Travel Diaries: Cartagena Day 4

Day 4 in Cartagena was all about the food. I had a meeting in the early afternoon––nope, apparently I can't stop working even for a full week––so we decided to try any restaurant we could find close to the hotel. And it happened to be La Cocina de Cartagena, which is only a couple of blocks away.

Although I've grown up and now eat fish––I would starve before eating fish when I was a child (except for Mojarra frita, of course)––I sort of wanted something different. I started with patacones––my favourite––and then wanted to get a posta negra cartagenera, which is a typical beef dish from the region. Unfortunately they didn't have it available, so I ended up having another dish with meat, prepared with sauteed vegetables, and accompanied by mashed plantain, yuca and ñame––all three typical from the region.

My sister and dad both chose to have fish, which looked absolutely delicious––although I didn't really try them.

I then had my meeting, and we went out walking around the centre after the sun set.

We then went to Mila, which is probably my favourite patisserie in Cartagena, where we overdosed in sugar. I also had a traditional, handmade coffee, which is just amazingly aromatic because it's prepared right before you drink it.

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Travel Diaries: Cartagena Day 3

My third day in Cartagena was probably my favourite so far. I spent the morning getting tanned with my sister by the pool, and then went for lunch to one of my dad's favourite restaurants: La Casa de Socorro. It is apparently famous now, but my dad remembers visiting even before I was born, and loving the seafood there. And it's still delicious, so if you ever visit Cartagena, I sincerely recommend it!

I had some crab claws with patacones (fried plantain, basically) for a starter, and then a prawn, shrimp, and lobster stew with yet more patacones and coconut rice as the main dish. To be honest, I couldn't tell which was better. But what I can tell you is that I walked out very full and happy from that place. Cartagena never lets my inner foodie down, and that's probably the main reason why I always want to come back.

We then walked around town to digest all that food. One of the things I really love about the city centre is how colourful all the little houses are. And the balconies. I remember dreaming with having a beautiful balcony covered with bougainvillea flowers in my home when I was a child.

We arrived back in our hotel just in time to see the sunset. And although it was a little cloudy, the colours of the sun were absolutely stunning. I think I'm starting to doubt going to New York now... Couldn't I just stay eating the best seafood and watching the sunset every day in Cartagena forever?

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio

Travel Diaries: Cartagena Day 2

Life in Cartagena is everything but hard. I've spent endless hours by the pool, relaxing and reading, while getting tanned.

On Sunday, we went for lunch at my favourite restaurant of all times: Restaurante Árabe Internacional, which serves Arab food. Ever since I was a little kid, I remember going to this restaurant with my parents and one of their friends, Captain Alonso, to have lunch on Sundays at this restaurant. I remember indulging myself on tahine and quibbes and never wanting to leave without eating enough almond rice. Of course, going back after several years made me realise how much I missed the authentic flavours of its kitchen and how much I can eat when it comes to Arab food!

We also had a short walk before going back to the hotel, where we spent the rest of the day, where we saw the sunset –although the day evening was a little cloudy, which was a shame to my pictures– and relaxed for another while!

Love,

Photography: Laura Beltran-Rubio