2012-2 Aruba, Columbia
Hello
All,
After embarking our Princess cruise ship in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, we cruised for two days before coming to our first port of call—Oranjestad, Aruba. Since we had been to Aruba before, we chose not to book any of the shore excursions offered by Princess. Instead, we decided to walk around town leisurely at our own pace snapping photos here and there. We love places with a Dutch influence as they are normally clean and they paint buildings with numerous colors, making for bright photos! Aruba is also a very safe place to walk around on your own.
After embarking our Princess cruise ship in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, we cruised for two days before coming to our first port of call—Oranjestad, Aruba. Since we had been to Aruba before, we chose not to book any of the shore excursions offered by Princess. Instead, we decided to walk around town leisurely at our own pace snapping photos here and there. We love places with a Dutch influence as they are normally clean and they paint buildings with numerous colors, making for bright photos! Aruba is also a very safe place to walk around on your own.
This
phone booth reminded us of London, England. Once very common, phone booths are
now a rarity.
There
were nice big boardwalks right along the harbor. Although warm and humid the tradewinds
helped to keep us cool.
That’s our ship tied
up in the far background.
This is one of many harborside places where you could get a
bite to eat or a cold drink.
This
boat made for a lovely view from the sidewalk café. We could visualize an
artist using it in a painting.
After
about six hours in port our ship pushed off and started making way for our next
port of call--Cartagena, Columbia. We were out on deck as we departed and
snapped a few more photos of Oranjestad. It is truly a picturesque place.
Mount Jamanota in the background of this photo is the highest point in Aruba, standing at 616 feet above sea level.
Mount Jamanota in the background of this photo is the highest point in Aruba, standing at 616 feet above sea level.
After
sailing through the night we were nearing our next port of call early the next
morning. This was our first trip into Columbia so we were out on deck to take
it all in. There were low clouds and the humidity was so high you could cut it
with a knife!
Wow, were we ever surprised with the size of Cartagena! Not sure what we were expecting, but this wasn’t it.
Wow, were we ever surprised with the size of Cartagena! Not sure what we were expecting, but this wasn’t it.
Upon
reaching the inner harbor one of the first things we noticed was the statue of
the Virgin Carmen, which is Cartagena’s patron saint of navigators.
To
check the city out we booked a Princess riding/walking tour with an official
guide. Our excursion took us to the many different points of interest within
the city.
While riding on the tour bus, Dave noticed that the streets were lined with an amazing number of police officers. He asked our guide about them and he explained that they were preparing for the “Summit of the Americas” that would take place in the city in a couple of weeks. After the summit we learned that this was the time period when the U.S. Secret Service advance party would get into so much trouble with their extracurricular activities.
An area that we particularly enjoyed was walking the narrow streets of the inner walled section of the old colonial city. It reminded us of New Orleans. But, in our eyes it was far superior in architecture and vivid colors. Many different colors of bougainvillea hung from the balconies. It was quite lovely.
While riding on the tour bus, Dave noticed that the streets were lined with an amazing number of police officers. He asked our guide about them and he explained that they were preparing for the “Summit of the Americas” that would take place in the city in a couple of weeks. After the summit we learned that this was the time period when the U.S. Secret Service advance party would get into so much trouble with their extracurricular activities.
An area that we particularly enjoyed was walking the narrow streets of the inner walled section of the old colonial city. It reminded us of New Orleans. But, in our eyes it was far superior in architecture and vivid colors. Many different colors of bougainvillea hung from the balconies. It was quite lovely.
Folks
were enjoying the day and snapping lots of photos. The low overcast sky had
burned off and the temperature and humidity were both climbing.
On
the right are a couple of policemen and that tiny yellow car is a taxi.
Once
a place where slaves arriving by ship from Africa were auctioned off, this
plaza is now home to Botero’s Gordita Pacos (the little fat lady) statue. In
the photo, our guide was explaining the statue and how it will bring you luck
if you rub her posterior.
