Cartegena, Day 1

I have arrived in Cartagena safely and soundly, albeit with no sleep in me. I travelled all day yesterday and all last night and arrived at 8.30 this morning. Yes, I have been travelling at night as I said I wouldn`t, but only because it is safe to do so. Colombia is really not as bad as people still think it is: it is under much more control than it was 4 years ago, the guerrillas have been forced into the rural areas and out of cities and towns, and I haven`t heard of any problems with overland travellers.

It`s HOT here, man. As I was watching the landscape roll by in the morning light, I thought to myself: It`s a bit like the African savannah here on the Caribbean coast, with flat grasslands and strange sprawling trees scattered about. I feel like I`m in a different country the scenery has changed so much. It reminds me of the change in landscape travelling from La Paz to Santa Cruz in Bolivia, entering the tropics.

I haven`t explored the city yet and I was tired from the sleepless bus ride. I napped in my wonderful little cheap Hotel Doral - though my room is dark, the rest of the building is bright and has a courtyard full of plants and hammocks, read in a hammock for a while, and only now after 1pm am I wandering out.

And so, this was just to let you know all is well.

Happy birthday Mum and Patricia!!!!!!!!!!