The Drive from Medellin to Cartagena is a long and beautiful one. To get out of Medellin you have travel through a mountain range on a 2 lane highway. It is slightly scary because the route is packed with large trucks, motorcycles and overtaking cars. There are also the obstacles to avoid, these include; farmers walking milk to the market, land slides, trees in the road and oh did I mention the overtaking cars. We stopped for some food once we safely negotiated the tourist unfriendly zone. The food was delicious, beans and rice. Laura had an Arepa con queso.
Laura was a champion and drove the whole way on 4 hours sleep. She didn't trust my 20 years of first world driving experience. I reckon I would have been fine as I have driven on the wrong side and in Italy. We left Medellin at 5:30am and arrive around 7.
Cartagena is an interesting part of Colombia a mix of African, Colombian, Spanish and Paez People. The city has 2.5 million people. On our arrival I was confronted with the hecticness of the 3rd world. Load noises, sirens, people, trash and traffic. Being a passenger for three weeks I think I have worked out the major differences. Driving can be done 1 or 2 ways, offensively or defensively. The first world has all fallen victim to the delusion that regulates our road systems. While the 3rd world applying a offensive strategy makes no attempts at regulation the only rule is that you try not to kill any thing. Now Colombia (sorry about previous misspellings) is not the wild west like Asia this system seems to work here and I have only seen 2 accident. Arriving to the old city is quite a journey. In the distance I noticed the beautiful beginnings or the old city.
Cartagena de Indias BEAUTIFUL.
We stayed at Casa de la Mantllai on calle del la Mantilla. It was purchased by Laura's grandfather during the Escobar years. Now it is run as a lovely guest house with 2 small pools and a rooftoop sundecks.
When we arrived we went past this place to see if the owner was there. Laura bought Anthony Boudain here for his Colombian show and he is suppose to have the best Mojitos. Unfortunately
he wasn't here. So we went and had dinner somewhere else. No Pictures sorry.Later in the evening we met up with Jorge (the owner of La Cevicheria) and went dancing.
The next day I attempted to flex a bit of independence and attempted to cash travelers checks for myself. Unfortunately this was not to be I got lost and the banks close at 11.30am. For a Spanish style siesta until 2. This was quite unfortunate as I had no dinero. ( spanish for cash) So I made my way to La Cevicheria, calle Stuart 7-14 for a meal. Jorge was there and he made me a mojito and a Suprema de Supremas ¨the best of the best¨. It was a type of seafood soup served with clams shrimp and calamari. It was good except the calamari were a tad over done. The atmosphere of La Cevicheria is really great beautiful music, good food and a very friendly staff. I highly recommend you pop in and tell Jorge hello.
After lunch Jorge invited me to his beach shack. We picked up a bottle of Run and headed to the sea.
Jorge and I discovered that we have very similar taste in Music and we spent the day drinking, dancing and laughing. Meeting Jorge was fantastic he was very funny, found me very sexy and
very sexy him self. He had a cute restaurant and cute beach shack. The weather was hot the ocean was the Caribbean . All in All the experience was perfect.
Laura and Kimmies join us. We spent all day Friday hanging out, drinking, swimming and some other stuff.
The Sunset was perfect.
Jorge has a women who helps him look after is house her name is Rosita.
Cartagena is filled with cobble stone streets, peddlers and horse drawn carriages. There are any number of places to pop down for a bite to eat but I really liked La Cevicheria. La Cevicheria is a seafood restaurant located on calle Stuart 7 -14 (Calle is Spanish for street.) in the old city. The food is a mix of all things Caribbean. The atmosphere is electric and very fun. The restaurant is run by by Jorge 
he is quite a character. He 
makes everyone feel very welcomed with his funny wit and Caribbean charm. He speaks English and a bit of French.
The clientele at La Cevicheria is a mix of the local people in the know and tourist who want something a bit more interesting. If you find your way down to La Cevicheria please do not forget to order a Mojito. They are a bit of a local legend in Cartagena and really fantastic. 
This is Bob Marley. 
The view of Cartagena from the 8th floor.
Laura and Kimmie
These photos were taken in La Milagrosa. This is considered one of the best slums. I found this area to be just another neighborhood. I am not sure if 1st world sensibilities should factor into the third world visits. Having said that I think the US, (think Katrina and some parts of Los Angeles) is on the brink of a 3rd world collapse. 
This is a video store. When we arrived it was unmanned. The shelves were stocked with dvd's there was also a computer on the desk. ummmm. I would never do that in Northcote.
Parque Lleras. It is where the fashionable and foriegn come for a meal. This cafe is one of the smallest on the street. The street is lined with mega bars decorated over the top. It seems that everyone opts for larger rather than smaller. It has a little park across the street. 7 or so years ago a FARC rebel put a bomb on the corner in the photographer killing many people. 
The restaurant owners refused to take this act lying down and resumed business almost immediately. As you can see not a lot going on. Medellin as a city is pretty clean. This area is a suburb and is not in the city centre or downtown. It would be the Fitzroy/ Prahran. 
On the weekends I am told it gets very crowded. But on Monday night it was very quite and beautiful. I have not felt threatened or uncomfortable once.
This is part of an old bus.
