Celebrating in Cartagena

I was fortunate this year to spend my birthday in such a fabulous place as Cartagena, Colombia. It's a city that seems to always be celebrating with parties and music lasting all through the night, often accompanied by fireworks displays. Most weekends we have seen several weddings take place at the many churches and cathedrals scattered throughout the historic district. Tourists celebrating honeymoons, anniversaries, birthdays, or just the joy of being on holiday lend to the air of festivity. Horse drawn carts carrying revelers jostle for space with the crowds strolling along the narrow cobblestone roads as vendors selling their wares line the sidewalks with everything from cigars to handmade jewelry and leather goods. Often the merchants will keep their doors open late into the evening to catch those shoppers who dare not venture out during the heat of the day.

Chris looks the part here in the Cuban themed bar where we started with happy hour. Many of the bars are themed. We visited KGB bar, Cuban bar, and a fabulous Argentina bar / restaurant featuring some awesome steaks!

Bob and Irma of S/V Gaia

After happy hour we wandered down the street to a restaurant named 1621, which although unimaginative, is convenient for remembering the year the building was built. Originally, it was a convent. The three story building was constructed in a square with a very large courtyard in the center (think put a whole house in the middle of it size). Over the centuries it was turned into a private estate home and now it is a restaurant/ hotel and favorite place for wedding receptions. 

Restaurant 1621

Orchids and jasmin scent the garden of Restaurant 1621

We dined in the central garden by the old well surrounded by very large palm trees and orchids all dimly lit with candle light and the glow from the surrounding balconies. It was an ambiance that I have seen many American restaurants and hotels try to recreate, only to have it spoiled by fluorescent lights or emergency exit signs or some other modern contrivance. Here it was as if we actually stepped back in time. The service was wonderful and the wait staff spoke English too, a rare thing here. The food was probably the best dinner I've ever eaten in my life...a seafood stew over a bed of coconut rice. Our friends Bob and Irma from S/V Gaia, who have been one of our buddy boats cruising with us off and on since Mexico, joined us for dinner and we had a wonderful time. Afterwards we toured the city in a horse drawn carriage and watched fireworks and ate Italian Gelato. It was a fabulous celebration!

Happy Birthday Shawna!