Cartagena

On Monday morning we woke into a sunny day. We had a very calm night and slept well and I am very thankful to the people of Torreviejo who are fighting against the ban of anchoring in their port. We sailed off before 9 and we still had some land breeze, just enough for nice sailing with full sails. The sea has calmed down as well, there was some swell, but it wasn't annoying. We sailed along the coast and by on Mar Menor and all the ugly tall buildings that are built right on the dunes. Near Capo de Palosa wind almost died, so we started the engine and rolled in both front sails. In hope of getting some more wind in the afternoon we left the main on, since there were no waves and very little swell.

Another photo for my light house collection - this one is on Capo de Palosa.

On the other side of cape the wind turned to South and we killed the engine and rolled out the genoa again. We again had just enough wind for a nice easy sailing. And then something magical happened. We got a visitor, a small bird. It first landed near the steering wheel and I thought: don't move, don't even breathe so you don't scare him. And grab your camera. I started shooting photos and the bird didn't seem to mind. Even more, he started exploring all the lines and spots on that part of the boat.

Later I researched a bit and I think it is a Common Whitethroat (rjava penica).

A bit later he got used to me and got more comfortable - he found a nice spot behind the spray hood and took a nap.

I didn't want to move too much, so we sailed slowly without any correction to the sails or sailing direction, even Captain had to stay away from the bird not to disturb him. After the bird has rested for a while, about two and a half hours, he flew away towards the coast. What a nice experience.

While we were occupied whit the bird, we slowly reached Cartagena bay. This multi coloured hill stands at the entrance to it.

And there are several forts in the bay.

At around four we were in the Yacht Port marina. Wind got a bit stronger for the last hour, what usually happens just when one is parking the boat. But it all went well with a help from helpful marineros and nice neighbours.

We were very happy to meet up with Catherine and Neville of Dream Time again, they were our neighbours in Otranto marina after a very rough night for us both in anchorage. We had a very pleasant chat in the late afternoon. Check their web page (you can find link on our page on the right side) and their many beautiful photos and Catherin's story about the storm they had in Mallorca on 27th August - I think it was the same storm that later the same day hit us East of Menorca. 

After another calm nigh (well, we are in the marina, so no more worries about wind shifting, anchor dragging and such) we decided we need some exercise. So after morning coffee we strolled into the town. Cartagena has many beautiful buildings, I particularly like the balconies.

Ficuses here are proper trees, not pot plants like at home.

Our firs stop was Roman Forum, where we saw lots of old Romans excavations and learned a bit about history. Cartagena was founded by Cartaghinians as they wanted a strong port to conquer Europe, at that time it was called Carthago Nova. It was soon captured by Romans and continued flourishing, also thanks to silver mines in vicinity. In the site of Roman Forum there are baths - on the small stone pillars there was raised floor that was heated from underneath....

...some paved streets where the tracks from carts are still visible...

...a Roman atrium house...

...with wall murals...

...and even the windows made of lapis specularis, a sort of gypsum.

And of course a parquet floor. Ok, it's made of stone.

The details on some artefacts were surprisingly well preserved.

Roman Forum was only opened in 2012 and the excavations are still going on right next to this site.

After that we strolled a bit further, along some pretty houses. Did I mention I love the balconies?

We made a stop in a restaurant and had a typical Spanish plate for brunch. Especially pata negra (to the left) was really good.

Then we walked some more and climbed onto one of the hills, again with Roman ruins on it. But also roses and trees.

Somehow we strolled by the Roman Forum again and discovered these graffitis.

Our next stop was Roman theatre. We did have some troubles finding the entrance, we didn't know the entrance was in a building couple of hundreds meters away from actual location of theatre, which we were seeing on Google maps. Sometimes it pays to ask a policeman or even to observe signs on the buildings, rather than blindly trust the navigation apps.

Here we learned some more about the history. The Romans considered Cartago Nova so important, they spent a lot of money for public buildings, like this theatre. Theatre was only discovered in 1988, because throughout the years there were always buildings standing on top of it. The work on theatre and on artefacts found on site are still in progress, some are exhibit in the halls and in the museum building.

The theatre was used for plays, apparently Romans liked the comedies the most, and for political gatherings. It had seats for 6000 to 7000 people.

The part where the stage was was mostly destroyed, but it was a magnificent building with columns in two stories.

In the post-Roman times lots of original material, as well as columns, were used for building of other structures. 

On one part of the theatre seats there was a cathedral built centuries ago, that was bombed in 1939 in Spanish civil war.

I'm glad we had the chance to see all this. When it stops raining, in couple of days, we have to explore some more of the town's more recent history.