The only thing that sweats here more than you is the cold beer you are nursing in a desperate attempt to defy the heat and humidity. It offers a few short, sweet moments of refreshment, but you must walk the fine line of drinking it just fast enough that it isn't warm by the end and drinking slow enough to enjoy its coldness as long as possible. Fortunately, this may be the biggest dilema you will face for the day.
The heat and humidity make it hard to drag yourself out into the elements and explore the city, but luckily you are richly 
rewarded for your efforts. Inside fortified walls, the historic colonial center is guaranteed to charm you. Colorful buildings, winding streets, botanical balconies, and seaside gazing from the old wall itself, you see why an impressive list of pirates tried to plunder the city through the centuries. As a result, Cartagena was fortified with massive stone walls enclosing the city, as well as by numerous seperate forts and batteries strategically placed arround the main port. Cartagena became impossible to overrun, but it cost a pretty penny to 
complete. Legend has it that Charles III of Spain, while reviewing the costs of defenses constructed in Spain in Havanna and Cartagena, took up his spyglass and exclaimed, "This is outrageous! For this price those castles should be seen from here! (Peninsular Spain)." Perhaps not visible at such great lengths, they have nevertheless left their mark on the city and make for wonderful places to explore.
rewarded for your efforts. Inside fortified walls, the historic colonial center is guaranteed to charm you. Colorful buildings, winding streets, botanical balconies, and seaside gazing from the old wall itself, you see why an impressive list of pirates tried to plunder the city through the centuries. As a result, Cartagena was fortified with massive stone walls enclosing the city, as well as by numerous seperate forts and batteries strategically placed arround the main port. Cartagena became impossible to overrun, but it cost a pretty penny to 
complete. Legend has it that Charles III of Spain, while reviewing the costs of defenses constructed in Spain in Havanna and Cartagena, took up his spyglass and exclaimed, "This is outrageous! For this price those castles should be seen from here! (Peninsular Spain)." Perhaps not visible at such great lengths, they have nevertheless left their mark on the city and make for wonderful places to explore.
yaaarrr
On my last night in the city, perched up on the old city wall, I shared a beer with two other travelers as we watched the sun setting over the carribean. Cooler now with the breeze blowing in from sea, we made small talk and enjoyed the last few colors in the sky and the new colors appearing across the bay as the modern towers lit up in the twilight. The perfect way to say goodbye to such a wonderful city.
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