World Cruise 2017 Day 3 Santa Marta, Colombia

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Today the ship arrived at Santa Marta, Colombia at 10 AM.  As the ship approached the port, I took some pictures.  At 10: 30 PM I left on a tour called "Santa Marta Highlights".  The tour guide spoke very good English.  We left the bus and walked several blocks to the Cathedral.  We walked into the Cathedral and the tour guide talked about the Cathedral.  We left the Cathedral and walked to the "Gold Museum".  The Gold Museum has an exhibit of customs of the pre-Colombian community as well as a small but priceless collection of Tayrona gold and pottery Pieces.  We next got on the bus and drove to the outside of the city at Sanpedro de Alejandrino Villa.  Built in the 17^th century, this iconic estate is now a National Monument with the interior of the house completely restored.  The tour ended with a visit to El Rodadro, a strip hotel and apartment build around Gaira Bay and its fantastic beaches.  Here we enjoyed a folkloric show and a free drink.   We returned to the ship via a tour of the town and arrived back at 3 PM.  The tour was scheduled to last 2 ¼ hours but it lasted 4 ½ hours.  I went to dinner at 5:30 PM.  I did not go to any show but I watched the end of the Oakland Raiders vs. Houston Texans NFL game and the Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks in the Sports Bar.

Santa Marta, officially Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta ("Touristic, Cultural and Historic District of Santa Marta"), is a city in Colombia. It is the capital of the department of Magdalena and fourth largest urban city of the Caribbean Region of Colombia, after Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Soledad. Founded on July 29, 1525, by the Spanish conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas, it was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia, and is the oldest surviving city in that country, and second oldest in South America. This city is situated on a bay of the same name and as such, is a prime tourist destination.

 

This picture was taken from the ship of Santa Marta, Colombia

This is a picture of the dock at Santa, Marta, Colombia

This is a picture of the dock at Santa, Marta, Colombia

This picture was taken in Santa Marta, Colombia.

This is a picture of the Cathedral

The picture was taken inside the Cathedral.

This picture was taken inside the Cathedral.

This picture was taken inside the Cathedral.

This is a picture of the Gold Museum.

This picture was taken at the San Pedro de Alejandrino Villa.

This is a picture of the gardens at San Pedro de Alejandrino Villa.

This is a picture of El Rpdadero, a hotel where we had folkloric show.

These are some of the entertainers for the Folkloric Show.

This picture was taken during the Folkloric Show.

This picture was taken on the way back to the town of Santa Marta, Colombia.