- Walking back towards the colonial city centre from Bazurto market, we come through the quiet Manga neighbourhood where we find some old mansions in classical style. We walk past the San Sebastián fortress, cross the bridge, and find ourselves in the Getsemaní neighbourhood. Not too long ago, this was an area that one had to avoid because of drug trafficking and crime, but it has seen an enormous impulse of young people and artists who have managed to turn it around and make it compete with the obvious historic centre just north of it. We cross the street that runs around the small maze of streets, and take the first turn into it. Soon, we come across the first works of art: the wall paintings for which Getsemaní is famous. We walk a quiet street, come to tiny and cosy Plaza del Pozo where we have a drink in one of the bars.
- From here, we try to walk all the streets of Getsemaní, in search of more works of art. The streets are narrow, it sometimes feels we can touch both sides if we stretch our arms far enough. We see wooden houses, we see colourful doors and courtyards, and people doing their business. The paintings we see often depict women. They come in various forms. There are the sensual women, who almost seem to seduce you from the paint on the wall. There are the joyful, colourful women who inevitably bring a smile to your face. Others look serious, and some look away. There are women who could live right here in Getsemaní, and others who seem more universal. It gives us the feeling that we are walking in an open-air museum. And oh, then there are several paintings of Gabriel García Márquez, probably the most famous son of Colombia, who lived in Cartagena for a while and of whom many Colombians are rightly proud. One even depicts him with a book in his hands. The title of the book is also painted: One Hundred Years of Solitude - one of the first books I read in Spanish.
- Criss-crossing the streets brings us always closer to Plaza de la Trinidad, the central square of Getsemaní. On the west side, the Iglesia de la Trinidad overlooks the square and the surrounding streets. This is where the crowds start and where we lose the feeling of being by ourselves. Groups follow their leader, we hear a multitude of languages, and we see people taking time to pose for pictures. We also see more streets with flags hanging over them, we see more paintings. We also start seeing more bars and restaurants, shops and hotels. We end up in one of the restaurants of Getsemaní, where we have a fine lunch before continuing our walk. One more street with poignant paintings, with umbrellas, and people, and we find ourselves in the Parque Centenario, which separates Getsemaní from the colonial old city centre - our final destination. It was great seeing how an area that twenty years ago had to be avoided, now has become one more place to see in Cartagena.
