CARTAGENA
Gillyb
Mon 20 Jul 2009 17:01
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Hello Family & Friends,
The last diary was written in haste and not really
the finished article because the battery decided to run low and
bleep.
The pictures were already loaded so we just pressed
send and hoped for the best. One of the pictures shows the bay of
horrors before it became such. (Its the one with the glasses of wine in
the foreground.) We had a swim and a glass of wine then discussed moving
in case the wind was not favourable at midnight. Sadly we were
both tired and reluctant to move. Graham is cross he did not move
but thats hind sight too.
We spent an awful night in the cockpit and then got
swamped etc, and the boat looked like a jumble sale down below but when we had
moved the next morning (not easy as the swell was still high) we re
anchored in a place
called Aguilas. The sun
shone and we washed everything, hung it about the boat like a chinese laundry
and then feeling exhausted we went to bed in the rear cabin. (Our own mattresses
in the cockpit drying out.) Later we had a swim and a meal and put all the
dry stuff back as good as new. It was slightly surreal then sitting looking
across the bay and watching a giant Bart Simpson staring back at
us! Really! Some sort of fun fair for the
youngsters.
On Sunday we woke up to another fine sunny morning
and swam before breakfast then set off to Cartagena. It was my birthday so
I had cards to open - including e-cards, and texts etc. thank you so
much, specially to Lynette as she left a present and a card on the boat and
I was able to open them on the day - which as anyone who knows her knows - is
amazing!!
We met up with the young dutch couple in CANA
that we have been bumping into since Lagos. We last saw them anchored in a
bay before the horrors and we invited them over for coffee, which meant Graham
taking the shoe (tender) over to collect them. They are also heading to
the Balearics. They sailed in company with us to Cartegena and we took
photos of them and they took loads of photos of us including a short
video! The wind got up a bit but we had a really good sail as it was
not behind us for a change.
Cartagena is in a really big natural harbour.
When we arrived at the entrance to the outer part surrounded by mountains we
still had six miles to go to the marina! It's a really old city with
complicted history starting with the Carthaginians and then the Romans and then
Barbarians, Moors and not to mention the French & British - apparently Drake
stole their guns in 1585. Anyway they don't seem to bear a grudge as
we were welcomed by a friendly young lady harbour person who waved at us and
said 'stay back'!! she spoke only a little english. (Drake didn't
hang around) She then leapt off her bike and ran down a pontoon and
beckoned us onto the space (we come in backwards and pick up lazy
lines). She was very helpful and said we could use the swimming pool
between 12 noon and 8 pm. (which we have). The marina is right
opposite the town?city and we can see the tourists walking along the 'front' and
hear the lovely bells.
We completed my birthday by going for a drink on
CANA and then walking to a restaurant which is in one of the narrow streets rich
with architecture. (See picture) Graham was happy because he had an
enormous but thinly sliced steak!
Today (20th) we have done some more exploring of
the place and some shopping and some swimming and we are also recovering a
bit as we still feel very tired. We both agree that if we were five
years older we just could not do this! (Actually make that five days
older!).. Not without help anyway. Tomorrow we are off
again.... east to ? not sure yet.. We are having to watch the weather -
Wednesday its not so good apparently.
Well folks that's up to date now. We will do
some more when we get a bit further along. Hope you are all well and
having a good summer. Love from Gilly
B
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