Tomorrow morning we leave for the small town of Palenque, where the real work begins. For now, I have time for one last post as I get ready to get nostalgic for Cartagena. There's plenty more to write about: this unique hostel we're staying in, the city's incredible, varied architecture, probably something about the history, some of the amazing people we've met, the night we spent on the beach at La Playa Blanca, and even the transportation there and back. But, none of that has the visual or visceral appeal of one of my favorite subjects. The time has come for a bunch of photos of food...
These all came from a plaza just 30 seconds from our hostel.
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| 5,000 peso burger; would be considered gourmet by American standards |
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| Various meats on a stick; grilled on-demand |
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| Colombia's answer to Chipotle |
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| Another angle |
A typical Colombian meal (prepared, with love, by a Spanish ex-pat):
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| Sopa con pollo |
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| Arroz, carne con queso, y ensalada |
These delicacies are from La Playa Blanca.
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| Local fried fish and some typical Colombian sides; on the right are fried plantains |
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| Salchipapas = french fries + sausage + cheese |
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| Surprisingly delicious pasta with tomato sauce; it helps when the chef studied cooking in Italy for 10 years |
We've dined on some other Cartagena essentials like arepas, mysterious, tropical fruits, agua de panela, and paletas, but there's always more to try. Colombian food -- particularly the street food -- is easy to like and easy to pay for. Meanwhile, there's been no shortage of beverages to enjoy, some unique to the region. Don't worry, parents, we drink responsibly.
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| My favorite domestic cerveza |
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| Another national beer |
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| Yet another local beer |
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| The national rum; in Spanish, ron |
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| Coco Loco |
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| Fresh fruit smoothies: mango, mona, lulo |
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| Gotta stay hydrated in this heat: water sold in bags |
Boy Manny you sure can pack in those pies (not feet, i mean pies)
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