3 Comments
Nov 14Liked by Laura | Sunhats and Chardonnay

A great guide to Cartagena. I would have loved to have more specifics on foods to eat and try and flavours. Just because I'm a foodie and which places to eat at. Food is always a big part of the travel experience, as big as the sites and places. There was one thing I was unclear about. "At one point, Cartagena had the privilege of being South America’s only market for slave trading." Why is it seen as a privilege? I really like how you brought out history facts with your descriptions of the town and you made a very vivid portrait of the town. I cannot believe the Spanish grave robbers. Were they pirates or were they part of the slave trade? Thank you for sharing this!

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Thanks.

To answer your questions,

As far as food goes, I chose not to mention much since I was only there a short time. I'm also not much of a Foodie.

I guess my word choice of "priviledge" was not the best. Perhaps "reputation or distinction" would have been better.

It is my understanding that the grave robbers were residents that saw the value of the artifacts being buried. As early entrepeneurs, they took it upon themselves to collect the artifacts and sell for profit. I suppose this would make them part of the slave trade.

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That is shocking. Thank you for sharing this background and history as it gives so much more to a place. I’ve never visited but heard of this place. It sounds exotic and I never knew anything about it. We forget about the slave trade and all the colonisers who went over and took advantage of the living and the dead. Yes, the privilege word sounded a bit misplaced I thought having read your piece, so might be worth rewording that one.

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