The courtyard of the monastery was filled with flowers. We rested there for a few minutes under the portico that lined the building. The monastery got its name, La Popa because it sits on the top of a hill that is shaped like the poop deck of the old sailing ships that were in use at the time the monastery was built.

. . . and this was just the middle of the altar. Couldn't get the distance and the light to get the whole thing! The Spaniards who built colonial Cartagena had access to plenty of gold. They used a lot of it to adorn their religious edifices.

You feel as if you are "on top of the world," at the monastery. I guess you are. These two pictures give a panoramic view of the Cartagena harbor. The pictures fit together at the crane near the right edge of the top picture, not far from where our chariot awaits our return so we can sail for Aruba which will be next on our photo tour.

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