I started buying one for me as well. Now all my friends buy me pins if they travel. I also liked to get magnets for my mom's collection and suddenly I started collecting them to. I used to get just one per site but I got 10 from our last trip to Quito. I also like to buy things typical of the place visited like a mask, a ceramic, or a picture frame. All I can say is that I'm a big souvenir person.

Hawaiian Tiki

Ecuadorian Mask 

Our Fridge

Colombian Chivas

Ecuadorian Magnets

Let-down site – why and where: El Yunque, Puerto Rico. We paid around $70 to visit the rain forest. I grew up in a tropical Country, so the vegetation was the same!!! I was in the same tour with other Hispanics and we were all bored. All of the Europeans and Americans LOVED it. I can't say that it isn't worth visiting, it just depends on what you have seen before. For me it was just another mountain.

Moment when you fell in love with travel: The exact moment was when I went back to Colombia after 4 years of not going home. I went back 4 times in the following 6 months. I was in Grad school, with a flexible schedule, and a broken heart. Then I decided to start get a real job :(

Flying over Colombia

Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in: The Waldorf Astoria, NYC was probably the most elegant. I recently stayed at Viceroy Hotel in Miami and I am in love with the pool and the spa. I also loved the Ganseenvort South Beach and the ShoreClub South Beach. Miami has very chic hotels where I would love to stay for a weekend. 

Obsession – what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling: Everything!!! I can't stop taking pictures while traveling. Sometimes I feel that I am missing out because I am too busy taking pictures. I just got a new camera and this is probably about to get worse.

Passport stamps, how many and from where: I don't know... I have 2 passports and I get a stamp every time I go into and out of Colombia. I haven't been to a lot of Countries because I always get home sick. Im working on that.  

Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where: New Orleans. I was 18 and the nice places were 21 and up. I was with 2 (old) aunts trying to go into a live jazz bar. We ended up in the weirdest place on Bourbon Street. 

Recommended site, event or experience: I really liked the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. I've always been intrigued by World War II probably because of my dad who has read many books about it. I spent almost all day inside looking at the many objects from the Holocaust, watching stories of survivors, historic 1940s films, and reading about the horrors of it. There was also a moving exhibition about the genocides in Darfur. I left the museum crying. During this trip, I traveled alone to D.C. and stayed with my best friend. She was at work while I walked around the City. This was my first of many trips to D.C. I loved doing the tourist sites alone without pressure and meeting my friend at night to share the pictures. Years later, I took my parents to this museum and again spent many hours inside.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Splurge, something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling: Nice hotels!

Touristy thing you’ve done: I love all touristy sites. They are famous for a reason. The key is to travel in low season to avoid the crowds. How can you miss out on Times Square or the Golden Bridge Gate just because they are full of tourists?

Unforgettable travel memory: Traveling with my parents to D.C. and this time I was the their guide. That same summer we traveled to Hawaii along with one of my sisters. After many years of not taking vacations with my parents I really enjoyed it. I would love to travel with them again. They are going to Germany in May for my dad's 70th birthday. I am trying to see if Andre and I can go with them.

Visas: I don't have one, never had one. I moved to the US as a permanent resident. I will need one for China and I don't know where else... I don’t need a visa to go to Brazil because of my Colombian passport. Where do I need a visa to go to?

Wine, best glass while traveling and where: The home made wine that we got in Venice for just 3 Euros. We had a second bottle of another wine with lunch and I got a little drunk. I never drink during the day and during the whole trip back to Rome I had a terrible hang over.

Italian Home Made Wine

eXcellent view and from where: 230 5th Avenue, New York City. This bar is located in a rooftop and it has the most amazing view of the Empire State Building.

Years spent traveling: 27

Zealous sports fans and where: I'm not into sports and I tend to stay away from the stadium if there is a game. I almost stayed in Madrid for a Real Madrid game. Our flight was canceled and later it was just delayed. I would like to go to La Bombonera in Buenos Aires for a River vs Boca Juniors game just to have the experience. I don't really care about any team.

