Closing thoughts.

This trip has been amazing. Short, but well worth it.And i suppose the advantage of the shortness of it is that I’m left wanting more. The only problem is that everyone I met here said equally great things about Bogota and Medellin, so I really wouldn’t be able to justify to myself coming back here again without seeing what else colombia has to offer.

All the warnings I got, either the ones i found for myself online, or the ones relayed to me, where completely overstated. Cartagena, at least, is quite the safe place. I did keep my valuables in buttoned up pockets, perhaps justified, and i did make it a point to try to walk like i had a purpose and knew where I was going. And generally, just tried to stay aware of my surroundings. But that’d be the case wherever you go, New York or Boston even.

But even though i thoroughly enjoyed myself, I’d still say the place is not exactly family friendly. Between pushy sales people that turn into beggars when you continue to say no (“come on, just give me a dollar then!”), rampant drug dealing throughout the Old City at night (the same guy who’s standing on the street trying to steer you into a restaurant will likely try to sell you cocaine if you say you’re not interested in eating), a smattering of prostitutes, and just the scenes of abject poverty you’ll encounter, it might just be too much for a kid to process. And really, i haven’t seen any visitors with kids, so i’m not alone there.

But after discounting all of that… You should definetly go if you’ve got an inkling you might enjoy yourself. Between the food, the sights and sounds of the city, the sheer history of it, the beautiful scenery, and the laid back carribean feel to everything, it’s a great time.

Just make sure you know some spanish or are coming with someone who does.