We'd spent ten days at sea when we came to our first cruise port day in Cartagena, Spain. Cartagena wasn't part of the original itinerary and was added when high seas kept us from stopping in the Azores and making it to Madeira, Portugal. I hadn't been out of country since I was 18 years old, and this was my first time traveling to a foreign country "alone".
I ended up tagging along with an amazing couple I spent most sea days listening to music and drinking with. We explored with an even bigger group that connected in one of the cruise Facebook groups.
If you don't know about cruise Facebook groups, you're really missing out on an opportunity to connect with people aboard. Before you leave for your cruise, search for "(Cruise Line) (Ship Name) (Date your cruise embarks)" to find one or a few groups of people also traveling. I use these groups to connect with cruise friends before, during, and after cruises.
Cruise Port Day in Cartagena, Spain
We walked the city and started by accidentally heading the wrong way. It was a happy little accident that led us down a winding street with some of the best street art I saw during the trip -- and I saw a lot of amazing street art.
The architecture and pedestrian-friendly roads were an absolute delight, and I found myself encountering art at every corner. Everywhere I looked, another perfect still, another vibrant scene I wished I could capture.
I knew I wouldn't have to worry about not finding things to do in ports, but this first visit taught me my favorite way to explore a city would also be the most accessible.
And so I rambled my first Spanish streets, intoxicated by the sights and sounds.
Eventually, we found our way to Calle Mayor, the life-humming pedestrian walkway that slices into town from the port. Restaurants and shops lined the beautifully stoned street, and the sound of a harp pulled us onward from one plaza to another.
Everyone stopped for la cerveza, but I've never been a fan of beer so I slipped away to find a snack. I managed (with great effort and many mistakes) to order a tiny turkey sandwich which was delightful.
When I met back up with the group, we kept walking, finding a botanical garden and ruins site with views of the ship in the harbor.
My friends and I split off from the group after that to head back to a deliciously inviting paella place called Columbus near the start of Calle Mayor on the way back to the ship.
And so I had my first introduction to Spanish paella, a food I would eat in several cities throughout my journey.
Paella is seasoned with saffron and gets crispy around the edges. It takes a minimum of 30 minutes to cook and has to be ordered for 2 or more people because it is cooked in a large serving dish and meant to be shared family style.
This first one was vegetarian as one of the three of us was vegetarian, but I mostly had seafood paella while in Spain. They were all amazing, and I highly recommend ordering paella if you ever have the chance. I actually want one of the paella pans now that I'm back home so I can experiment with similar dishes.
I also had a shot of espresso and tried patatas bravas for the first time.
By the time we made it back to the ship, I was exhausted from all the walking but satisfied with a delightful day in Spain.
Did you miss the previous posts in the series?
My Next Big Solo Adventure: 45 Day Transatlantic Cruise
Traveling Alone: The Case for Solo Travel
My First Transatlantic Crossing
The Piano Bar on Carnival Cruise Lines
