visiting Cartagena

If you are good with flags, know where Cartagena is, or follow Patt on Facebook, you have figured out we are now in Columbia -- specifically atop the largest fort in South America, Castillo de San Felipe de Baragas.  

Cartagena is a beautiful tourist city, primarily for Columbians according to a shop keeper I spoke with then American cruise ship patrons, followed by other South Americans and Europeans.  Cruise ship people are in and out in relative short order. The rest stay a little longer.

The "World Heritage" part has old very narrow city streets like this one where Patt is in front of our hotel with street vendors who while persistent will take no for an answer, they just forget who they ask and ask again and again despite the fact that I am wearing sunglasses and do not want another pair.

The city squares are plentiful and mostly fixed up and quite beautiful. And hot, i.e. 'mucho calor'.

One of our customs when traveling is to take the 'hop-on-hop-off' bus tour of a city we are visiting as one of the first things we do when in a new town.  Being old hands at this upper deck, seats behind the stair way - leg room and view and then if possible seats on both sides so avoidance of the sun and take in views from both sides of the bus.

and the old city wall that encloses the old city — well duh — from the other side of the bus.

and on the tour, wouldn't you know it a great hop off place we did not get off at but made a note to come back to was Castillo de San Felipe (note flag at far left end of fort at the top - yup, same flag).

Cartagena was founded in 1533 by the  Spanish commander Pedro de Heredia, for the purpose of exploiting the tombs of the ancient Indian burial grounds in the region for the gold treasure in them and living off the productive farm lands in the area. It was an extremely prosperous activity and additional gold mining followed. The city became extremely wealthy and a regional port for movement of gold from Ecuador and other regions which made Cartagena attractive to pirates both sponsored by other governments and plain old pirate pirates.

As point of reference, 1533 is 60 years before Sir Walter Raleigh lost the Lost Colony at Roanoke.

Construction started on this fort in 1537 and was of course rebuilt many times the last in 1697, though remained in use through Columbia's war with Spain for independence in 1833.

The city was overrun and pillaged many times by various government armies and navies as well as pirate armies. Sir Francis Drake succeed with an armada of 28 or so warships under his command.  This fort was successful in the defense of the city for several attacks but it was also overrun on occasion.

There are many wide open areas for assembling cannons and networks of tunnels inside the fort.

It is quite the trek up and down the ramps to get to the top of the fort or castillo. 

some of the things we do - we watch and we walk to school

Some days are like this - for a few moments— then, one or both start acting their age (or closer to mine) and a little more attention is required.  Despite our best intentions, one or the other can and will get a little fussy when we are around.  But when they are sweet they are very sweet, sorta like me.

Raleigh occasionally asks me where "the Grandmama" is or wants to "play-a the blocks"  using the article "the" and "a" as one would use "la" and "el" in Spanish in front of nouns. I suppose when speaking Spanish he has some Englishization to it too? I would not know.

When we are here I am usually the one who takes Raleigh the little-over-a-mile walk to his school.  It is a walk though the city (well what did you expect) and through Parque Uraca, along some interesting sidewalks and of course across some busy streets.  (Frederico Boyd Agenda.

I enjoy it and though it is a warm way to start the day and flat out hot when time for the mid-day pick up it is something I look forward too.

This little throwback store is next to a Waldorf Astoria Hotel.  Like I said it is an interesting and eclectic collection of streets- this particular one being Calle 5B just after Calle Uraguay.  google it.

we have been greeted and welcomed

We got here and were well greeted to the extent that half of the greeting party was completely worn out  by the effort and spent the 20minute ride back into town resting up for the remainder of our visit

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 Clinton was preparing to surprise us, he has gotten so big.  Six months already!  Should be reading soon I expect and beginning to do higher math or at least continue to smile at us in the most delightful fashion.

Raleigh is now the fourth of our grandchildren to wear this outfit.  It has stood up to some tough wear and has been one of the favorites of Luke and Isaac as I recall.   I realize there is a bit of a color problem, but I do have a wife, daughter and son with degrees from UNC, so he gets the suit. 

and returning from a late afternoon walk on the Cinta Costera

Patt and I had early visitors one morning as Jen and Stephen tried to squeeze a few more minutes out of the AM - not that we minded.

