![](http://www.leelau.net/2018/spain2018/SpainTravels/Cartagena181106/flag.jpg)
Spain Travels – A Land of History and Great Food!
Barcelona || Zaragoza || Daroca and Albarracin || Valencia || Cartegena || Almeria || Granada || Alhambra || Segovia and Madrid Cartegena
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Founded in 220BC by the Carthegenians, Cartagena has persisted in being a major strategic port city for the Iberian Peninsula on the Mediterranean. It was also important for the Romans during their rein of Spain. It has been a Strategic naval port for Spain since the 18th Century. Its rich cultural history has made it a Cruise Ship and regular tourist destination. The Old Town spreads from the port, and is now surrounded by the growing city. This creates a cool old vs new contrast to Cartegena. It was a great place to spend a couple of nights and walk around to take in the History of Spain.
In Cartegena we stayed at an AirB&B in the newer part of town on Calle Alfonso X el Sabio which was an easy walk to the old Town.
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Chinese restaurants everywhere!
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Cartegena’s rich history
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The Grand Hotel – an Art Nouveau building built in the early 20th century
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Cool ship in the Harbour
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Apparently this is owned by a Russion Oligarch who lives on it most of the year.
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Lee dips his toes in the Mediterranean
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Sunset and ships
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Calle Mayor – Refurbished Old Town
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Planted in 1927 These Ficus Marophila ( Australian Fig Trees or Banyan) Dominate the Plaza de San Francisco
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Old Roman Walls.
![](http://www.leelau.net/2018/spain2018/SpainTravels/Cartagena181106/12cartagena.jpg)
Unearthing Roman ruins that had been covered by successive inhabitants
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More Roman Walls
![](http://www.leelau.net/2018/spain2018/SpainTravels/Cartagena181106/15cartagena.jpg)
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Lined by Olive trees!
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New art in the old town.
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Roman Theatre of Carthago Nova
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Roman Theatre of Carthago Nova