Day Fourty-Five: And Then There Were Two

Alanna and I are going to the islands today.  Outside Cartagena, there are many beautiful islands.  I’ve been told by many people that they are worth a visit.  

We wake up around 7:30am and take a taxi to the boat the hotel arranged for us. After a 40 minute ride we arrive at Isla Rosario, the largest island.  Most of the islands are private.   

On Rosario, there is only one small hotel, which is where we dock.  The guide is telling us about our options for the day when Alanna runs to the bathroom.  I don’t understand what he is saying.  As a result, we miss the opportunity to snorkel and see the other islands.  

 We came here to see the islands so after lunch we negotiate with two young local boys to take us on a boat ride for $20.  We feel better about the day once we are out on the water. 

The small native town on Rosario

We return to Rosario and go for a short walk. Behind the hotel we find a small town of natives.  There are forty people living here.  They have no electricity.  They are friendly. 

We leave the island at 3pm and it takes us two hours to get back to Cartagena because the waters are too  choppy to return the same way that we came so we take an alternative route through a canal.

The boys who took us out to see the islands

We are meeting Señor Javier and some other local friends for dinner.  A horse drawn carriage pulls in front of the hotel and we climb in and head to La Vitrola.

At La Vitrola

La Vitrola is a favorite among the locals in Cartagena. Everyone has said that we must go.  It has a fun and lively atmosphere and a live band.  

Roman helps us with our accommodations in Medellin.  “He is the king of Medellin,” Javier says in Spanish, which Alanna translates for me.  He arranges a driver for us and books us a room at his hotel, hotel San Fernando.  “In Medellin, there are the most beautiful Colombian women and it is Spring all year round. Flowers are always in bloom,” Roman tells us.  

I am excited to go to Medellin and grateful for our new friends.  I am so fortunate to have met so many people on my trip that have helped us.  People in this country are very hospitable.

After dinner we come back to the hotel, pack and tuck ourselves into bed.   We leave for Medellin in the morning.