It’s Sunday and we are in Cartagena, where we have been for a few days now. It is a lovely city and our timing could not have been better as there is a major festival going on here. Actually, it seems that there is just about ALWAYS a festival going on in Spain and this week is no different.
As festivals go, this one is a true “double header” as it is Spain’s Labor Day and also a date that commemorates an uprising against Napoleon in the 1800s. I have to say that to be here and see such a solemn event was very moving. We had a great spot to view the events but sadly, you can’t see us. We were right next to where they laid the wreath at the end of the video below. It’s a two minute piece and is worth seeing. I loved the cannons. I think we need one in Essex…
Here is what the local information says about that event.
“The traditional military parade pays homage to the heroes of the uprising against Napoleon and his troops, Artillery Captains Daoiz and Velarde, along with other military personnel and the people of Madrid in 1808. The ceremony included speeches commemorating the anniversary, a wreath-laying ceremony in memory of the fallen, and a striking and moving gun salute, which concluded with the march of the participating troops. The formation began its march from the old Artillery Park in Cartagena, proceeding to the port through the streets of the city’s historic center, watched by Cartagena residents and numerous cruise ship passengers.“
That event was separate from the Labor Day events and there has been a lot going on. Street performers, and a particularly big concert in the plaza, near the waterfront, by Maki & María Artés. It seems that they are a very big deal in Spain with billions of views. It was fun to watch and very polished. Also, crazy crowded. Most of all, fun.
All of the crowds, combined with a massive cruise ship disgorging thousands, added to the crush of people and with big crowds comes pickpockets and one found Brenda. We aren’t certain how it happened but somehow someone ended up with her wallet and within less than a half hour tried to charge several thousands to her two cards and debit card. Fortunately the banks caught them and texted us.
The big issue to us was that our BOA travel card has the same account number on both of our cards so when hers was canceled, so was mine. However, for safety reasons, we also have a travel card from Barclay bank and fortunately the numbers are different so my card is still ok. Getting cards hacked has happened to us many times over the years but this is the first time that someone was able to get the physical card. Until I knew that her card and mine had different numbers, I thought that we were in very tough shape. So much for Brenda’s wallet, drivers license, credit cards etc. Oh well, everything but the 100 euros she was carrying are recoverable.
But wait, there’s more. I can’t say that when we finally got everything fixed in Almerimar, that I was confident that “all was better” and I was right. The question in the back of my mind was “what would break next” and that turned out to be our AIS, a system that allows us to show our location to other boats and ships. It also allows them to see us and for us to gauge exactly where they are what the “closest point of approach” will be when someone is getting close. The unit failed in the middle of the night and to suddenly not be able to tell with certainty where the ships were going, light patterns aside, was unsettling. Being suddenly blind made the use of our radar suddenly super important.
As others aboard, Brenda and our friends Jon and Kate, weren’t very experienced with navigating at night meant that I had to stay up all night. I was tired for sure but with the added “excitement” of a failed AIS, I did pretty well. Part of what helped was an extended session with Chat GPT AI, trying to diagnose what was wrong with the unit kept me plenty awake. There were basically two options as to what had happened, a voltage drop at the electrical connection or something internal as it would turn on for a few minutes and then cut out. After a few hours of messing with things, I was able to narrow it down to an internal failure.
The good news is that I can order a new one and have it here on Tuesday. Had it not been for “Labor Day”, I would have had it on Friday but with everything closed, well another delay. What else is new?
I also discovered damage to my mainsail halyard but fortunately, it didn’t completely break, just the line cover was damaged. And, there is a rigger here so I will pick up the new halyard on Tuesday. For some reason my main halyard has chafed more than a few times. I will have to have a rigger look at the shiv, pully, at the top of the mast as well as the opening to see if it is rough. I’ve had it reviewed at least one other time…
It is indeed always something but at least we have been able to get things fixed and nothing major has put us at risk while being underway so far. But, I don’t want to jinx it…
Another issue face is that we will have about three weeks to make it from here to Sardinia and without a major push, something that we don’t want to do, it’s going to be hard to fly out as planned in late May. The problem is that it’s either blowing too hard or not at all and often from the wrong direction so adhering to a schedule isn’t all that easy, and a lot less predictable than the Caribbean.
But we are here and the city is quite beautiful and busy.
And even more amazing after dark.
The good news is that, being delayed, but this time in Cartagena, isn’t all that bad and we have enjoyed some really nice food and drink, can you say “two sangria please”. Somehow English gets the point across just fine. I do take good pictures of my sweetie, don’t I?
Or, and often, white wine and food! After struggling for weeks to adjust to the idea that dinner is after 8:00, we are in the groove. This dinner was at 11:00 pm.
Of course, holidays mean getting dressed up and everyone was in costume. Mothers and daughters, both happy to pose for the camera.
And a few in Victoria era costume. Also happy to mug for the camera and I wasn’t the only one to ask.
Pandora is right on the waterfront. Here with a full moon rising in the distance. Does the moon see me?
Quite a view of the mountains in the distance. This photo doesn’t do it justice
Along with everything else, this is a major naval port with drydocks all around. I’ll bet that they find a lot of broken stuff too.
And a few yachts in for refit.
As we approach the 250th anniversary in the US, I am struck by this sign, commemorating the history of Cartagena, spanning three thousand years. That’s a long time.
Well, that’s it for now. It’s nearly noon and we have to do a bit of strolling.
Sadly, even though I will have the current “issues” resolved as of late Tuesday, the window to get out of here actually opens Monday and closes Tuesday so that means we won’t have time to make the 36 hour run to Ibiza.
And, the next opening to get out of here isn’t until later in the week. Unlike the Caribbean, the weather changes nearly every day with a “long” window being no more than two to three days, so here we sit.
Perhaps I will close with a moment that particularly moved us, the laying of the wreath for those that defended Spain from Napoleon. Sadly, over the centuries, there have been many leaders that thought that they were smarter than they were. But, it’s good to know that more often than not, they don’t change things for ever. Having said that, it does seem that part of the human existence is that many forget.
Soon, I hope, we will be underway with stuff that’s thinking hard, I hope not, of breaking.
Wish us luck? If recent history is any guide, we need it.