Construction on this fort was started after Sir Francis Drake”s attack on the city in 1586. It began as a small fortification and after 150 years of construction, with the help of slave labor and a Dutch engineer, it eventually became the largest Spanish fort built in the Americas. Seen from below, it looks like […]
Colombia Travel: Castillo De San Filipe, Cartagena Read More »
La Popa translates into “stern hill” and this five hundred foot high mound, the highest point in Cartagena, reminded someone of the back end of a ship. The Augustinians built the monastery in 1607, commandeering the ground that had once been sacred to the Calamari Indians and from this vantage point, the church played a
La Popa Monastery, Cartagena, Colombia Read More »
With help from the hotel, we booked a half day tour of the city. Our tour guide was Nico Medez. Previously, he had worked with Sarah Woods, the author of the Bradt tour book on Colombia, and she had listed his name in her Acknowledgements. Receiving an imprimatur from Michael Palin, this book has been
Cartagena: Touring Outside the Walls – Basurto Market Read More »
After crossing the mountains, high valleys and the broad plateaus of the interior, Donald and I headed for the Caribbean coast, the ground level for a country that seemed to tower above the sea. Our trip would continue with a total of seven nights in Cartagena, four nights in the Tayrona National Park and one
Cartagena, Colombia Read More »
JUAN MARTIN REDEEMS HIMSELF The mysterious man with the shovel was Juan Martin who, along with his wife, owned the tour company that had planned our excursions in the coffee region. According to Johnny, he did not speak English, maybe explaining why he never introduced himself to us. The third event in our trifecta was
Horseback Riding Through the Valle del Risaralda Read More »
WEDNESDAY There were still a few issues to be arranged when Donald and I returned to the school and picked Tuit up as he waited for us by the gate. I wanted to make sure all was arranged at the restaurant but when we suggested lunch, he told us he had already eaten, so all
Cambodian Journal, Part 4 – The Conclusion of Tuit Read More »
As anyone anticipating the return to a lover or mistress, enough months had finally fallen off the calendar and by the latter part of December, Donald and I required only one hand on which to count the days to our departure. We were heading back, ready to add another year to our nine year long
Short stop in Hong Kong Read More »
BACKGROUND Ta Mok, Khmer for “respected grandfather” was born in Takeo, southeastern Cambodia. Scholars are not exactly sure of his birth date but it was between 1924 and 1926 and there is no agreement as to his real name. He earned “his bones” for ruthlessness as leader of the South West District and rose to
Anlong Veng: The search for Ta Mok, Khmer Rouge Brother #5 Read More »
If a city is lucky, it has a famous restaurant that is a major destination not only for the locals but for those visiting the city as well. In Bogota, this restaurant is Andres Carne des Res, the same restaurant the young man suggested in the immigration line. In 1984, to help pay for their
Travels in Colombia: What’s for dinner? Read More »
We arranged through the hotel , The Charleston, for a half day city tour and when the guide came to pick us up early in the morning, we complained that the day was beginning damp and cold, not realizing at the time how precious a little cold could be. Our immediate destination was La Candelaria,
Sunday in Bogota’s La Candelaria Read More »
