Bazurto

Cartagena is a city of three rather elongated-shaped areas that might appear to be two closely-spaced islands and a section on the mainland.   The old colonial walled city and fortress, The Walled City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located on a peninsula on the island of Getsemaní. The city sprawls over the island of Manga and on the mainland as well. Each section has a unique personality.

Seeking a better look at each area, we boarded one of the local VeHi buses, Ruta 47, and rode to the end of the line.  Its route took us to El Castillo San Felipe on Getsemani yesterday but today we remained on the bus to the end of the line which took us to the far end of the far south section of Cartagena.  This we discovered is where many of the working people live, shop, raise families, and make their livings.  The streets were narrow and busy.  People were everywhere.  Houses and shops were small and in need of TLC.  We passed schools, universities, and a tremendous cemetery where flowers lay on every grave.  The bus stopped often. The ride was about 3 hours total.  We never got off the bus.  Correction:  Our bus turned down a dirt road in the middle of town.  We noticed we were the only passengers still on the bus.  Uh-oh!  The driver turned around and told us it was the end of the line.  This bus was going to the bus yard.  He told us, just get off the bus and wait for the next one coming out.  Almost as soon as he pulled into the yard, another bus came out and took us back to our apartment with probably 20 stops on the way.  Today we saw some Cartagena authentica!

We may return later if we have time so we can see the Jardin de Botanico but otherwise, the streets, especially those in the Mercado Bazurto area, are too busy, too crowded, too loud, and a little sun-nerving.  Blogs I’ve read advised tourists not to visit the market area alone or without a guide.  Not that a tourist might be abducted or killed but the likelihood for robbery or pickpockets is great.  When we were in Panama City I thought Avenida Central was a little worrisome, but this market is no place for obvious tourists to be.

I don’t have many photos.  A fellow passenger advised me to avoid holding my phone near the window of the bus – it might get snatched!