Cartagena, Colombia

Has been my favourite port to date. It has neither the position  nor the class or the worldliness of Sydney, but it has parrots. Talking parrots.It is colourful and immaculate,with the loveliest of  gift shops that sell both postcards and stamps and that is very rare indeed. 

I would have loved just to take a taxi to town, have coffee, window shop,

but for the benefit of my sister I booked a "Chiva bus fun ride" that turned out to be no fun at all. The old contraption was uncomfortable, smelly and the music played by the tour guide was so loud my ear drums were bursting.Marco did not think it was loud enough. We made several stops in places I was familiar with and I could not wait to return to the ship.

Chiva

This is our bus.Do not be taken in by the vibrancy and colour you see on  photos when you google "CHIVAS."Buses like that do not exist. This is the reality-old, shabby, ramshackle contraptions that reek of petrol, they have likely not been serviced from the day they were put together.

Chivas were made for the countryside to transport goats, potatoes and their owners and there they should have stayed.

But I love, love Cartagena and am hoping to return again, only this time it will be a taxi to town, or a brisk 30 minute walk. Did exactly that on my first visit.😊