Cartagena, Colombia - Last Part

Last week I started a series of things to do in Cartagena. If you missed Part 1 click here and for and Part 2 click here. I wanted to do a summary of the top tourist activities and in a simple way to make sure that you can do it all in a few days. When I tell people to visit Cartagena is because I think it is unique. Old San Juan in Puerto Rico has the same architecture, but it is not as big and well preserved as Cartagena. My favorite place in Cartagena is the old City and my least favorite part is the beach.

In the old town, do not miss snapping a picture of the Clock Tower Building. Also visit the Palacio de la Inquisición (Palace of Inquisition), they still have the original torture instruments. Ask to hire a tourist guide in English, I think they have some available. The stories about the witches burned alive and the cruelty of the tribunal are worth listening. The prettiest churches are the Iglesia de San Pedro Claver, La Catedral, and the Iglesia de Santo Domingo.  If you visit the San Pedro Claver also visit the museum and the monastery. The old town is best explored walking. Many of the colonial houses have been restored into boutique hotels, shops, and restaurants. Don't walk outside the walls at night, it gets lonely and it is better to be safe. A carriage is a popular and romantic way to get to see the old town. Ask in your hotel how much they cost and negotiate the price before getting in one. Please don't hire one where the horse is skinny or looks abused.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The best way to see the rest of the City is with a tour. They take you everywhere and the 2 main sites, San Felipe fort and La popa hill, are not so close from the Center. The best way to find a tour in English would be asking the hotel for a recommended travel agency. The last time I was there I walked into the travel agency around the corner from my hotel there are many travel agencies around. You usually have to meet at a pick up point in the morning. Make sure that the tour includes the fort and the hill. The entrance fees are not high and they are definitely worth a visit. The tour usually stops at Las Bovedas. Las bovedas were used as a prison but now they have shops with crafts. I remember buying lots of typical sweets as a kid. I particularly liked cocadas - sweet coconut balls.

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Most places in Bocagrande are also within walking distance. There are many hotels, restaurants, and shops located on Avenida San Martin. A taxi to the old City doesn't take long and it should not cost a fortune.  Taxis are easy to find, although in the old town you may have to walk closer to the walls depending on the narrow streets. Taxis in Cartagena do not have a meter, you will have to negotiate the fare before getting in the taxi. I can't tell you what the rate should be because it has been a long time, 7 years ago I used to pay $5,000 pesos between bocagrande and the walled city. You have to pay with cash. Most places accept credit cards but always keep some cash. Just enough to buy water, and small things. I never carry more than $100,000 pesos with me. I try to pay most things with credit card. The best way to get Colombian pesos is to use the ATM machines. The exchange houses buy your dollars/euros for a lot less than the official rate from the bank.

A good day trip is to take a boat to Las Islas del Rosario. The best beaches are Playa Blanca and Baru. When booking this tour you will  be offered other options like visiting the aquarium and cocoliso "resort".  I have been to both and it is not as great as they tell you. Usually the trip will include a typical lunch and transportation. Make sure that they are round trip tickets. The beaches are crowded and there are a lot of vendors trying get your attention offering coconut oil, oysters, massages, or braids. They will always try to give you a "free sample", don't accept it because it will be harder to stop them from the non-free samples. I always like buying coco-loco at the beach. An open coconut with rum and other liquors. If you like beer, order Aguila or Aguila light.

At night, taking a Chiva Rumbera is a must do activity in Cartagena. The same open buses are used for the day City tour. At night they include a bottle of aguardiente and a band playing in the back.