Note
the bronze balls placed in the roadway to turn traffic in the following photo.
It was a concept that we hadn’t experienced before.
Ladies
dressed in brightly colored outfits were scattered throughout the city. You
could get your picture taken with them for a small fee.
Saint
Peter Claver landed at Cartagena in 1610, where for forty-four years he was the
Apostle of the Negro slaves. Early in the seventeenth century the masters of
Central and South America afforded the spectacle of one of those social crimes
which are entered upon so lightly. They needed laborers to cultivate the soil
which they had conquered and to exploit the gold mines. The natives being
physically incapable of enduring the labors of the mines, it was determined to
replace them with Negroes brought from Africa. The coasts of Guinea, the Congo,
and Angola became the market for slave dealers, to whom native petty kings sold
their subjects and their prisoners. By its position in the Caribbean Sea,
Cartagena became the chief slave-mart of the New World. A thousand slaves
landed here each month.
As soon as a slave ship entered port Father Claver would head for the wharf. Boarding the ship, he entered the filthy and diseased holds to treat and minister to their badly treated, terrified human cargo, who had survived a voyage of several months under horrible conditions. It was difficult to move around on the ships, because the slave traffickers filled them to capacity. The slaves were often told they were being taken to a land where they would be eaten. Claver wore a cloak, which he would lend to anyone in need. A legend arose that whoever wore the cloak received lifetime health and was cured of all disease. After the slaves were herded from the ship and penned in nearby yards to be scrutinized by crowds of buyers, Claver joined them with medicine, food, bread, brandy, lemons and tobacco. With the help of interpreters and pictures which he carried with him, he gave basic instructions.
Claver had conflicts with some of his Jesuit brothers, who accepted slavery. He saw the slaves as fellow Christians, encouraging others to do so as well. During his 40 years of ministry he catechized and baptized an estimated 300,000 slaves, following up on them to ensure that as Christians they received their Christian and civil rights. His mission extended beyond caring for slaves, however. He preached in the city square, to sailors and traders and conducted country missions, returning every spring to visit those he had baptized, ensuring that they were treated humanely. During these missions, whenever possible he avoided the hospitality of planters and overseers; instead, he would lodge in the slave quarters.
This is a bronze statue of Saint Peter Claver.
As soon as a slave ship entered port Father Claver would head for the wharf. Boarding the ship, he entered the filthy and diseased holds to treat and minister to their badly treated, terrified human cargo, who had survived a voyage of several months under horrible conditions. It was difficult to move around on the ships, because the slave traffickers filled them to capacity. The slaves were often told they were being taken to a land where they would be eaten. Claver wore a cloak, which he would lend to anyone in need. A legend arose that whoever wore the cloak received lifetime health and was cured of all disease. After the slaves were herded from the ship and penned in nearby yards to be scrutinized by crowds of buyers, Claver joined them with medicine, food, bread, brandy, lemons and tobacco. With the help of interpreters and pictures which he carried with him, he gave basic instructions.
Claver had conflicts with some of his Jesuit brothers, who accepted slavery. He saw the slaves as fellow Christians, encouraging others to do so as well. During his 40 years of ministry he catechized and baptized an estimated 300,000 slaves, following up on them to ensure that as Christians they received their Christian and civil rights. His mission extended beyond caring for slaves, however. He preached in the city square, to sailors and traders and conducted country missions, returning every spring to visit those he had baptized, ensuring that they were treated humanely. During these missions, whenever possible he avoided the hospitality of planters and overseers; instead, he would lodge in the slave quarters.
This is a bronze statue of Saint Peter Claver.
This
photo of Dave with a couple of Macaws on his shoulders is to demonstrate the
toll the heat and humidity took on us. By the time we got back to the ship we
felt like a couple of water soaked rag dolls!
We
thoroughly enjoyed our time in Cartagena. It was educational and quite lovely,
although we don’t think we will be relocating there anytime soon. Our next port
of call on this cruise will be Panama.
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns