today we enjoyed a private Santa Marta city tour where we took in the sites of downtown, the cathedral, and Quinta de San Pedro Alejandro.

did you know that Santa Marta is the oldest city in Colombia, founded in 1525, and the Santa Marta Cathedral was the first cathedral built in Colombia? now you do.

we could see that Santa Marta is going through a major revitalization, and asked our guide about all the work.  she said the government (now under new leadership) is finally putting money back into the city instead of their pockets, and has big plans. budget is going into public spaces, education and housing. by 2018, parts of the city will look different and be more tourist friendly.

we spent most of our tour time at Quinta de San Pedro Alejandro, which was founded in 1608, and was a working sugar cane plantation.  it was also the estate where Simon Bolivar spent his last days before dying of tuberculosis in 1830. he was only 47.

not knowing much about Simon Bolivar, it was interesting to hear all about his life (which was personally so sad, but politically successful) and the dreams he had for the future of Colombia.

not only did we see the place where he died, but the home (the Customs House) he was in before he went to the estate, and the cathedral where he was first buried.  he is now buried in Venezuela, his birth place.  except for the ashes of his heart which are in an urn hidden in the Santa Marta Cathedral somewhere.  “although he is buried in Venezuela, his heart remains in Santa Marta”.

ps. lunch at Lulo – delicious, dinner at El Bistro – good. but back to Ouzo tomorrow for our last dinner before the big Cuidad Perdida hike on Thursday.