The Continent! — Cartagena, España

April 28, 2018

The Continent, capital C, as in mainland Europe... because I’d already traveled around four other lower-case-c continents. I am an unabashed Euroholic... though this cruise has opened my eyes A LOT to what’s out there in the rest of the world.

I’d been to Spain in 2006 and 2010, both times to volunteer at Pueblo Inglés English-language-immersion ‘camps’ for adult Spaniards. (A terrific working vacation if you’re interested: https://matadornetwork.com/change/pueblo-ingles-quite-possibly-the-single-best-volunteer-experience-in-spain/.)

I had not been to the coast, so Cartagena (and Málaga, the next day) were wonderful surprises. Cartagena had been a Roman seaport before the Moors took over in 832 and stayed until the Catholic monarchs threw them out in 1243 during the Reconquista.

The city is proud of its sophisticated street art.

While there are neighborhoods that are still to be refurbished...

... many have been sandblasted, repointed, and repainted. The architecture is splendid.

This Roman amphitheatre, begun at the end of the 2nd century BC, lay buried for 2,000 years. Our excellent guide, Francisco, worked on the excavation.

Overlooking the theatre. Talk about a room with a view...

Remains of The House of Fortune, built between 100 BC and 100 AD, were discovered underground, dug out, and made accessible. A few of the original bits still exist — like this bird mosaic — and other parts have been recreated to show what a sophisticated Roman household was like, 2000 years ago.