Taganga – Santa Marta - 19 km
The following day we backtracked up and cycled over the hill to Santa Marta where
Ernest discovered a bike shop to do the necessary maintenance. Once all was done,
the time was past midday and we opted for a hostel.
At the hostel, I was surprised to meet a South African lady looking to find a
teaching job in town. I seldom met fellow South Africans as they aren’t the greatest
adventure travellers, preferring to stick to the well-worn tourist path or organised
tours.
Santa Marta was more interesting than we had foreseen. A walk into town revealed
a giant statue of Simón Bolívar. Simón Bolívar, a Venezuelan military leader, was
instrumental, along with José de San Martín, in freeing Latin America from the
Spanish Empire. Today he’s revered as South America’s greatest hero and known as
The Liberator. He’s still considered one of the most influential politicians in Latin
American history. No self-respecting town is thus without a Simón Bolívar Plaza.
Being the oldest (remaining) city in South America, Santa Marta has an outstanding
architectural heritage revealing beautifully renovated colonial buildings, lively
squares and a charming waterfront.
The region was home to the Tairona people until the Spanish arrived. Unfortunately,
history has it that the Spanish attempted to enslave their women and children. As a
result, the Tairona population fled into the forest and moved higher up the Sierra
Nevada de Santa Marta. This allowed them to escape the worst of the Spanish
colonial system. There were, therefore, quite a few monuments in town depicting
the Taironas.
An additional day was spent in Santa Marta, and Ernest explored the market, where
he replaced his tent zip. I meandered around town, exploring the narrow lanes and
alleys of the old part.