Leaving Paradise

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It was quite cloudy and blustery this morning. There were 16 of us going back to Cartagena. We said our good-byes to Martin and Dairo. Going to miss those guys. Thanks to Paula from Impulse Agency we did eventually get 30% back from the other reservation. At least it was better than nothing, and we really enjoyed ourselves, which, in the end, is all that matters.

It was a very choppy two hour ride. Somewhere just before the mid-point, a gal up front asked to stop the boat. I assumed she was sick. Geoff had another opinion -- bano! The captain stopped the boat, the people at the back reshuffled their seats to clear the back, and we all sat in the middle of the ocean waiting for this poor girl to take a pee (or whatever) out the back of the boat. You have to believe she was in dire need. It was all a bit bizarre, but I was pleased to see that the captain handled the whole affair quite nicely. As soon as she was settled back in the boat, we were off again over the crashing waves.

Got into port around 11:30 and our driver was there to greet us. It was a short ride to the hotel. Our room wasn't ready for another hour so we dropped our bags and headed out. There are two bike shops down on Boca Grande that I wanted to check out for bike shirts. I supposed I could've called, but we felt it would be nice to take a walk. No luck at either shop. The only Colombian shirt they had was extremely small. Walked back on the beach street and checked out what kind of action we were missing. Not much. Not impressed with the beach here at all. 

The sun decided to come out and it got really hot. Right next door to the Hyatt Hotel is a 4 story mall. We popped in for some a/c -- also used the banos, which were extremely clean. This mall would rival any in Miami. We went up one level walked the length of if through the air conditioning and out the other end. That was as much mall as we could handle. Stopped to have a bite to eat before going back to the hotel. 

Even though it was hot, it sure felt good to be walking again. Plus we are at sea level and everything is flat -- except our room! Finally got checked into our "suite". Well I was a bit overwhelmed.  The bed is up in a loft and there is a very precarious stairway -- nighttime bathroom runs are going to have to be at a minimum. I can't even explain the shower! Of course, I tried to change rooms but not much was available -- we can downgrade to the only lesser room they had open, but no refund from our superior room. We looked at the room and it was tiny - not paying big bucks for that.


There is a nice pool area up on the roof which we tried out this afternoon. The hotel gives one person a free 15 minute massage. Sure enough the massage therapist comes by -- Geoff was the winner since I just had a massage last night. He got the kinks worked out of his legs. Back down in the room, we are still trying to figure this place out.

OK - this room is definitely a death trap -- maybe the whole hotel, we're not sure yet. We were getting ready for dinner and almost didn't make it. Starting with the shower, which is so slippery and there's a step up and then a step down and the hot water -- well not so much -- tepid at best. First I scratch my shoulder on the lovely rocks that surround the shower which sits in the middle of the bottom floor, and then Geoff comes downstairs bleeding from his head from an

encounter with the random driftwood that makes up the bed headboard -- the designer of this place must be a real masochist. Downstairs we go, with Geoff still bleeding from his forehead. Carlos at the front desk is totally freaked out - I'm giving him a piece of my mind of what I think of their "superior suite". Finally the massage therapist/nurse comes along with a bandaid, patched up the forehead. Carlos takes a picture of Geoff's head to show the manager and we were on our way to dinner.

We went to a restaurant that was recommended the last time we were in Cartagena but we never went. It was recommended again today by the reception guy. Not too far to walk. The plaza down the block was jumping. Lots of street food, music, kids playing, all while church is in session - crazy.  Got to the restaurant -- was no big deal compared to the food we have been eating during this trip.  We are batting 1,000 today! I knew we should have never left Paradise.

We got back to the hotel and Carlos is all over us. He talked with the manager and they will give us a free dinner plus tomorrow they will look into getting us another room and refund the difference in room cost. We'll see what happens. Meanwhile, we are both walking around this place very gingerly.  Wish us luck!

Next time... City bike tour