Cartagena on New Year’s Eve

                              

We slept in after our late landing in Colombia. We’re in a cute 2-bedroom place right on the edge of the Walled City. It’s super convenient for walking around the town and exploring various sites. Sharing one small bathroom, however, has been a new experience! 

Once we got moving, we walked over to Getsemani, which is known for its artsy vibe and vibrant street art. On the way, we walked on a bit of the wall surrounding the city. It was neat to see the cannons and old structures. After two cafes we had looked up were found to be closed, we ended up enjoying delicious arepas at a restaurant. We each had a different flavor, and we were all happy with our choices.

We rested up in the afternoon, preparing for the busy evening ahead. We started with dinner and college football bowl game watching at the Clock Pub right near the famous Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower Monument). Then we walked among the crowds, attempting to find the perfect spot to wait for midnight. It was SO crowded! We ended up sitting along the water’s edge, which had a great view of the fireworks that happened all over the city when 2026 began. It was a bit of a sensory overload with all of the people, music, and fireworks, but the mood was celebratory and exciting. Happy 2026!