Saturday, March 13, 1965 Enroute to Barranquilla
The ship left Port of Spain, Trinidad last night at 9 PM. and headed west and slightly north too far off the coast of Venezuela to see land. Our destination in Barranquilla, Columbia. This is the only South American country that fronts both on the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. We were on the Pacific side at Buenaventura on Jan 3, 4 &5 and our schedule calls for return. Barranquilla is a modern city of half a million seven miles up the Magdalena River, one of the great waterways of the Western hemisphere. It is the largest port and also the newest by about 200 years.
Sunday, March 14, 1965 Enroute to Barranquilla
This was the day of the flying fish. There was a bright sun and the sea was relatively smooth. As the ship plowed thru the sea and threw out it's wake, it apparently frightened the flying fish which were near the surface and hundreds of them in scholls of 100 or more and also singles appeared. Tom Finnerty won the daily pool on the number of miles the ship covered in the last 24 hours, so he put on a cocktail party at 5 PM.
Monday, March 15, Barranquilla
The ship docked at 9 AM. We arose early and packed a suitcase and hired a taxi to tour the city and then take us to Cartagena, the next stop for our ship, 85 miles southwest by road. It wasn't quite that simple! The driver, he spoke English mas o menos (more or less) agreed to give us the tour and then turn us over to his brother who had a better car, for the trip to Cartegena. The deal had several loose ends, but it was the best we could negotiate. The Finnertys were on this one, too.
We had a very delightful morning with a little shopping thrown in. We were able to buy some black market money at $13.70 pesos to the dollar, $9.99 to $1.00 is the official rate. We had lunch at the Country Club thru the courtesy of our ship's agent. During the morning we drove thru the market place which is most picturesque, with every thing from fruit to flamingos awaiting. Fish is halled direct from dugout canoe to customers on canal side of market. At four we drove to Del Prado Hotel to exchange cars and drivers. After a short delay both appeared. Our new drive also could speak some English. He had played ball with the Miami Hurricanes a few years back. At 4:30 PM we left for Cartegena over the Pam Am Highway. It was narrow, but paved except for about two miles on entering the city. The driver had to clear our trip with the local police before leaving town.
There were a number of check hales but that is par for the course. They are not repaired until Traffic is stopped. We arrived about 7:30 PM. We had intended to go to the Bahia Hotel but the drive stopped in front of a very new and good looking hotel. He went in to check on price and came back with a card -140 pesos with 30% discount about $7.00 for double. It was the Hotel Americano and had been opened only 3 months - of the 10 floors only half were completed. It has the only government licensed gambling Casino in town, but we couldn't go in because Tom and I didn't bring coats with us. We had a wonderful lobster dinner for less than $200 a piece and a view of the Caribbean, the beach and the canal. The Hotel was to secure a Taxi with English speaking driver for tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 16, 1965 Cartegena, Columbia
Cartegena lies on a sandspit of the warm shimmering Atlantic seacoast, the Spanish Main of history. It has a population of 100,000 good beaches and an excellent climate. Sir Frances Drake succesfully sacked the city about 1550. Then 70 million was spent on fortification and outer and inner walls surrounded the city and forts at advantageous points. Parts of the walls are still standing and in good condition. They are 40 feet high and 50 to 75 feet wide. We drove along the top of it. We visited San Felipe fort which was outside the walls and across a lagoon. It has an escape tunnel which descends by ramp about 300 feet, passes under the lagoon and exists in the inner wall into the city: it was never necessary to use the tunnels as an emergency. In 1741 Admiral Vernon led a British fllet of 190 ships and 27,000 men against the city. He was defeated.
Breakfast was finished at 7 AM and we found our driver waiting in the lobby. We toured the residential area where we saw some of the finest homes in SA, then we drove to the ship to check on departure time and to leave the suitcases. Sailing was set for two and we were to be back at one. Then we started out again.
We drove to the top of La Popa, highest observation point for many miles. From here we can see that the largest entrance to Cartegena is deceptive. This Boca Grande allows water to flow, but ships cannot pass as an artificial reef blocks the mile wide channel. The Spaniards, in 1741, installed a masonry wall across the entrance, a magnificent engineering feat! Boca Chica six miles south and behind Tierra Bomba Island is the only entrance for ships.
We then drove over to the Fort of San Felipe. The church and monastery of St. Peter Claver was visited. He was a Jesuit who dedicated his life to helping slaves. he baptized more than 300,000.
When we went out for dinner last night we left the glass door to the canal ajar and the lights on. This morning Millie was covered with insect bites. Some of which raised some big welts. There are no window or door screens in SA. The ship sailed at five o'clock for the Panama Canal. We hope we can go thru in the daytime last year it was at night.
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