Tuesday, 6th August. At Hotel Jardin del Duque in Santa Marta.

Journey from Cartagena

On our way at 9am, Dennis was able to flag down a taxi to take us to the bus station quite quickly. Buying tickets was also easy. We had to show our passports and our names and passport? details were recorded on the tickets. Rather than getting the regular bus, we caught a shuttle bus. Slightly more expensive, but quicker and more comfortable. They are Mercedes Sprinters. About 15 seats, with wifi and with good air con. A long, 4 and a half our ride but not too arduous.

En Route

We stopped a number of times on the way, when an official got in the bus with a clip board. The driver passed over a sheet of paper, they counted the passengers, signed the paper, returned it to the driver and we were on our way again. 

We stopped in Barranquilla to collect more passengers and for a comfort stop. Here the official who got on board before we left, took all our photographs. Not sure why. There seems to be lot of officialdom.

Barranquilla

Barranquilla is a largish city of 2.3 million inhabitants. It’s also the country’s 3rd largest port. Like Bogota and Cartagena, the centre is a mass of large apartment blocks, with poorer, slum like housing on the outskirts. 

Once beyond Barranquilla progress slowed down as traffic was heavy with numerous trucks and buses. What was surprising was the number of toll booths and the amount to be paid. Something I had not factored in when thinking about costs. If we had driven this route it would have cost us more than GBP10 or NZD20.

At first the scenery was unexciting with scrubby vegetation and some small attempts at agriculture. Although not far from the sea, it wasn’t visible. Beyond Baranquilla we were close to the coast and the closer were came to Santa Marta, it became more mountainous.

Santa Marta

Santa Marta is very much a holiday city, full of hotels. The population is just over half a million.

It is very lively with loud music emanating from cafes and bars everywhere.

Hotel Jardin del Duque

The hotel is an older property with some interesting features. I think we have the smallest room. It is internal, so no window. I don’t particularly like this, but being inside such thick walls keeps it cooler, so this is an advantage. We do have air con and a fan as well, though. There is an attractive roof terrace with a bar, outside seating area and a small pool.

After we had made ourselves comfortable, we went up to the roof terrace for a beer and a view over the bay. We are one street back from being ocean front, but very close by.  After our beer, we thought a walk was in order having spent so long sitting on a bus.

We joined the crowds promenading along the sea front. It’s a smallish bay with a bit of everything. Some offshore islands, fishing boats at one end sunbathers and swimmers in the middle and a port at the other side of the bay.  

Dennis was wearing his cut off, holey, frayed jeans shorts. I had been teasing him about being seen with a hippie 80 year old, but he wasn’t at all out of place. There were so many cut off, holey shorts and jeans being worn by all age groups. We walked as far as we could to the port before retracing our route, but this time on the other side of the road, which is lined with cafes and bars.

Trendy…mmm…Yeah…Nah!…:)

Once back in the vicinity of our hotel we were feeling hungry, not having eaten since breakfast. It was early to eat here, not quite 6pm, but we found a nice pizza restaurant. Not remotely Colombian or exciting, but we fancied something plain due to our recent stomach upsets. 

Tomorrow we will be a bit more adventurous and investigate more of the city.

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