Cartagena, Colombia: Finding Cecilia's at the Market (Mercado de Bazurto)
We like to check out the free walking tours in a city to orient ourselves, learn some history, and swap tips with fellow travelers (don't forget to tip!) but we typically shy away from tours from both a cost and flexibility perspective. In Cartagena, locals and Tripadvisor recommended doing a tour to visit the local market, Mercado de Bazurto and I couldn't find much information about visiting on your own (the tour is $50USD). Well, I am here to report: it's a great trip to do by yourself! Of course, use common sense when visiting because it can be quite crowded - no flashy jewelry, keep your valuables in front of you and not in backpacks or back pockets. If you're staying in Old Town or Getsemani (we recommend Getsemani because it's way less touristy and just as picturesque), it's a 7-10,000 COP ($2-3USD) to take a taxi to the market, about 10 minutes away. Your cab driver will definitely know where it is and will probably ask you where you want to get drop...