Early morning dip in the San Lazaro rooftop pool, and a fabulous breakfast - and things just got better and better - from the rooftop terrace we saw a Shopping Mall - the Mall Plaza El Castillo! With a branch of Jumbo - a Chilean owned Supermarket much like Sainsburys. Full of Festive Cheer!
We'd booked a beachside Apartment at El Laguito in the modern high rise development next to Cartagena's Old Town. 11th Floor pad with Ocean and Lagoon views to enjoy Christmas and to organise shipping for our 4x4 Pablo to get him to Panama.
Another Supermarket Sweep as we collected all the Festive Season essentials for our nine day stay!
- Christmas Tree - Twinkly Lights
- Baubles - Wrapping Paper
- Champagne - Chocolates
- Beer - Wine
- Mince Pies - Brussel Sprouts
- Yummy Food - More Festive Cheer
And each nipped out to browse the Mall's many stores to buy a Christmas Present for the other!
Amanda came back with wonderful news!! She'd found a Hair Salon (Monica Cruz) and booked an Appointment for Saturday morning!!!
Loaded our booty into Pablo and headed off to El Laguito. Lovely Apartment - very modern - well equipped - and great views (plus fully air conditioned - Cartagena running with daily highs >35 degrees and >95% humidity!) Apartment Block also has a Private Pool on the 3rd Floor!
Take a stroll later and discover The Hilton Hotel only 2 minutes walk away. Hey - wonder if they have any special events for Christmas? Let's enquire within! Only a Christmas Eve Dinner Dance $35 a head - AND - Christmas Lunch with all the trimmings $20 a head! We booked both there and then!!
"How lovely" says Amanda "after my hair do tomorrow I'll buy a new dress and some shoes!"
Fair enough - I'll be sorting out round one of the Car Shipping bureaucracy with our Container Sharing buddies Santiago and Bellen! You have a fantastic day!!
Amanda came back with fantastic hair and a fantastic number of shopping bags - and we had a fantastic tea party with our new best friends!
The Hilton Hotel's Christmas Eve Dinner Dance was fantastic too - there were >300 guests at the party - in the Hotel's Ballroom - Cartagena's movers and shakers! At least that's how they looked when the Salsa Band fired up and everyone took to the floor (including us!) Most guests (including me) opted for the traditional Roast Turkey with all the trimmings. Amanda went for the Roast Grouper Fish! (see photos).
Next morning Father Christmas had visited and we each had presents under the tree! David - a Colombian Sombrero Vueltiao + a Rainforest Design Shirt. Amanda - New Shoes + Clarins Cosmetics. Thanks Santa!
We popped the cork of a chilled Argentine Chandon Extra Brut and headed to The Hilton for Christmas Lunch. Delicious! And afterwards a dip in their Pool plus a swim in the Caribbean Sea on The Hilton's Private Beach - watched over by Armed Guards!! That's Colombia for you - edgy!
Santiago and Bellen came round later for Drinks and Christmas Nibbles - not sure they have ever had brown bread topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, freshly cracked black pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice before? Santiago said it was the best thing he had ever eaten! Perhaps he was just being polite!! They left at 1:00am to head back to their car parked in the bushes round the back of The Hilton Hotel where they are 'Wild Camping'. We turned the Air-Con down a notch and climbed into our comfy double bed in the insect free 11th Floor Apartment - feeling a little bit guilty!!
