At first mention, the name Cartagena had brought to mind 80’s drug media and action fiction – episodes of Miami Vice and The A-Team. Sweaty Drug lords wearing white with stubbled beards. 20 years have passed now since Medellin rang in as the worlds most violent city, and drugs have largely been replaced by distance, tourism, happiness, and the walled city of Cartagena has become about as safe as Disneyland… And equally as well visited.

Cartagena is the #1 tourist destination in Colombia – it’s walled city and it’s castles both named unesco world heritage cites. And man, the place is just as beautiful as you would hope it would be. Narrow, labyrinthine streets lined with tall facades in whites and yellows – wooden balconies heavy with pink flowers – fruit vendors, coffee vendors, cathedrals, tree lined plazas, horse drawn carriages – and of course the wall itself, surrounding the small historic centro on all sides.

Our hotel is gorgeous. A private courtyard with a small pool surrounded in spirals by the rooms above. A buffet of fruit and local foods is served on the breezy rooftop patio every morning. Our room on the second floor faces the street, and leaning out of the balcony, one becomes instantly reunited with the beauty and excitement of this city. We do not know the history of this building, but every carriage tour seems to stop at our doorstep and deliver some morsel of history to its passengers.

Cartagena, I must note, is a first step on our registry, and we want to thank with all of our hearts our friends and family that helped to make such a wonderful stay possible. This hotel is very likely to be he nicest treatment we’re gonna get in the next 6 months..