Checking each other out.

and not so sure about older brother.
gotta love Clinton's expression
 

Helping the Grandmama make some brownies.

the concern is that at any moment he may have to cease the assistance.

and a little brownie mix got spread out a bit.

Clinton enjoying his mom

and checking out grandaddy.

and a little nap

Raleigh with Deuce

and that is a large dog

after his mile ride home from "school" he is the one tired.

just a little catch up before I put us back in Panama

some of the recent stuff.

We have had a visitor to our backyard. Get this I saw him while washing dishes. Yeah, we need one more helper bee around here.

Been up to Wake to see some football, this was us versus Indiana (in the red) and in the rain. We lost, and again against most of the other teams we have played this year — BUT we are looking better and more wins are just around the corner.

Also been to the beach, and the ole Wheel House. This baby is real approachable from the water now.  Photo taken from the "wet sand" line.  The dunes are gone as is most of the vegetation.  The most recent storms did just a little dune washing away. Looks good though.

Misty cool days are a little quiet on the beach and except for the birds, lonesome kinda except Charles and Linda were there putting finishing touches on their new house — and it is awesome too.

On Thanksgiving eve, we FaceTimed with our grandchildren on the other side of the world and Luke, as is his and John Paul's custom, got up close and personal with the screen for a better view of the football game in the background that was on TV.  We have to eventually turn it off as it does tend to lead to disruption on their end we understand. 

Thanksgiving, as has become our custom, we hosted Patt's family and friends from our church, Joe and Phillo M from Nigeria, who invited their friends who had no family or place to go for Thanksgiving, Fatima and her son Mohammed B from Morocco.  Fatima, with Ed below, was entertaining and was a delight to have. We look forward to getting to know her and her son better.  Though it is not apparent from the photo I can not remember laughing more at a meal in a long time.

Patt with Kay, Gene and Betty at the sink and a few of the dishes remain on the counter.

Joe at the table with Melissa and Corey in the dining room after dinner.  We of course ate well with all contributing to the event.

Then with scarce a delay it was off to Jeff's for part of our Christmas celebration and it was nice to have Jeff "volunteer" to host part of the event in his new apartment.  And he did it well.

Then it was on to Mark and Marie's for dinner and the white elephant gift exchange and the traditional leaving-of-the-gifts for the hosts.  I think we are getting closer to 100% participation in that effort as Mark and Marie are discovering — or will in time.  (Jeff is tired)

Mark and Marie now proudly possess an Obama presidential coffee mug, a peanut jar, a bobble head baseball player, various Kooziez, and the list goes as they will learn.

Next entry is from Panama with grandchildren!

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Being in Panama...

means we get to see Raleigh again and marvel at how much he has grown and how very much more verbal he has become.  Such a joy to be around and goodness he likes his Grandmama and his Grannanny.  (struggling to get the "d" in my name but it will probably come way too soon- if you know what I mean)— you could also not waste too many guess on who has who around whose little finger.

and I also got to meet baby Clinton for the first time.  And I do think he likes me too.  We have a lot in common.  We like food, sleep, get bored easily, do not care for dirty pants, and like to be around other people.  So far he has not yet learned to read but is getting there on speaking. Oh and around here his name is CleenTON as it is pronounced here by all but Stephen and Jen (and Patt and me)

Raleigh enjoys going to the grocery store.  Grabs a cart and is off to the races.  Reminded me of several years ago going with Julianna and Lydia when they were in the City of Raleigh.  Such a grand time then and here too. He is quite the independent shopper.

Patt studies her list and Raleigh is good with the directions. We fill up and aisle, two carts, and a stroller.  One of the carts is in constant motion I may add.

Unless the driver finds something interesting to talk about — and then we have quite the explaining session with full facial movements to help in the communication process. Patt is a good listener too.

Please note the palm drawing in the above photo. Jen is quite the artist when it comes to getting Raleigh ready for activities — or distracted, I forget.

And if you get the chance, do give baby Clinton a bath.  He absolutely loves it.  Grandmama and I are on top of it.  I think Jen is a little pleased that we like it too.

This is just part of the smile routine we get.  Clinton has a whole smile repertoire.

Look't who took a selfie

Jennifer works

Stephen talks with Deuce