Schedule of Wedding Events

There are many activities and tours around town. We planned a few group outings but if you would prefer to explore Cartagena at your own pace please feel free to do so. The idea is to have a great vacation! Here are some of the outings we are planning:

Tuesday January 8, 2008

Welcome to Cartagena! Guest Arrival

Casa Peter

• Welcome Reception 6:00 pm
• Casa Peter:Calle Factoria #36-152

You can spend the afternoon strolling around town at your leisure and start discovering some favorite places. We will have a small and casual reception at Casa Peter at 6:00 pm to meet the family, have a few refreshments, and start warming up our engines for the week's activities. Casa Peter was owned by an American writer named Peter Tompkins who wrote a best selling novel entitled The Secret Lives of Plants. Mr. Tompkins passed away in 2006 but the house continues to operate as a hotel. With several rooms ranging from large and elegant to a basic room with a bed, Casa Peter is simply yet beautifully decorated in the colonial style.

Wednesday January 9, 2008

Walking Tour in the Old City

La Plaza in front of San Pedro

• Walking Tour meeting time: 10:00 am at Casa del Conde de Pestagua

Get your walking shoes ready. We will meet at La Casa del Conde de Pestagua at 10:00 am to begin a walking tour of the old city guided by Dave and Gisella. We will visit El Palacio de la Inquisición where the Catholic Church held court trying to root out witches and other heretics. We will also visit the churches La Iglesia de Pedro Claver and La Catedral which have been renovated and whose towers are particularly beautiful on the nighttime skyline. Along the way we will stop at las Bovedas or the dungeons which were used as a jail during colonial times but are now filled with local merchants selling crafts, shirts, and other souvenirs. We’ll end the tour there as we know everybody would like to buy a few things and take their time, so the rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy some shopping.

Thursday January 10, 2008

Las Islas del Rosario and Chiva Ride!

Paradise in the Islas de Rosarios

A view from the boat!

• Boat ride R/T to the islands: $35 US (boat has maximum capacity of 50 people)
• Meet at docks in La Manga at 7:45 am sharp!
• Return from Las Islas: 4:30 pm
• Chiva departs at 7:30 pm from Casa Conde de Pestagua
• Cost of Chiva: $US 16
• Guests must RSVP for both events. To reserve your sit for one or both of the outings please send us a check with full payment along with the RSVP card before November 24. Thank you.

Just a short distance off the coast of Cartagena (a 45 minute boat ride) are the Islas del Rosario. This archipelago consists of 27 small islands surrounded by coral reefs. The color of the waters here range from crystal blue to purple! We will go to San Pedro de Majagua Island. We will enjoy a day of snorkeling and relaxing on the beach so be sure to bring your bathing suit! Lunch will be served under beautiful tropical trees and a view to the ocean! For those who might be interested to see dolphins, sharks, other sea creatures in action there will be a boat going from San Pedro de Majagua to the aquarium. Or you can skip it and spend the day just relaxing by the beach. The cost of lunch and day activities is additional. We will return from Las Islas at 4:30 pm relax a bit and then proceed to dinner. After dinner we will take a Chiva ride (a traditional Colombian bus) through the city! The ride or "paseo" takes about two and a half hours and is a great way to enjoy Colombian music, see the sites and begin the party! The ride includes a live band on board and drinks are offered during the entire tour. Inside the old city, the chiva makes a stop for riders to enjoy typical local fritters. and at the end of the trip it will stop for about 45 minutes at a local club/bar so the dancers in the family can show us their moves. Whenever we are ready the chiva will take us back to the house. Oh yes, we’ll be ready for some sleep.

Friday January 11, 2008

La Popa and La Fortaleza San Felipe and Rehearsal Dinner!

La Fortaleza de San Felipe

• Cost of San Felipe: $US 4 plus transportation (about US $3)
• Cost of La Popa: $US 3 plus transportation
• Rehearsal Dinner: Hotel Charleston (By Invitation Only)
• Dinner Time: 7:00 pm

Occupying a prominent hill in the City, El Castillo de San Felipe is the largest and strongest fort built by the Spaniards in their colonies. Built in 1639 the fort provided protection against pirates, it has an extensive system of tunnels underneath and are a must see. La Popa is a monastery perched on top of a hill 148 meters above the city of Cartagena. It offers a spectacular view of the city in addition to housing some very interesting religious artifacts. Every year on February 2nd a religous procession begins here in which a statue of the the Virgen de la Candelaria is carried into the center of the city.

In the evening we will have the rehearsal dinner (by invitation only) on top of the Hotel Charleston. The Charleston also known as the Hotel Santa Teresa is an old convent that has been restored and now functions as a 5 star hotel. The views from the roof are breath taking especially at night!! Dinner will start at 7:00 pm so don't be late.

Saturday January 12, 2008

The Big Day

La Iglesia Santo Domingo

• Wedding Location: La Iglesia de Santo Domingo
• Wedding Time: 3:00 pm
• Reception Location: La Casa del Conde de Pestagua (a short walk from church)
• Reception time: Immediately following the wedding

Finally, the day we have all been anxiously awaiting is here!! Thank you to all who will be there this special day, and those of you who couldn’t make it, you’ll be in our hearts and in our thoughts. So what should you wear to the wedding?. It’s the Caribbean!! Neckties, wool and black dresses are forbidden! For the men, we are asking that you wear the formal attire of the Coast also called “Guayabera Formal.” For weddings, a linen shirt with collar, long sleeves and cuffs, worn outside linen or light cotton trousers and leather shoes caramel or brown in color (no sandals please) is considered a formal Caribbean attire. Although they come in a variety of colors formal guayabera shirts are white, cream, or tan in color. There are several stores around Cartagena that sell guayaberas including:

• Tienda de Wippy – Calle Santo Domingo
• Ketty Tinoco – Calle Baloco or +57 5 6640525
• Salomon – Calle Santo Domingo
• Ricardo Pava - Across from Hotel Charleston/Santa Teresa

Or you can buy them on line at: www.worldly.com, www.cubanfoodmarket.com, mycubanboutique.com, www.guayaberashirt.com, and www.mycubanstore.com. If you choose not to wear a guayabera, just make sure your shirt has a collar, has long sleeves and that the shoes are closed. We would like you to wear what you feel most comfortable in. For the ladies, you can wear anything cool, feminine, floaty....In Colombia, women usually dress formally, often wearing silk or chiffon, mid-calf length or long dresses. For those from the United States, think “cocktail attire” and make sure you can dance in it!