37 35.9 N OO 59.2W

Arrived here on Thursday evening and found the marineros waving us into a finger berth on the eastern end of the Yacht Port Cartagena (the super yacht marina as recommended by Grand Slam).Unfortunately this was not where we had planned to moor as we had previously discussed with Tony from China Blue going on the wall next to them! However we decided to stay put and Tony and Margaret joined us for drinks later that evening. Yesterday we explored the town after visiting the Tourist office for maps etc. some lovely old buildings and plenty of tapas bars etc. We visited the centre for Punic information (pre Roman) and saw the remains of the city wall built before Hannibal in 227BC! We also watched an archaeological dig going on at the back of the old city it appears to be the remains of a Roman palace. We went for a lovely meal to a restaurant recommended by Julia in the office called

La casa del Pescador; we were joined by Tony and Margaret and everyone had fish! Good prices and service so worth a visit if you are in the area. It is near the fishing port – out of the marina and turn right.

Managed to get a large laundry load washed in the marina machines which are bigger than the normal domestic size; followed this by doing all the hollow-fibre pillows too.

Friday morning was a shopping expedition Margaret and I went to Carrefour via Lidl while the men folk did ‘boat’ things. It is a huge shop even bigger than the Jumbo at Faro. We took a taxi back and were able to get the driver to go right alongside China Blue, I had to carry our stuff down the slip way.

Later we went into town to visit the main museum which is on top of a hill (there is a lift) and see the remains of the Amphitheatre which is primarily buried under the bull ring built in 1854! It is still sunny and warm though there is  fresh breeze blowing from the south. Yesterday we had 27 degrees!

Plan is to sail from here tomorrow straight to the Balearics about 140 miles to Formentera and find an anchorage if possible.

We then hope to move quickly north stopping briefly in Ibiza before getting to Mallorca for around the 24^th May.

We have paid 22 Euros per night here which included water and electric and tax so quite good value. We took the option to have WIFI on the boat by paying an additional 5 Euros for a 24 hour period.

Staff very helpful and friendly.

Jacky and Rob

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