Two sun days at the pool and we need a tour. Pay two cabs $70 total for a day's rent to take us Castilla De San Felipe and La Popa.   These are outside the city walls and we were cautioned not to walk there.   The hottest, muggiest day of our trip.  

Warning: If claustrophobic, faint from humidity, scared of dark, wet places, the Castilla San Felipe will be a quick tour for your $10 entrance
 
 Lyn and KT choose to stay up top, but Jen, Ash, and I descend down ramps & step into the fort. This is the most unique Spanish fort we've visited. You allowed to tour the recesses that run 80 ft deep within the fort. As last line of defense, the castle arched passageways burrow like an ant farm. Its a Pirates of Caribbean facade at every turn and goes deeper, more moist, and darker.   At a point, there are no lights and we continue through passages in ankle deep water by strobing the flash on the Canon 35mm. The girls finally freak out as there is no end and pitch blackness.    They go screaming back up corridors until we reach the electric lights.  

We find a guide who explains the cubby-hole's and recesses purpose. There are angled walls to bayonet or shoot around, cisterns to collect water or relieve themselves into. Says the classic Spanish defender was smaller than French & British attackers, so lucky we fit.  He tells us Romancing the Stone w/ Michael Douglas & Kathleen Turner was filmed here.

We sit on cannons, take pictures and sweat our way back down off the castle to the cabs for trip to La Popa.

La Popa is so-so.   A climb up the highest hill overlooking Cartagena and the monastery most sacred w/ richest history in the city. We pay the $10 entrance and decide its not really worth it unless you have a deep reverrant sense of Catholicism and want to read all the history of masses and religious orders who have resided in the facilty. Maybe a 30 minute visit max. There is a very small sacrament with a huge gilded altar.   After we take a few shots, rehydrate and head back to the cabs, a man with a big tree sloth w/ wicked looking nails tries to push the animal onto Ashleigh. I yell at him and tell Ashleign to move on not knowing what rabid chance of her being bitten may be but not wanting to take a chance.

On the way back down the hill....the driver points out many mounted police on horse back and motorcycle patrolling the hill roads.   He tells us the altar is 100% gold and very valuable. Must be $3MM in gold at todays market, which surprises me we saw noone in La Popa vicinity as guards. Really ?     Back to Santa Clara sanctity...which as a convent/monastery.... is more impressive than La Popa and we are staying there ! 

Santa Clara's pool is fantastic, warm and inviting. Another dip before we dress and head out to dinner.    Turns out the day's tour took more out of us and we manage a one block radius sweep of Juan del Mar, La Cevecheria, Santissimo, finally settling on La Bruschetta with a vote for Italian. Very decent fresh Italian (pasta is homemade).   A problem taking credit cards, so that 1 block decision pays off as I run back to the SC for more cash.   We find for the balance of the week, most restaurants in area report a "satellite" issue and refuse AMEX....hmm....I'd doubt it at first but they all show the card readers reporting "no connection".