Our departure from Isla Pinos, Panama could have been much better as we only got 2 miles out from the anchorage before having to turn around due to our engine overheating. These sorts of experiences are a part of cruising but man can they be frustrating! Joe and Kent worked for hours diagnosing, deducing and debating the issue at hand. When all was said and done the bearings on the raw water pump were to blame. To get us to Cartagena they removed the pump from the engine and 'McGuivered' a solution from our wash down pump, a standard garden hose and 2 hose clamps. Not the prettiest of solutions but quite effective.

The following day the seas were much calmer when we headed out for Cartagena alongside s/v Moody Blues who were kind enough to wait out our engine issue. We had a great sail for most of the morning and afternoon but after the sun set the seas and wind changed dramatically. All night we were heading right into the wind and the waves kept knocking us down, letting us gain only 2 or so knots. We had a ton of water coming over the bow with each wave, reminding us that we need to re bed our chain plates, stantions and other deck fittings to prevent water from entering the interior of the boat. By the following morning the seas started to calm a bit, and we dropped anchor in Cartagena 30 hours after leaving Panama.

Our first impression of Cartagena is wonderful. It is a large international feeling city with a ton of history and a slight fairy tale feel to it (or maybe it is all the holiday lights that light up the city at night). While the first order of business was to get checked into the country, the and the second was to find a mechanic to rebuild the raw water pump, the third order of business and more enjoyable task was to start exploring the sights. The Old Town area contains forts and a walled city, which were built to protect the port from invasion. Much of the wall and forts remain unchanged from their creation in the 16th century. The city within the walls could take weeks to explore as it contains hundreds of cobblestoned streets, shops and restaurants. It is safe to say that even with all the wonderful things we have heard about Cartagena we have not been disappointed.

Lara, Joe and Cobin are with us for another week while we hit the city and perhaps head out to the Rosario Islands for a few days, which are located about 20 miles from Cartagena. It has been fun to have them aboard - Joe is cool and calm when it comes to working on the engine, Lara has been inspiring to keep up with (especially when she straps on a pair of running shoes) and Cobin has been his natural entertaining self.

Pictures to come as soon as we get them downloaded off the camera and uploaded to the blog ... above is a portion of the wall in Cartagena at night.