It’s got a fantastic pirate atmosphere of long voyages

 Cartagena is one of those places that exists because geography demands it. If you are going to have a squarish country then having a naval base in one corner seems to be a jolly good idea.   The Carthaginians thought so and so did Charles III. In 1731 the construction of a naval base was begun It was completed in 1782, proving, if nothing else, time moves at a different speed when public construction projects are concerned.  This did not stop 21 ships of the line, 17 frigates and 50 smaller vessels being built in the later half of the eighteenth century. In 1849 the base was enlarged and a dry dock was added in 1866. 1889 saw the wonders of electricity added to the whole scheme and in 1918 a submarine dock was added.  During the Civil War it was the chief base of the Republican Navy and was one of the last places to surrender to the Fasc.



We will wander through outer Cartagena.  220,000 people currently dwell here and the mayor, Ana Belén Castejón Hernández is an independent.  We will be cutting across parklands and snickets - but luckily some of Googles boys and girls have been out with the wherewithal to record some of the route.





On our way we will pass the Manhole cover Faces of Cartagena.  Larisa reviewed it three weeks ago, but I feel the purpose was not just a disinterested travel blog.




Hi there, street art lovers and curious travelers! 👋

I create T-shirt prints from real manhole covers around the world, and this one from Cartagena is part of my big ongoing project. I’m thrilled that Google approved this location tag — now anyone can find it and take their own photo with this beautiful manhole!


I leave the exact coordinates of the manhole where each print was made on every T-shirt.


Come visit my website to discover more manhole covers and the prints I make from them — each one tells its own urban story. 🖤





On to the sea front.  Near the water’s edge is the Restaurante Techos Bajos. 3315 people give it 4.2 stars. https://techosbajos.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/carta-actualizada-Plantilla-Carta-Techos-Bajos-Inglesen.pdf.pdf  A medium portion of Roman Squid will cot 8.75, while a small one of anchovies is a mere 5.75.  Pork chops are 9.50.    Xennial reckoned ‘Good offering of seafood done simply but well - very good value for the large portions. The fried mixed variety of fish is particularly impressive for the price and great to have a bit of everything without having to decide. Of the 3 Cafe Asiáticos I tried in Cartagena, this was the best - a good option for a sweet finish instead of dessert.’




We end the day by the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia Subacutica - ARQVA.   https://www.cultura.gob.es/mnarqua/home.html  Timo came from Finland to write This museum exhibition is worth experiencing. The details of shipbuilding in particular were well presented. We waved goodbye to the reflection in the museum window as we left, we will come again.



Daan tells us everything and nothing for his four stars.  ‘First half is MEDIUM interesting, second half is a little better. Not expensive, so a good spendature of time.’


Santiago intrigues.  What are these comments ‘Very interesting and educational. It's a shame that not all the screens or interactive elements work. I also think some of the "partisan" comments on the information panels, like those about unaccompanied minors or genocide, are out of place. The information should be more objective and generate questions, experiences, and knowledge in the reader, rather than leading them toward a biased viewpoint.’


MaPei said ‘This is a magical and amazing place to visit with your family and children, allowing you to dive into the history of shipbuilding, when large sailing ships roamed the seas and fired cannons. It’s got a fantastic pirate atmosphere of long voyages.’



And so the day ends.


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