Mike writes: We said farewell to Lois & Alexandra after breakfast on their balcony and headed for the airport, Colombia bound.
That’s the Central America phase over and amazingly we’re all still talking although it may be significant that Chris decided to check into a different hotel in Cartagena which is far too grand for us. We reviewed progress so far on the plane over a beer. We concluded that we’ve loved almost everywhere we’ve been.
It’s a great part of the world made even better with the benefit of local knowledge (and hospitality) in both Guatemala and Panama. 3,500 kms driven is a lot less than we’d originally planned but a good warm up to the real thing which starts in a week’s time.
After so many surprisingly efficient airports, it was back to normal in Cartagena with long queues for passport control. So long in fact that airport staff became concerned that the senior citizens amongst the arriving passengers might not be able to survive the wait. Chris was duly offered preferential treatment on the grounds of his advanced age and sent to a separate queue where he sped through immigration.
John and I tried to argue that as his carers we should be fast tracked too, but to no avail. An hour later we were temporarily reunited and shared a taxi into Cartagena
where Chris checked into the most expensive hotel in town which is a former convent.
And we didn’t, opting instead for a modest inn two minutes walk away in the middle of the spectacular old town.
Missing us already Chris risked leaving the security of his luxury hotel to join us for a few beers. To make him feel more at home we selected a Russian themed bar where he insisted on communicating with the bar staff entirely in Russian. They understood that better than my Spanish anyway.
We had originally planned a relaxing break here in Cartagena while waiting for our car(s) to be shipped from Panama. We don’t have the excuse of waiting for anything but we’ll enjoy the break anyway. Chris’s wife, Maria, arrives tomorrow so the newly tonsured and freshly scrubbed Mr Lacey will be on his best behaviour. As will we. Of course.
Our America’s Challenge Drive 