Cartagena

The sun gives me a warm hug every morning, and the blue sea tickles my toes. My houses are painted in happy colors, like sunny yellow, ocean blue, and flower pink. I have a big, strong stone wall that wraps all the way around me, like a long hug. It’s perfect for playing peek-a-boo with the ships that sail on the water. Hello. I am a very special city by the sea. I am Cartagena.

A long, long time ago, on June 1st, 1533, a friendly explorer named Pedro de Heredia came to see me. Soon, big boats would visit, carrying shiny, sparkly treasures. But oh-oh. Sometimes, pirates in their own boats would try to take the treasures away. So, the people who loved me built my strong stone walls to keep everyone safe. To be extra safe, they also built a huge castle for me, called Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. They started building it in the year 1536 to be my special lookout tower to watch over the sea.

Today, my strong walls are not for watching for pirates. They are a happy place where families come to walk and fly kites high in the sky. Children laugh as they watch the sun say goodnight to the sea. My colorful streets are filled with happy music and dancing feet. You can see friendly ladies called Palenqueras wearing beautiful, bright dresses. They carry bowls of sweet, juicy fruit on their heads for everyone to enjoy. I love sharing my sunshine, my stories, and my happy heart with everyone who comes to visit me.