Friday, October 5th- Cartagena, Colombia

Dear Obiwan,

Today was a beautiful and chill day.

Here are some photos of the beautiful hostel we have been staying at ‘El Viajero.’

They have events every day and you can organize little day drips, diving, etc. from right in the hostel. They had parties every night, but they were always pretty tame.

Also, here is an updated pic of my pinky injury, Obi DON’T LOOK if injuries gross you out:

My day began by some simple hostel breakfast (toast and some ham and cheese and coffee) then I went for a walk around the town. Today is my last night here, unless I come back!

Here is what it’s like walking around the walled city of Cartagena…

OH WAIT. Obi! History lesson ready? The reason this city is walled is because back in the 1500’s they we’re decimated by PIRATES 4 times!!! Finally they had enough and made this fortress with cannons on the walls and then they were not sieged anymore!

Okay here are some pics:

Here’s the wall!

I then went to Cafe Del Mar, which is the place you go to have a kinda pricey meal but beautiful sunset! I was at first by myself and it was glorious. But then Hermela messaged me and then she joined me <3. We had a wonderful time and got amazing photos!

I bought this hat! And ruined it the next day 🤦

These plantain chips and dip were so amazing!

I ordered 1 drink, and it was almost as big as my head

Hermela looking gorgeous!!!

We also were sitting next to some BEAUTIFUL men. One of them was honestly, the most beautiful man I have ever seen. LIKE, EXCUSE ME, WHAT?! We eventually started talking to them and they were from Brazil.

Obi, you know how I told you I was going to skip Brazil? I think I have to change my mind. Not just because of these men but everyone keeps telling me how amazing it is and how I can’t miss it!

Anyways, we got talking with them and we ask them about them and they tell us that they’ve been dating for 6 months and this was their first trip away together. They were incredibly nice and welcoming and we might meet up with them later tonight.

This evening we walked around in big group from the hostel again. Before leaving the hostel we met 2 Colombian DJ’s who were staying at our hostel. They joined us going out and invited us to see them play in Barranquilla some time this week (a cool beach town north of Cartagena).

Before I meet up with everyone I couldn’t find my driver’s license, which I brought to Cafe del Mar for some reason. So I went back at night on my own. And I have to tell you Obi how safe I felt walking alone. I already knew I would feel safe but actually doing it, it feels so much safer than walking around some parts of Philly! I mean of course sometimes it’s a little sketch but just walk confidently and it’s all good.

Here are some pics of the streets at night:

I got back to Cafe del Mar and they didn’t have my ID… but found this cutie!

(Oh…found my ID later, I had put it in my gum pack for safe keeping…so when I frantically searched for it missed it earlier 🤦)

I met up with the hostel crew as they were finishing dinner.

Uhh Daan had a hat with an Emperor penguin!!!

We went to 2 places and due to the large amount of sex workers we ended up back at the same place we have been the last 2 nights.

I walked in and the first people I see are the boys who helped me with my finger, we waved and they laughed…😆👍.

It was a fun night and many of us women got to truly understand how forward some Colombian men are.

But one of the coolest parts was it MONSOON RAINED. It currently is the rainy season here. And I’ve never seen rain like this. The square below literally had waves! It became an ocean! Here is a video of people who stayed out in the rain.

I ended up standing spending time with Daan (from…Sweden or Switzerland) and Ben (from Australia) from out hostel a lot, they’re both really nice and funny guys… and they also observed some of the Colombian men intensity and we’re watching out for all of us ladies (as we’re all the guys!).

Eventually me and Ben wanted venture in the rain so we stood out and in only 10 seconds we were drenched. But it was so warm it was refreshing!

Finally we had to leave, we waiting for the rain to end, took at least an hour, then walked back into a flooded city. The water was up to my calves!

Once we were back a few of us hung out then I realized it was almost time for sunrise. So me and Ben walked to see it. It as for the first time NOT 86 with 1000% humidity due to the rain! And where we were in Cartagena is perfect for sunsets but, we couldn’t really see sunrise. However, it was so beautiful to be in the city with NO ONE ON THE STREETS. No one asking you a million times to buy a bracelet, no tourists, nobody. Just the brighly painted buildings and the sky getting brighter and brighter. It was beautiful! Here are some pictures.

And that was the end of that night!

Hopefully I’ll get some rest soon Obiwan.

Love you lamb,

Carly