July 1, 2025

Historia de viaje: Las calles de Cartagena ♫ 229

Historia de viaje: Las calles de Cartagena ♫ 229

What happens when a trip that was supposed to be a relaxing getaway goes completely off the rails? In this episode, find out how a travel plan gone wrong led to an unexpected solo adventure in the beautiful, historic city of Cartagena, Colombia. This story starts with a desperate, last-minute decision to scrap the original itinerary and fly to a new country, inspired only by a classic salsa song 💃🏽. What followed was an incredible adventure of spontaneity and discovery, from stumbling i...

What happens when a trip that was supposed to be a relaxing getaway goes completely off the rails?

In this episode, find out how a travel plan gone wrong led to an unexpected solo adventure in the beautiful, historic city of Cartagena, Colombia.

This story starts with a desperate, last-minute decision to scrap the original itinerary and fly to a new country, inspired only by a classic salsa song 💃🏽. 

What followed was an incredible adventure of spontaneity and discovery, from stumbling into a chocolate-themed hotel to connecting with locals and learning the unique Spanish of the Colombian coast.

This episode is packed with travel stories, cultural insights, and the real-world Spanish you won't find in a textbook.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

  • 9+ essential Cartagena slang words you need to know to sound like a local (and understand what they’re saying) 😲
  • How one common word can mean both "a little" and "a lot" depending on the context 🤏🏽
  • The key differences between the Spanish spoken on the Caribbean coast (el costeñol) versus in the interior of Colombia 🇨🇴
  • Why you need to be careful when ordering eggs for breakfast in Colombia (you might say something you don't mean!) 🍳

Listen to this episode to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Cartagena and learn the secrets of the coastal Colombian accent!

 Cartagenero Words Shared in this Epsiode:

  • Foco 💡 Bombillo (Lightbulb)

  • Trinche 🍴 Tenedor (Fork)

  • Arruganado 💸 Sin dinero (Broke, poor)

  • Camostre 😬 Feo (Unattractive person)

  • Bagre 🐟 Pez gato; feo (Catfish; unattractive person)

  • Yesquero 🔥 Encendedor (Lighter)

  • Mocho ⬇️ Corto (Short)

  • Frasco 🍾 Botella de vidrio (Glass bottle)

  • Poco 👐🏽 Mucho (A lot)

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Arroyo - La Rebelión (Music Video)

Joy Arroyo statue in Cartagena

Cecelia's at the Market in Cartagena

 

Anthony Bourdain at Cecelia's in his show "No Reservations"

 

[FREE DOWNLOAD]  Quick Guide to Your First Spanish Conversation >> Click here to download  or go to www.spanishconversationguide.com - Learn *exactly* what to say when you meet someone for the first time in less than 30 minutes!

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