For those of you who have been traveling with us for awhile you may have been wondering, “Where did they go?” We are in the tropics in every sense of the word. Our day begins with sitting in the Plaza Bolivar early in the morning. We have become new members of a group of locals, vendors and gardeners among the benches, the fountains, and the trees. The photo is of Carlos and his little dog Nilo. (You have to look hard for Nilo. He is under Carlos’ arm.) Carlos arrives, lays out Nilo’s bed, his stuffed bone, his lunch, his book and settles in for the morning.
We have named everyone else. First comes “the sweeper,” the fellow who sweeps the whole plaza every day with a straw broom on a stick. Then the “bucket men” who dip buckets with long ropes in the fountains and throw the water out onto the groundcover plants. The shoeshine man arrives with a giant bag over his shoulder and unpacks. We like to watch him polish sneakers. Then coffee man arrives with his thermoses and little cups for Colombian coffee, nothing like it.
The Palenques, women in colorful full lengths skirts, blouses and tightly wrapped scarves with bowls of fruit on their heads arrive next to set up their fruit cart. They will be here the whole day.
Local men, women and children pass through the park on their way to school and work, stopping to chat or read the paper. “Buenos Dias,” is called out as people pass. Starting the day in the park, we feel part of local life.
And finally the first dance troop of the day arrives. They are young, ebulluient and talented. We like to listen and watch them. They are our sign it is time to walk.
We then take a walk around town, a different route everyday. We have finally mastered Cartagena’s unlabeled streets, empty at this time of day. Then, out to breakfast. We swim in the afternoon and go out for an early dinner. We have eaten every form of ceviche you can imagine.
We return home to sit on the balcony and read until dusk. We have fallen in to the rhythm of the tropics…cool in the morning, hot in the afternoon (siesta time) and balmy at night.
It is a has been a very good time in our lives.
MedFlies 