We spent 3 nights in Cartagena until our friends Sanna and Ville joined us. Sanna was our au pair 10 years ago when Leo was born. They both travelled here from Finland to spend a few days on the boat. It was wonderful to spend time together, and it did not feel like a decade since we saw her last!
Cartagena is a city that is trying to transform itself from a military port to a tourist spot. They are investing $$ to highlight historical sights. Since it has a natural harbor, the Romans had an extensive settlement here. We toured some of the Roman ruins including an amphitheater. Visiting a town with history is mucho more interesting than the manufactured cities along the coast.
The Spanish navy still has a base in Cartagena. The perimeter of the marina is surrounded with armed war vessels and even a submarine. We visited the naval museum which had an impressive collection of antiques during Spain's rule of the world. Some of the most fascinating items were the maps of the world before the Spanish had sailed around South Africa. Spain is of course the center of the world.
Now we are in Torrevieja, a somewhat non-descript town, but with a safe harbor. We weren't planning on coming here, but the wind and waves were such that everyone was feeling sick, so we decided to duck in here. We are a day away from the Balearics. Our expectations of these islands are high - hope they deliver!
Photos Here