Juan Valdez still rocking it

So for about a 100 years, the Spanish staged their ships hauling back all the plundered Incan gold to the old country.
And as we all learned from the first Pirates of the Caribbean, Incan gold attracts pirates, roughians and all sorts of rogues...
During the 1500s, Cartagena was sacked by Pirates 10s of times.
Getting your stuff stolen over and over and over again, gets old, sooooooo the Spaniards build a fort, and not just any fort... the biggest fort in all of the New World. In fact, today, it still remains the largest fortification on this side of the Atlantic.

stunning view from the top of the fort looking out over the inlet and Bocagrande (Colombia's South Beach)...

We explored the entire fort, from the tunnels running through (to carry soldiers and supplies), cannons, and turrets.

With a few hours to kill before heading back to Bogota, Heather and I got lost again in the old city.
Every town needs a mini market, except this one happens to be in a 300 year old home.

We stumbled upon an exhibit of sound and art... artists listen to the sounds of the city, then illustrate what it made them feel...

For those of you who have followed the blog for a while, know that I have a deep abiding love of 3rd world mannequins... creepier the better.
Who exactly is this selling to? Two weeks in Colombia and I can promise you I saw no woman who looked remotely like this... crazy and awesomely inappropriate.

We began prepping our trip back home, and with that comes gifts for friends and family.
When you think Colombia, you think coffee... OK actually you probably think of a few other things, but come on, this is a family oriented blog.
We asked a few of our new friends...one simple question.. as a Colombian, what is YOUR favorite Colombian coffee?
We were expecting some super secret, only ever whispered in hush tones by baristas in the most exclusive coffeerias.... nope.... Juan Valdez... the dude from the commercials, with the mule.