Colombia

COLUMBIA

HAS A REPUTATION.

I FOUND IT TO BE A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT, CERTAINLY MORE TO IT THAN ARUBA.

TODAYS TOUR IS A BUS RIDE TO A BEACH, A BOAT RIDE THROUGH SOME MANGROVE TUNNELS & A WALK AROUND CARTAGENA.

HERE WE ARE SAILING INTO CARTAGENA....

WE HAD A COUPLE OF COPS ON MOTORCYCLES ESCORTING US FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP.

PASSING THE LOCAL KIDS PLAYING FOOTBALL..

WE DRIVE ALONG A BEACH WHICH IS ONE LONG LINE OF PLACES TO EAT & DRINK. WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO GET OFF HERE & WALK FOR A BIT.

WE STOP TO GET ON THE BOATS FOR THE RIDE TO THE MANGROVE TUNNELS..

FIRST WE HAVE TO CROSS A SHALLOW LAGOON WHERE THERE IS A LINE OF KIDS UP TO THEIR KNEES IN WATER SELLING POSTCARDS AND SHELLS TO THE PASSING TRADE,,,

I WILL BE FOLLOWING RACHELLE & NEIL WHO ARE IN THE BACK OF THE BOAT IN FRONT.

ACROSS THE LAGOON & INTO THE TUNNELS...

THE FISHERMAN IS STAGED FOR US ..... WE GET THROUGH TO ANOTHER SHALLOW LAKE WHERE THE PUNTERS HAVE A BREATHER...

& NEIL TAKES HIS PHOTOS....

... AND I TAKE MINE .... CUTE - ONE OF THE SHIPS STAFF I THINK..

THERE IS A BIT OF A RACE BACK BUT SOME OF US GET HUNG UP ON SAND BARS & THE PUNTERS HAVE TO GET OUT AND PUSH...

ONE OF THOSE LADYS MAY BE A WOMAN WHO WE HUNG AROUND WITH.

SHE WANTED HER MONEY BACK FOR THIS TOUR. DID NOT THINK IT RIGHT THAT PRINCESS SHOULD SUBJECT US TO THOSE POOR KIDS AT THE LAGOON.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HER EXPECTATIONS ARE BUT IT WON'T BE THE ONLY TIME SHE COMES ACROSS POOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE (OR EVEN INSIDE) THE USA.

I THOUGHT THE KIDS LOOKED WELL & HAPPY. NO ONE STARVING & NOT AGGRESSIVE AT ALL WITH THEIR SALES

ON SHORE WE WERE TREATED TO A BIT OF DANCING, DON'T KNOW WHY THE GUY HAS HIS PANTS ROUND HIS ANKLES!

NOTICE THE KIDS ARE BEHIND LITTLE BARRIERS. KEEPING THEM FROM ANNOYING THE TOURISTS TOO MUCH..

INTO CARTAGENA - LOVELY COLOURFUL BUILDINGS

THIS MIGHT BE WHERE FRANCIS DRAKE LIVED WHEN HE WAS HERE. OR MAYBE NOT..

WHILE THE REST OF THE GROUP HAD THE MANDATORY STOP IN A SHOP, I LEANT AGAINST A WALL IN THE SHADE & WATCHED THE LOCALS. THIS COUPLE WERE GETTING MARRIED CLOSE BY ...

A FEW YOUNGSTERS CAME OVER & WANTED THEIR PHOTO TAKEN WITH ME. I DID WONDER IF THEY WERE AFTER MY CAMERA.
THEY WERE ONLY WITH ME A FEW SECONDS BEFORE A COUPLE OF LADIES IN ORANGE COATS ASKED IF I WAS OK & DID I WANT TO RE-JOIN MY GROUP.
NOT POLICE BUT KEEPING AN EYE ON THE TOURISTS. SEEING THEY ARE SAFE.

I DID NOT FEEL THREATENED AT ALL. THEY WERE JUST KIDS, PART OF THE WEDDING PARTY , A BIT TIDDLY, HAVING FUN WITH THE TOURISTS.

HERE THEY ARE WITH RACHELLE & NEIL BY THE WALL.

POLICE NOT FAR WAY THOUGH..

LOOKS LIKE I WAS ENJOYING MYSELF & I WAS. THE ONLY THING WRONG WITH THIS TOUR WAS THAT WE DID NOT WALK THROUGH THAT BEACH AREA..