Cartagena, Colombia, A walk along the old city walls

There is always something to catch your eye if you keep them open...such as this prop to advertise a cafe...called the Nautilus and what better to attract attention than a mannequin wearing a diving suit.

But the real purpose of the day was a walk around the city walls and taking in several museums and other sites en route. A view over the edge of the city walls.

One of the many photos that I took of the bartizans on the city walls. A bartizan is a small turret built out over the edge of the supporting wall with peep holes to give an observer a clear view along the outer face of the neighbouring walls.

One of the many ramps running up to the top of the battlements. They are all gentle ramps to allow horses pulling artillery easy access to the battlements and allow commenders to relocate guns anywhere along the walls.

A view along the top of the battlements showing how wide the tops are which allow artillery to pass each other and to not interfere with guns in place. It also shows how which the walls were.

Yet another bartizan.

And another since after all they are very picturesque.

A view along a seaward facing wall of the old city.

A view of the colonnade of Las Bovedas, some storage areas built into the outer walls which are now souvenir shops.

So what is the name of this bird?...colourful and distinctive but I don't have a bird spotters book with me.

A view of the outer wall facing the sea...lower and thinner than elsewhere as the sea is too shallow for an effective bombardment from ships at sea and also therefore a sea borne infantry landing was not possible as when the walls were built they stood in the water without any dry land in front of them.

and lastly in one of the central parks of the city was a family of sloths, mum, dad and a baby who obviously found this an ideal spot as except for humans, there were no predators. And yes their arms really are that long!