Plaza de los Coches Cartagena
As I wheeled beyond the Clock Tower and entered the Old City, I was in Plaza de los Coches (Carriages Square), as picturesque as any place I’ve visited. Here I immediately noticed a line of horse-drawn carriages and drivers for hire to tour the Old City. Also immediately sits a statue of Pedro de Heredia, who founded Cartagena. Beyond the statues and carriages are colorful hotels, bars and clubs, and sweets stalls along the El Portal de los Dulces under the arches of the buildings.
Horse-drawn carriages in Plaza de los Coches, Cartagena
In the evening, a troupe of dancers came out blazing and perform an Afro-Colombian dance called the Mapalé, a dance originated by the slaves brought to Cartagena. The tempo of the performances was fast and accompanied by drums and shakers.
Statue of Pedro de Heredia, Founder of Cartagena, Colombia
One of the most interesting experiences I had in the Old City was entering it after a sudden downpour. The west side of the Plaza de los Coches was riddled very large perplexing puddles. Hmm. What to do? The locals broke out blocks of wood and long planks and made temporary makeshift bridges over the puddles for people to walk across. The bridge makers helped people across and collected tips. Creative. Industrious. Ingenious!