Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena, Colombia slideshow

Cartagena de Indias was found in 1533 and it was the main Spanish port on the Caribbean coast and getaway to the north of the continent. Full of history, Cartagena is walled by Las Muralhas, the thick walls built to protect it. Treasure plundered from the indigenous people by the Spanish was stored here before shipped to Spain. As such, it became a target for pirates and, in the 16th alone, it suffered five sieges, one of them led by Francis Drake in 1586.

Despite the hot humid climate, Cartagena inspired me to throw away from my checklist of museums and instead stroll through the maze of cobbled alleys and enjoy the many fresh juices and fruit salads available at almost every corner. The city's ethnicity and climate reminded me of Brazil's northeast. This is where I saw the largest number of African descendants, animating the city with music dance and vibrant colors.

Cartagena is Colombia's largest port and an important industrial center of 1.1 million inhabitants, but the old town has changed very little. It is a living museum of the 16th and 17th-century Spanish architecture.