Blog: The Soul of a Journey

What a treat for a traveler to sink into a movie theater seat, with a tub of buttery popcorn and a giant soda, for two hours of air conditioning and Hollywood blockbuster fun!

One of the first things Craig and I did when he arrived in Cartagena was go to the circus.  I had spotted a large circus tent across from the mall here in Cartagena on one of my walks. The sign said “Las Vegas Circus Circus,” and I heard “You can leave your hat on”  pouring boisterously out of the tent when I walked by, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Tonight, Helen’s band played at a wedding at the convention center, and I got to go along as the band’s photographer. A real Colombian wedding!

The single biggest item in the ‘cons’ column when I was deciding whether to travel alone was loneliness. I couldn’t imagine the isolation of working alone, eating alone, going to museums alone, hiking alone, never even having lunch with a friend to look forward to, possibly for years!

I’ve been in Cartagena now for just over two weeks, and my days are beginning to have a shape, a routine.

The one element I haven’t been able to place yet is my shower. My shower has one knob. You can turn it on or off. You cannot adjust the temperature. Luckily, the temperature is what I’d call ‘refreshing.’ Bracingly cool against my hot skin, but not icy or cruel.

Rainshowers delayed my afternoon walk until evening.

So I fried up the last of the frozen empanadas and went out with a full tummy. One street led to another, until I found myself at the old city wall, but much further south than where I usually connect with it. So romantic at sunset!

I woke up in a very dark mood today. Almost too depressed to drag myself out of bed.

I think everyone has mood swings. We blame them on hormones, or the movements of the planets, or we blame our loved ones for whatever offenses we can pin on them — but the truth is, sometimes our moods are as random as they are intense.  

Doing as others told me, I was blind.
Coming when others called me, I was lost.
then I left everyone, myself as well.
then I found everyone, myself as well.
~Rumi

    Being alone for days on end is quite an experience. I have small talk with the vendors on my street, quick interactions on Facebook, and one or two Skype calls a day to distract me — but really, I’m alone. I don’t have a friend or loved one on this entire continent. Everyone who cares about me is thousands of miles away.  

Today I went out for a little exercise & exploration, and brought my camera along so I could share with you. Here’s what I saw!

Summertiiiiime… And the livin’ is easy…

After a good night’s sleep in the hotel, I was able to get a cab back to the plaza for just $3. I was right — negotiating the cab fare BEFORE you get in an unmetered cab is essential, worldwide. (update: I later got comfortable with just handing the driver a 10,000 peso note and waiting for my change. That’s what they’re used to and I rarely got overcharged that way).