Cartagena de los Indios, on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, South
America, is a magical city filled with color and mystery. The doors and
windows in Cartagena's historic center are seductively painted in rich
colors that come alive in the bright sunlit days, and in the romantic,
lantern lit streets at night. UNESCO's designation as an important
historic area has insured the preservation of the old city with all its
architectural
charm. A walking tour of doors and windows is pure
pleasure, during which one discovers colorful, fascinating entrances to
places that have existed for centuries, glimpses of history literally at
your doorstep.
Colonial costumed doormen greet you on the way into one
of the restaurants in the legendary Hotel Santa Clara, once a nunnery
in Colonial times.
Iron door knockers, seasoned with patina from the
salty sea air, announce arrivals at many local houses. If you come upon
a round one like that pictured, give a knock, and I will invite you in
to my
vacation home, located in the 500-year-old walled city where NYC's
bitter winter cold seems very far away.
