We didn’t arrive at Cartagena until after 09.00 in the morning and I took the opportunity to have a lie in. It was nice to be having a whole day out, with no tours to supervise or bridge sessions to organise.
Here was my first view of Cartagena – from our cabin window.
After doing some research I had a couple of bars in mind which I thought might be showing the Liverpool game, but our first stop was Tourist Information for a town map. Then we meandered through the small city centre in the general direction of the bars I’d researched. Denis met some soldiers who seemed to have as much enthusiasm as him for a match involving Accrington Stanley. Or indeed Liverpool
We wandered around the old and the new bits of Cartagena and ended up at Dowar’s Bar. We explained our need in terms of watching the football and they agreed to show the first half – after that the local team, Cartagena, were playing Racing de Ferrol in La Ligue 2 and (understandably) they would be showing that.
When the time came the manager tried and tried to get the match for us but was unsuccessful. He was very apologetic and made it up to us by giving us a significant discount. Excellent customer service.
We were back on board in time for the second half which wasn’t on the tv in the sports bar there either! Instead there was basketball which precisely no one was watching. So we were forced to follow the game via the BBC news feed. Final score was 4-0 to the good guys.
There was also a general knowledge quiz in the sports bar which – disappointingly- we didn’t win.
After that we went to the “Sail Away Party” where there was free if somewhat diluted sangria. It was great fun.
All in all it was a lovely day. Next stop is Malaga and we haven’t been allocated any tours there either. So once again we will have the day to ourselves.
Pearl Blog 3 