Thursday 22 October - Cartegena

[Photos: Plastic houses, Theatre, Lunch, Castillo lift, Waterfront Sculpture]

 

Woke up to a very windy day, with a lot of cloud about. We were going to avoide the toll roads, but got onto one by mistake (following the road signs rather than relying on the GPS) and discovered that it was 70km and one hour shorter, so stuck with the fast highway. They will never pay back this road. We passed two cars and a couple of trucks, and had two cars pass us on 100km of road. It felt deserted. Passed through countless hectares of plastic and shade houses, growing veges no doubt. Unbelievable areas of them, who knows where the water comes from as the mountains are miles and miles away.

 

Passed through a little rain as we got close to Cartagena, so after dropping the car in a parking building we took our raincoats into town with us, though as it turned out they weren't required. First stop was for a hot drink, Karen and I having the Spanish breakfast staple of chocolate and churros. The former was deliciously dark and thick, the latter are extruded loops of dough deep-fried and there to be dunked in the sticky chocolate. Very tasty.

 

Made the mistake of going down a shopping street, where Karen and Lynette each bought some clothes, then Karen finally found the black handbag she has been looking for all trip. I tried on some nice Rockport shoes, but my big feet were too wide for them.

 

We had some brochures from Jo with places in Cartagena, and headed for the first of them. This was a Roman theatre that was only rediscovered last decade, as it had been completely built over with first a Roman market, then later housing and a very large church. A remarkable find. There was an excellent interpretation building, then a tunnel through the crypt of the church which led to the theatre itself. Some excellent examples of the way later people pillaged old buildings – walls of sliced columns, capitals and blocks. Altogether a very well arranged sight.

 

By now well into lunchtime (2pm) so we must be adjusting to Spanish time. Stopped at a restaurant on the edge of the main square where Sandy and I had menu del dia and the women a plate from the menu, which together with a drink cost the same as our beer, salad, paella, and sweet for 9€. The value of the menus is very clear. Both waiters were really nice, joking and fussing over us.

 

Our next stop was to be the interpretation centre on top of the tallest hill of Cartagena. The Spaniards were determined to stop us getting there. Fist the standalone lift and bridge were closed, then we worked our way around to the front of the site to find that closed too. Back to the lift which had by now opened. More site works making it difficult to get in, but finally made to, only to be very disappointed by the limited displays and single roomed castello. Nevertheless the walk to and from was pleasant – lots of nice new architecture on the waterfront, and a massive sculpture reminiscent of Rodin's The Thinker.

 

An uneventful trip home on the tollway, and a bread and cheese supper before, for once, an earlyish night.