Colombia: Cartagena, Tuesday

Our second day in Cartagena was focused on seeing the entire old town. We chose one museum to visit, the Palacio de Inquisicion. It was worth seeing for the architecture and exhibit on torture devices from the Inquisition. However the greatest weapons of torture that remain are the mosquitos. We tried to go souvenir shopping after the museum but were overwhelmed with tourist buses and well, not so great artisan work. Good thing we already bought our standard souvenir magnet the night before.

After taking a break in our AC hotel room to watch a Manchester United soccer game, we ventured out again to walk the length of the wall along the sea. We finally ended the evening with a nice dinner and horse and carriage ride. A good two days, but it was time to explore more of Colombia. 

One of the many flowered balconies that lines the main Plaza Bolivar.

Palacio de Inquisicion - now the site of a museum that houses much of the Punishment Tribunal instruments and exhibits on Cartagena's history.

This instrument was used as part of the trial process in which the accused were questioned and examined. While I am no legal expert, I thought the first question was a little leading: "Since when have you been a witch?" The scale pictured was used to weigh the witches. If you weighed less, the more witch you were - which obviously makes sense because how else would you fly?

The museum was full of nasty torture instruments such as this one...a head crusher. By this point in the museum, I was so focused on the numerous mosquitos torturing my legs, that I could hardly focus. Why this museum was the only place in all of Cartagena that we encountered mosquitos, I have no idea.

The colonial architecture of the museum may have been more worthwhile than the museum.

Colonial architecture in El Centro, Cartagena.

View through the old city wall out towards the Caribbean. These windows were also a popular high school make out spot.

The sky finally cleared to a beautiful blue from its hazy heat on our second afternoon.

Cathedral in the background.

Old city wall.

Enjoying our Cartagena paseo.

Botero sculpture. We posted some of his artwork after visiting his museum in Bogota.

Another classic horse and carriage view of Cartagena.

Yes, we splurged for the tourist ride...only after a bit of negotiation.

Plaza Bolivar at night.

This is the window at the Palacio de Inquisicion where residents could report to the authorities witch-like activity by fellow citizens - the "compliant" window. Drew told me I was the only person that would smile while likely condemning a Cartagena resident to torture and death...aka I am a bad actress.