Cartagena de Indias is
a large Caribbean beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in
the Caribbean Coast Region and capital of Bolívar Department.
Cartagena is a centre of
economic activity in the Caribbean, as well a popular tourist destination.
Activity and development
of the Cartagena region is dated back to 4000 B.C. around Cartagena Bay
by varying cultures of indigenous peoples. The Spanish colonial city was
founded on June 1, 1533 and named after Cartagena, Spain. Cartagena served
a key role in the development of the region during the Spanish eras; it
was a center of political and economic activity due to the presence of
royalty and wealthy viceroys. In 1984, Cartagena's colonial walled city
and fortress were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
If you're not sure what to
expect when planning a trip to Colombia, you've already got a wide selection
of handy references in popular culture to give you an impression of the
place before leaving. One place that pops up time after time is Cartegena,
the colonial port town that sits on the Carribean coast. If you'd like
to get excited about a Colombia vacation, try any of the following four
options.
Love In The Time Of Cholera
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez' Novel
Colombia's most famous literary
export, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, spent most of his early years in Cartegena.
Even though the city is not explicitly mentioned (dubbed a "Caribbean port
town") it doesn't take a genius to see that Marquez is writing about Cartegena
in Love In The Time Of Cholera, one of his most famous books that became
a film adaptation in 2007. Weaving a complex narrative that twists and
turns amongst the city's "steamy and sleepy streets", Marquez will have
you ready to book your ticket, even if the novel is set between the late-nineteenth
and early-twentieth centuries.
The Mission - The Award Winning
Robert De Niro Movie
Set in the 1750's, The Mission
chronicles the experiences of a Jesuit missionary in the jungles of South
America. Showered with awards, The Mission won the Palme d'Or and the Academy
Award for Best Cinematography. Filming took place in Cartegena and Brazil,
so for an introduction to the city via an award winning film you should
check this one out.
Smuggler's Blues - Miami
Vice's Popular Episode
It's only so long before the
drug references creep into any mention of Colombia, but what better way
to introduce them than through one of Miami Vice's most popular episodes.
The classic Eighties cop show goes on the road as Crockett and Tubbs are
recruited by the DEA to track down a local law-enforcer who is murdering
drug dealers and their families in cold blood. The episode takes its name
from a song by musician Glenn Fray, who appears in the episode as a laid-back
aircraft pilot, Jimmy Cole. If you can look up from your well-bitten nails,
you'll see that most of the filming takes place in Cartagena, Colombia.
The Red Herring - Romancing
The Stone
A popular offering from the
mid-Eighties, you've probably seen Robert Zemikis' Romancing The Stone
at one point or another. Kathleen Turner's big screen break and Michael
Douglas' re-introduction to the movie-going public, the film enjoyed box
office success. For those without a viewing, the film follows romantic
novelist Jean Wilder who is drawn down to Colombia when her sister is held
to ransom in...yup, you've guessed it...Cartegena, Colombia.
However, before you dig out
the VCR player and that old dusty tape, you should know that the majority
of filming took place in Veracruz, Mexico. You're about as likely to see
a Colombian vista as you are an appearance by Indiana Jones. Stacking up
the reasons not to see this movie, Douglas pronounces the name of the town
Cartegeña ("Cartehenya"), as opposed to the correct "Cartehena",
a source of much annoyance amongst locals.
You may not be visiting 18th
century Colombia or flying down with the boys from Miami Vice, but you
can certainly afford to associate yourself with a little excitement and
romance that will definitely be a part of your Colombia vacation if you
decide to visit Cartagena.
About the Author: Gary Sargent
is the Managing Director of the tour companies Escaped to Peru and Escaped
to Latin America and has lived in South America for over 10 years. Gary
is passionate about Latino life, people, customs and places. To learn more
or to book your next adventure please visit www.escapedtolatinamerica.com
