The Aquarium
Monday August 28th - again we were doing our after breakfast swimming when a man in a boat came along to offer adventure. In this case since we'd already been to the snorkeling reef he offered to take us to the aquarium for 100,000 total. As we didn't have anything better to do amd 100,000 is an imminently reasonable price, literally the price everything seems to be, we agreed. He noted aquarium admission would be another 80,000. As i was by now running low on pesos i brought my pesos, dollars amd credit card.
A Brazilian couple joined us on the journey. They appeared maybe late twenties or early thirties, the guy Redondo, was a journalist, and i enjoyed their conversation, a clearly intellectual examination of Latin American politics. He said that when the current Brazilian president, Lula, came into power, because he's a liberal ("thank God") all the conservatives were saying Brazil was going to "become like Venezuela." They were interested in Cristina's take on how things are in Venezuela, Cristina later said she felt like she was being interviewed.
The aquarium turned out to be on a little island at the opposite end of the main island. The boat driver dropped us off saying he'd be back in an hour, amd took the Brazilians to snorkeling.
A man on the dock sold us two tickets to the aquarium for 80,000 as expected. I handed him $20 US. The peso right now is 4096 to the dollar so technically 80,000 would be $19.53. He said no if it's USD it's $24, which is a notably bad exchange rate of 3,500:1 but whatcha gonna do. At least he was able to make change in USD.
The aquarium mainly consisted of raised platforms around enclosed areas with various interesting local aquafauna in them. Sea turtles, sharks, various large fish. There were some dolphins performing tricks. We were encouraged to pat a small pelican, though i felt bad because it was shaking. But altogether we enjoyed the aquarium.
Then our driver retrieved us, with the Brazilians still along. We stopped by to see the famous resort Bora Bora and a boat came up to us there trying to sell us little plates of lobster already prepared. Amd then we went around the back side of the island to return to our own hotel, thus completing a circumnavigation of Grand Rosario Island.
Then we returned to our hotel. Our boat driver accepted my US $25 for the 100,000 peso trip.
While swimming in the afternoon we met a young woman from Italy here by herself. If i understand correctly she had come to Miami on vacation amd then just decided to come to Cartagena. There must be some killer airfare deal from Miami to here (recall the two vapid American women on the dinner cruise were also from Miami).
Watched the sunset as usual.
A Brazilian couple joined us on the journey. They appeared maybe late twenties or early thirties, the guy Redondo, was a journalist, and i enjoyed their conversation, a clearly intellectual examination of Latin American politics. He said that when the current Brazilian president, Lula, came into power, because he's a liberal ("thank God") all the conservatives were saying Brazil was going to "become like Venezuela." They were interested in Cristina's take on how things are in Venezuela, Cristina later said she felt like she was being interviewed.
The aquarium turned out to be on a little island at the opposite end of the main island. The boat driver dropped us off saying he'd be back in an hour, amd took the Brazilians to snorkeling.
A man on the dock sold us two tickets to the aquarium for 80,000 as expected. I handed him $20 US. The peso right now is 4096 to the dollar so technically 80,000 would be $19.53. He said no if it's USD it's $24, which is a notably bad exchange rate of 3,500:1 but whatcha gonna do. At least he was able to make change in USD.
The aquarium mainly consisted of raised platforms around enclosed areas with various interesting local aquafauna in them. Sea turtles, sharks, various large fish. There were some dolphins performing tricks. We were encouraged to pat a small pelican, though i felt bad because it was shaking. But altogether we enjoyed the aquarium.
Then our driver retrieved us, with the Brazilians still along. We stopped by to see the famous resort Bora Bora and a boat came up to us there trying to sell us little plates of lobster already prepared. Amd then we went around the back side of the island to return to our own hotel, thus completing a circumnavigation of Grand Rosario Island.
Then we returned to our hotel. Our boat driver accepted my US $25 for the 100,000 peso trip.
While swimming in the afternoon we met a young woman from Italy here by herself. If i understand correctly she had come to Miami on vacation amd then just decided to come to Cartagena. There must be some killer airfare deal from Miami to here (recall the two vapid American women on the dinner cruise were also from Miami).
Watched the sunset as usual.