I found a few links that can be usefull for the trip:
Walking map: http://www.cartagenainfo.net/mapas/caminando/flash/english.htm
Lonely Planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/colombia/caribbean-coast/cartagena

Cartagena, Colombia - Part 2

There are many new hotels in Cartagena. Since my last trip to Cartagena was in 2004, I asked a friend that travels there very often for good places to stay. He recommended the Aqua Hotel, Casablanca, and Cartagena de Indias hotel.  I have never stayed in the walled City and maybe that is why I want everyone to stay there. I've visited the Santa Clara Hotel before and I am in love with this place. This hotel used to be a monastery in the 17th century. Even if you don't stay here, stop by to look at the gardens and the property. The Santa Teresa Hotel is also a City landmark where I would love to stay someday. This hotel was a built as a convent in the 17th century and it is a luxury hotel inside the walled City. The plaza outside the hotel is the carriage square where you can hire a carriage ride. I particularly rather do the carriage ride at night because of the heat. You have to negotiate the price. Ask in the hotel how much it should cost to avoid paying a higher price. If you are staying in Bocagrande, pay for the one-way ride to the old City. Go to the Santo Domingo Plaza and drink some cold red wine. The vallenato singers will be walking around offering to sing for a few bucks per song. Vallenato is the music that you will here all the time in Cartagena.

Most of the hotels in the Center are expensive. I started to look on tripadvisor but I saw a lot of them in the Getsemani neighborhood. I don't know if it is as safe as the real Centro. This is the neighborhood next to the center. I found a few good rates and I particularly liked the Alfiz Hotel (around $180 per night) located right next to Plaza Bolivar and the Inquisition Palace. The inquisition building is a must see while you visit Cartagena. They still have the original torture instruments. Another must see is the San Pedro Claver museum (Monastery and church).

The clock tower - entrance to the old City

San Pedro Claver

If you do a City tour, they will take you to the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas. You will also visit the Loma de la Popa, the famous hill with a convent. The tour is usually done in a Chiva (colorful open bus). Chivas are transformed at night from City tour bus to Party bus with a live vallenato group. They usually drop you off at a club. There is a nice lounge is located in the walls and have a drink, Cafe del Mar. I haven't been but I've seen many pictures of my friends here. It looks very nice. I've also heard of a restaurant called El Santisimo and I found it on tripadvisor. Colombians love to eat and drink. I am sure that you will find plenty of good places to try the local cuisine. 

From the San Felipe de Barajas Fort

inside the fort

San Felipe de Barajas

Hotel Santa Teresa

Close to the Cathedral

If you still want to stay close to the beach, the best area is Bocagrande. The beach area is only a 5 minute taxi ride to the old City. The Almirante hotel and the Caribe Hotel are some of the nicest hotels around Bocagrande. There is one hotel that is on the lower price hotels but it was very nice. It was the hotel Da Pietro, I think is called San Pietro now. I stayed here in 2004 for around $80 including breakfast and 1 other meal. The owner of a travel agency recommended this small hotel. The owner of the hotel, at the time, was an Italian. The hotel was a few blocks from the beach and located next to one of my favorite restaurants: Crepes and waffles. There were a lot of European tourists staying here.  If you want to spend the day at the beach try to find a spot across from the Caribe Hotel. The best part about this beach in Cartagena is the service from Senaira. Senaira has been making fruit salads at the beach for years. Rent a couple chairs and a tent to take a break from the sun and try to relax. You can also get lunch, drinks, massages and anything that you want. The annoying part is the large amount of sales people trying to sell you ANYTHING. Just ignore them and say no with your hand, if they find out that you are foreigner they will try harder to sell you anything. Please don't buy the sea food from the guys walking a bucket and don't fall for the "free" sample. They are never free and you can get food poisoning. I used to get cornrow braids when I was little and burn my scalp. It was part of the trip but the braiders are very persistent and don't give up asking until they see your head full of colorful beads. 

El laguito is a few blocks from there and the only good thing is the Hilton Hotel.  We used to stay in this area and rent an apartment with my family. We always walked towards the beach by the Caribe Hotel. El laguito didn't have any waves and we loved the other side of the beach. 

Cartagena's Beach

Hotel Caribe in the back

Senaira and a fruit salad with condensed milk is the best part of the beach (2009)

Senaida in 1990

we all got cornrow braids in the 90's

Special thanks to my mother for the scanned pictures of the 1990's and the more recent digital pictures. I can't wait to go back to Cartagena with a decent camera.

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