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Continued from page 31 stretched my neck to see a woman weeping from fear of flying. The flight attendant and another passenger tried to console her, but | knew it would be a long five hours. Once | was on the ground and in a taxi | relaxed as the 30+ temperatures eased my tension. | checked into the Hilton, right on the beach and was pleased with the accommodations and facilities. The ocean was azure blue and quite warm and the whole ordeal of the flight was now behind me. The city of Cartagena, with its population of just under 1 million, is very tourist friendly. The main square, with the statue of Simon Bolivar, is a hangout for tourists and locals alike. Men can be seen playing chess or enjoying a morning coffee and tourists with guidebooks in hand are planning the day’s adventures. In 1984, the walled city of Cartagena was granted UNESCO heritage site status, ensuring it would be main- tained in its original style and continue to be a draw for tourists. The Clock Gate is the main entrance into the old city and opens directly onto the town square. After walking for several hours, enjoying the great local food, | decided to book an excursion to the Rosario Islands, a private group of tiny islands which are located about an hour and a half away from the mainland by boat. It is an amazing place to snorkel, swim or just soak up the sun. Lots of sunscreen is a must and a hat is a necessity. The average temperature in Cartagena and surrounding areas is in the low 30’s all year round, so you can imagine how hot the sun must be. | would recommend the excur- sion, however, | would advise you check out the weather conditions before you go... something | did not do. The ride out was great. The boat was fast, cutting across the Caribbean and the day on the secluded islands was very relaxing. The crew ensured that every detail was looked after. We were scheduled to leave around five in the after- noon, however, at four we were told we would be leaving sooner, as there was a storm approaching. | looked out 82 FOCUS - JANUARY 2013 O1.JANUARY. FINAL REVISED.indd 32 over the water and saw dark clouds in the distance. Surely these type of weather patterns were normal for the area, but the captain and his two crew members began rounding up passengers. It was not very long before | was back on the boat. The captain announced we would be taking an in- land route, as the open water would be too rough for our return journey. The boat began to make its way across the open water in a different direction from where we came. After 20 minutes we navigated into a river, which narrowed and we slowed our speed. The views along the banks were spectacular. Small villages with huts made from palm trees and children stopping to watch the uncommon sight of a boat, were everywhere along the route. | was having a field day with my camera when suddenly | felt a strange vibration followed by a loud noise. We had run aground. The captain and crew were shouting; no doubt trying to find blame. The passen- gers on deck, had worried looks. The two crew mem- bers jumped out of the boat into the water and began to push the boat back into the center of the river (which had become more of a stream). They had difficulty and the cap- tain asked for volunteers. | looked around at the dozen or so people and several younger men jumped in the water to help the crew. I thought | could be more effective in the boat capturing the event with my camera, and decided to stay put. Eventually, the boat moved and we were able to continue our journey. Instead of ar- riving at the hotel by six it was closer to nine and everyone was tired. | decided to skip dinner and head for my room for a well- deserved night of sleep. The rest of my stay in Cartagena was uneventful, which is exactly what | wanted. If you are looking for a destination away from the standard Caribbean resorts, visit the city of Cartagena, rich in history, sunshine and wonderful cuisine. 121247 8:42AM