Not to be confused with Cartagena, Spain (though it is named after the Spanish city) Cartagena, Colombia is a vibrant large city on the Caribbean coast of South America. For many Americans, it is a cruise stop, either before or after a Panama Canal sailing. But in recent years, with the stability of Colombia as…
Back in Los Angeles, I sip my coffee while going through my notes and photos from my trip to Cartagena. It’s good coffee, an Italian blend I really enjoy. But it isn’t the same. During my two weeks in Colombia’s premier Caribbean destination, I was treated to some of the best coffees - both simple…
I’ve spent the past several hours writing and re-writing this article, and yet here I am starting over. I pride myself on finding deeper meaning in the things I do, in seeking out those little nuggets of history or a cultural gem, things that bring learning to something that most don’t associate with it. But…
All of my books have loose threads of Cartagena in them. And with time, when I have to call up memories, I always bring back an incident from Cartagena, a place in Cartagena, a character in Cartagena. Gabriel Garcia Marquez Upon Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s death in 2014, then-President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos called him…
With just a small motion of my arms, I sink another quarter inch into the warm mud. And actual lateral movement requires kicking off one of the walls, and even then “swimming” through spectacularly thick and sticky mud to one of the two ladders is a rough go. It is uncomfortable, bobbing almost weightless in…
Remnants of colonial cities in the Americas can be very hit or miss. Some are not in terrific shape, like that in Santo Domingo (outside of a very central core that is truly awesome). Others, like San Juan, are gorgeous, but only play host to tourists, making the experience - while lovely - feel a…
Sometimes one winter getaway to a tropical paradise just isn’t enough. This winter, I have two amazing tropical trips back-to-back. Literally, they are back to back as I am home for five days between. So I decided for the purposes of the trip introduction to combine them into one, my Tropical Winter. The journey begins…
Editor’s note: I’ve only been to Bogota, and Sam certainly makes me want to experience more of Colombia, especially the Caribbean coast. For more of his writing, click here to view his index. I love national parks; in every country where they exist, these lands are set aside and protected. They are recognized as exceptional…
Editor's note: What a magical story by Sam Spector, the wandering rabbi. For more of his writing, click here to visit his index. And if you enjoy it, please help support The Royal Tour via our Patreon page. In case you are not aware, September and October are the months when rabbis reconsider all their…
In the dumpster fire that has been 2020, escape is important. I can't physically travel right now - my normal means of escape - and I certainly don't advocate chemical escape. So a travel date night is sort of all I have. While A and I are no longer doing these every week, as the…