Cartagena Columbia

Of all the countries along the Gulf of Mexico that I have visited, Cartagena is my favorite. This was my second time here.

I love the lively energy this city brings, enhanced by its rich history and beautiful colonial architecture. On my first visit, I didn’t have time to explore the famous San Felipe Fortress, so I made sure to do it this time.

The San Felipe de Barajas Fortress is the largest and most impressive Spanish colonial fortification in the Americas. Built on the strategic San Lázaro Hill, it was designed to defend Cartagena—once one of Spain’s most important Caribbean ports—from pirates and foreign invasions.

The fortress offers stunning 360-degree views of the city below. Here are some photos from my visit to the fortress and from my walks through Cartagena’s Old Town.

Roatan Honduras

In Roatán, our driver took us on a drive through the island. The town felt very much like small-town America. As one of the islands of Honduras, Roatán offers a relaxed and familiar atmosphere. We visited a small natural park and then continued on to a private beach. Although it was the rainy season, the rain stopped long enough for us to enjoy a few hours at the beach. The water was clean and warm—perfect for swimming. Here are some photos taken at the park and at the beach.

Costa Maya, Mexico

The Costa Maya cruise port is completely commercialized to extract money from tourists. It consists of nothing but bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, and local performers—all designed to squeeze every penny from your pockets.

There is no real town to visit, only the beach. Taxi companies are well organized right at the port to take passengers there. The ride takes about 10 minutes and costs $5. Although there is a sign indicating that walking to town takes about 45 minutes, my travel partner didn’t feel like walking, so we took a cab. There was nothing to see along the way. The taxi dropped us directly at the beachfront, as there was nothing of interest in town itself. I briefly peeked down a side street away from the beach and saw dirty roads, rundown houses, and overall neglect.

Along the beach, the scene was once again dominated by bars, restaurants, and rows of beach lounge chairs catering entirely to tourists.

Nike and I walked along the beach until it ended at the lighthouse area. From there, we walked inland through run-down streets back to the cruise port, which took about 40 minutes.

I had purchased Airalo data beforehand, but it didn’t work. Fortunately, we walked with a very nice couple who let us follow their GPS, and we chatted along the way.

Here are some photos taken from my couple of hours spent in Costa Maya cruise port and beach.

Seoul, Korea — A Few Street Snapshots

November in Seoul is full of color, and the city truly comes alive. These are a few street snapshots from the Myeongdong shopping area, along with views from the bus ride from Myeongdong to the airport.