We were up today about 7:30, had breakfast and then at 10:00 o'clock we headed to the Segway Tour Office to arrange a tour of the Old City which lasts for about an hour and a half. It took the first five minutes learning how to use and control the Segways and then we were off. They are a very natural thing to use although it does take some practice to get over the fact that you don't fall off these things; they always keep you in a vertical position. We made several stops where our guide would describe the history of the city - its parks, churches and historical buildings. He was very knowledgeable and spoke good English. I enjoyed travelling on the Segway and it is certainly a neat way to get around but they are a very expensive machine, running about $6,000 in the US and here in Colombia with taxes and everything, they run about $10,000.
After the Segway tour, we met with Ashley, the young girl from Colorado, and went for lunch which started with fish soup. Now I'm not one for fish soup but it sounded very tasty, and this was followed by a chicken breast and fries. Once again, very good, and it was in a little local restaurant. Ashley speaks good English and has been our interpreter on several occasions.
Following lunch the three of us headed for the tour of San Felipe Barajas Castle, an old fort built by the Spanish to protect the Old City in Cartagena. We had an English guide and he took us throughout the fort, down into the subterranean tunnels and described everything well including the history of the fort. It was an ongoing construction that took about 150 years to complete. Both the French and the British invaded the fort but were never very successful.
After the fort tour we stopped for a lemonade at a little place across the street from the fort where Todd and I had eaten earlier. We then returned to the hostel to rest before heading out to a free presentation at the historical theatre, after which we had supper and then walked the streets of the Old City until about 10:00 p.m.
All in all, it was a very good and interesting day.
After the Segway tour, we met with Ashley, the young girl from Colorado, and went for lunch which started with fish soup. Now I'm not one for fish soup but it sounded very tasty, and this was followed by a chicken breast and fries. Once again, very good, and it was in a little local restaurant. Ashley speaks good English and has been our interpreter on several occasions.
Following lunch the three of us headed for the tour of San Felipe Barajas Castle, an old fort built by the Spanish to protect the Old City in Cartagena. We had an English guide and he took us throughout the fort, down into the subterranean tunnels and described everything well including the history of the fort. It was an ongoing construction that took about 150 years to complete. Both the French and the British invaded the fort but were never very successful.
After the fort tour we stopped for a lemonade at a little place across the street from the fort where Todd and I had eaten earlier. We then returned to the hostel to rest before heading out to a free presentation at the historical theatre, after which we had supper and then walked the streets of the Old City until about 10:00 p.m.
All in all, it was a very good and interesting day.
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| On Segway tour- ready aim, fire |
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| Castle (fort) |
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| Castle (fort) |
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| Old fort overlooking modern city |
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| Entering the network of tunnels |
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| One of many tunnels |
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| Taking aim |
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| Old fort (castle) |
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| Fire! |
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