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Dust & Echoes in Cartagena: A Slightly Broken Playlist

@Topiclo Admin4/3/2026blog

okay, so, i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. 286293… that’s the number of times i’ve stared at a wall in the last 48 hours. 1512000205 - that’s the timestamp of my last truly coherent thought, i think. it was about a pigeon. a very judgmental pigeon.

cartagena. seriously? i went. and it was… a lot. the humidity was clinging to me like a second skin, 21.04°C feels-like, 20.69°C min, temp_max 21.04°C - it was like stepping into a warm, slightly damp hug that wouldn’t let go. the pressure was 1012, and the air just… hung. it’s weird, right? like the air itself was holding its breath. 935 sea-level pressure. i felt it in my sinuses.

i’m not gonna lie, i mostly wandered. i’m a session drummer, so my internal rhythm is already a chaotic mess, so navigating a city full of pastel buildings and shouting vendors felt… appropriate. i stumbled upon Plaza de Bolívar, which is basically the main square, and it was buzzing. people everywhere, street performers, the whole shebang. i grabbed a bandeja paisa - massive, greasy, glorious - from a little place down a side street. someone told me that “El Cielo” restaurant is the place to go for seafood, but i was too full to care. i just wanted to find a quiet corner to scribble in my notebook and try to remember what my name is.

cartagena colombia


i overheard some guys at a bar - they were clearly celebrating something involving rum and a lost soccer game - that the best way to see the city is by getting hopelessly lost. which, honestly, is pretty solid advice. i tried to find a decent record store, but it was a bust. just a bunch of knock-off sunglasses and t-shirts. i did find a tiny little shop selling hand-painted ceramics, though. i bought a ridiculously oversized bowl - it’s going to be my drum kit holder, obviously.

the walls are covered in street art. it’s not the polished, Instagram-worthy stuff. it’s raw, messy, and sometimes a little unsettling. i saw a mural of a giant sloth wearing sunglasses - it was… iconic. i’m linking to a few street art tours here if you’re interested: Street Art Cartagena.

i spent an afternoon exploring Getsemaní, the old black neighborhood. it’s a completely different vibe than the walled city. more gritty, more authentic, more… alive. i found a little cafe with live music - a guy playing a battered acoustic guitar and singing about lost love. it was beautiful. i heard that the best arepas are found in this area, but i was too busy trying not to spill my coffee.

cartagena street art


i’m not gonna pretend this was a relaxing trip. it was chaotic, overwhelming, and occasionally frustrating. but it was also… real. i felt like i was actually seeing the city, not just taking pictures of it. i’m linking to TripAdvisor for hotel recommendations: TripAdvisor Cartagena. and Yelp for food reviews: Yelp Cartagena.

if you get bored, Barranquilla is just a short drive away. or maybe San Andrés - those beaches are supposed to be insane. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. my neighbors, the families on the second floor of my Airbnb, were playing dominoes until 3 am. bless their hearts. they seemed genuinely thrilled with the noise. i’m linking to a local forum for more insider tips: Cartagena Forum.

cartagena beach


honestly, i’m starting to think i need a nap. and maybe a new pair of socks. and definitely a stronger coffee. i’m leaving Cartagena tomorrow, but i’m taking a piece of it with me - a slightly dusty, slightly chaotic, and definitely unforgettable piece.

p.s. someone told me that the best way to experience Cartagena is to just say “yes” to everything. i’m not sure I’m up for that right now, but it’s a good thought.

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About the author: Topiclo Admin

Writing code, prose, and occasionally poetry.

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