Susie and I head to the waterfront to catch a boat to Tierra Bomba, the closest island to Cartagena. We sail past the Lady of the Harbor in a speedboat. 1
We land in the village of Bocachica on the island of Tierra Bomba. View of the fortress as we approach it by boat. 2
Our guide Douglas took us to the nearby Castillo (fort) de San Fernando de Bocachica. Douglas shows Susie the moat that separated the two forts (Santiago and San Fernando). Wrongdoers were thrown into the moat to be devoured by sharks. 3
Another guide Elias was the expert on the history of the fort. According to Elias, the fort (above) was called Santiago and the fort San Fernando (below) were separated by a moat. Both were built to control access through the channel into Cartagena. Across the channel stood another fort called San Jose. According to our guide Elias, a large chain was placed between the two forts in order to prevent ships from coming through into Cartagena. 4
A close-up of Fort San Jose across the channel. This was the entrance into the fort. The ships would dock alongside this area. 5
Susie and I pose on the upper level of Fort San Fernando. The Plaza de Armas is below. Douglas drives us (three on his motorcycle) through the dirt streets of Bocachica to another fort, also known as the Battery of San Rafael, on a hilltop overlooking the village. 6
Susie and guide Elias on top of the Battery of San Rafael, overlooking the village of Bocachica. Nine cannons were aimed at the channel to shoot at any ships that threatened the city of Cartagena. 7
Tunnels were always built into the forts to provide escape, storage room, and safe passage between secret passages. A long stretch of colorful mosaics provided the visitor to the Battery of San Rafael a scenic sidewalk to enjoy. The mosaics depicted pictures of the life of the villagers, and images that were important to them. 8
I pose with two indigenous children who were asking me for a few coins, which I gladly shared with them. Back in Cartagena, I happen to see this beautiful painting of Cartagena in an art gallery. 9
Our last night in Cartagena was spent enjoying the ambiance at Santo Domingo Square, right next door to our building. We enjoyed fine food at the Conte de la Cruz Restaurant in the plaza. The La Gorda (the Fat One) Gertrudis reclined in the background, in front of the Santo Domingo Church. Some musicians came to our table to entertain us (for a price). I asked Susie what the song was about, and she said it was something about Can t Live Without You. Video: http://youtu.be/8bnfjm7d62m 10
I took a short break from the meal to pay a visit to the Santo Domingo Church, which happened to be having a wedding ceremony in process. After the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom came out of the Santo Domingo Church and were met by dancers who led them in a procession (Cartagena-style) down the main street. Video at: http://youtu.be/w4p331ufbi4 11
The next day we flew into Bogota, Colombia. This was the city that Susie had decided to live in. I pose in Bolivar Square, the center of the city and all of its government buildings. My previous trip to visit Susie in Bogota was written about in a book: Inka Pilgrimage: Hidden Treasures of Pachamama Online (for free) at: http://wigowsky.com/travels/inca/book/book.htm 12
Catedral Primada Basílica Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción de María en Bogotá. There are always interesting street murals that capture the eye and the imagination. 13
The Virgin of Guadalupe on Guadalupe Hill overlooks the city of Bogota. We stayed at the Hotel Continental in the La Candalaria District (historic old town). Monserrate Hill is in the background. 14
As we walked around the historic old town (La Candalaria), a church happened to be open and I walked in. It was the church Nuestra Senora de Las Nieves (Lady of the Snow), and it had an amazing interior. A major museum in Bogota was the Museo de Botero, with all of the art that Fernando Botero donated to the museum. He was famous for depicting people and figures in large, exaggerated volume and shapes. The painting (cropped) on the right shows a self-portrait of Botero. 15
These sculptures depict Botero s work of Adam and Eve. We take a ride on the TransMilenio, the rapid bus transit, in Bogota. 16
Susie s friend, John Portilla (brother of Gustavo Portillo), takes us in his Renault car to Zipaquira, the place of the world-famous underground Salt Cathedral. The Salt Cathedral featured the 14 Stations of the Cross embedded in the salt formations. I devoted an entire chapter to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira in my book: http://wigowsky.com/travels/inca/book/ch2/ch2.htm 17
Susie likes the depiction of the Creation of Man by MichelAngelo. We pose together beside the archangel, with the illusory cross in the background. 18
The town of Zipaquira offered good food at the Restaurante Asadero Sal y Gallina. And there was good Andean music by a group called Kussi Wayra. Video at: http://youtu.be/cmvu309orai 19