The breakfast spread at the NH’s
rival that of the Pardores in quality and quantity. However, we noted that they
also have a Kiddies Corner buffet spread out at 2 foot off the ground so the
kids can view their choices and pick/choose their breakfast items just like the
adults.
Off to the Tourist office as they
open at 1000. We asked about a flamenco show which Trip Advisor had said was
available in Cartagena, however on closer examination it was in Columbia versus
Spain! No, as luck would have it. nothing in town at the moment. Off we
wandered to enter the Roman Theater ruins through the Museo and underground
walkway followed by 5 escalators to the upper reaches of the outside theater.
It really is quite remarkable! They are finding all sorts of ruins as they try
to build. This city was conquered by everyone over the years! The
Carthaginians(hence Cartagena) the Romans and then the Moors before everyone
was cleared out by the Reyes Catolicos! This Roman theater is smack dab in the middle
of a residential area. Imagine hanging out your washing on the line out the
window, on the 3rd floor, and having a view of an ancient monument!
It is incongruous to say the least!
However, a few sprinkles and the rock steps were very treacherous. They
are still excavating and restoring as money becomes available!
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| We Always See A Bride on These Trips |
We had lunch at Lizarran pixtos
etc followed by chocolate brownie/ice cream. We still have time to kill and as
I said before we are looking for things that do not involve a lot of walking,
so, we took the tourist bus ride all over. It was only 6 euros apiece and for
about 40/45 minutes, not much to see in the city itself as so much is
pedestrian walkways but it was very interesting looking back at the city from
the other side of the harbor. I have never seen so many fortifications built
around a harbor! Every one of the aforementioned conquerors built some sort of
fortress, each in their own inimical style on top of every darn hill
surrounding the harbor! Now add to that all the Spanish Naval Academy, museums,
etc and it really is a Military town. The walls surrounding large parts of the
city are a mix of styles. Roman on top of whoever came before and then the
Moors built on top of that!
We had thought of taking the boat
ride around the harbor but how much can you pack into one day? So off for a
siesta before the evening’s activities.
We went for tapas at the 2.50€
place where the single waiter was running her ass off. It was quite a while
before someone came in to help her! Really good people watching spot and mild
enough to sit outside! As it took so long to get a glass of wine and berenjenas
con miel, we decided to move on. Paul had remembered a place further up where we
had eaten before, so off we moseyed to eat, yet again! We had lamb chops at the
Bar founded in 1932 opposite Zara’s beautiful building. The buildings on the
Calle Mayor are quite beautiful (at least some of them are, others could do
with a clean-up) so we asked the waiter about them and were surprised to find
that most of them are owned by one person and were all business addresses
Lawyers etc! No one lives there, they are all offices.
The street is all tiled and quite lovely and
as we sat there, we watched the same people walk down one way and back up
again. Old people out for a stroll, dog walkers, lots of teenagers horsing
around, young families with crabby little ones and sleeping babies in prams. It
is quite the best entertainment for the price of a meal and a glass of wine!
Tomorrow we head for Lorca and it
is quite a short car ride but the cases have to be sorted out and we have to
rest. Time for somewhere different.
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