Latest news with #Cartagena
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
3 International Vacations That Are Cheaper Than an iPhone
While the price of the latest smartphone can easily top $1,000, that same amount can cover an entire international getaway. For budget-conscious travelers, these destinations offer remarkable value without sacrificing beauty, culture, or adventure. Read More: Find Out: From South America's colorful coastlines to Europe's architectural gems, here are three international vacations that are cheaper than an iPhone. Budget-conscious travelers can experience Colombia for a fraction of the cost of a new iPhone. With round-trip flights from the East Coast under $400, they'll have plenty left over to enjoy Cartagena's vibrant culture, historic charm, and nearby island escapes. Cynthia Matthews von Berg, a family travel blogger, recommended flying into Cartagena and enjoying the colorful architecture, food, and easy beach access. She and her family stayed in Getsemani, a colorful neighborhood just outside the walled Old Town. 'Getsemani is funky, and while still touristy, much less crowded than Old Town Cartegena,' said Matthews von Berg. 'We stayed at Casa Villa Colonia, where two adults can stay in September for about four nights for a total of $290. You'll find a small pool on the roof, and breakfast [is] included.' In addition, Cartagena's layered history shapes its vibe, where Spanish, Indigenous, and African influences converge in its food, music, and architecture. 'You can explore an Old Spanish Ford, take a day trip to a mud volcano, or go snorkeling at Playa Blanca,' Matthews von Berg said. 'If you have a few extra days, take a boat out to the Rosario Islands for some truly relaxing island time. Water taxis cost about 70,000 (Colombian) pesos each way, or about $17.' Matthews von Berg recommended visiting Cartagena from December through April, during Colombia's dry season, for more affordable prices. See Next: Rotterdam delivers sleek architecture, bold design, and vibrant culture at a fraction of the cost of more famous European cities. With round-trip flights from the eastern United States for as low as $332, it's an accessible destination for travelers looking to stretch their budget without sacrificing experience. 'Amsterdam isn't the only city in the Netherlands with a river scene,' said Devin Rank, an account executive at Finn Partners representing a&o Hostels Rotterdam. 'Rotterdam is one of the most active cities in the country, with a striking skyline and access to vibrant nightlife and museums.' Travelers can stay at a&o Hostels Rotterdam for as little as 15 euros a night (about $17), according to Rank, who said that the property is located within walking distance of top cultural sites. For food lovers, the Markthal is a must. It is a free-to-enter architectural icon that is home to dozens of local food stalls beneath a massive ceiling mural. To score the best deals, Rank suggested visiting during the shoulder season (March to May or September to early November), when flights and hotels are typically more affordable. Rank said that while Rotterdam is highly walkable, public transportation is an often-overlooked expense that can add up quickly for travelers hopping between neighborhoods or cities. Expect to pay about $1.60 and $3.20 per ride for public transportation. Consider an unlimited day pass to save even more. Lima, Peru, is one of the most affordable international destinations for U.S. travelers, with round-trip flights from major cities often under $500. Once there, visitors can enjoy world-class cuisine, rich history, and ocean views, all for far less than the cost of a new iPhone. Travelers should expect to pay between $40 to $45 for daily costs thanks to affordable lodging, reliable public transportation, and inexpensive, high-quality food, said Carolina Martínez, Communications Manager at GuruWalk, an online platform for free walking tours. 'Lima's coastal views, colonial architecture, and world-renowned cuisine offer enormous value for budget-conscious travelers,' Martínez said. Martínez said visitors can enjoy free walking tours through Lima's historic center and the bohemian Barranco district to learn more about the city. In addition, Martínez recommended visiting in the shoulder seasons (March to May or September to November), when prices are lower and crowds thinner. To save even more, focus on outdoor attractions like the Malecón, a scenic clifftop path with ocean views, and ask local guides for hidden-gem eateries that offer authentic flavors at local prices. Finally, travelers should also plan for commonly overlooked expenses like tips for guides, SIM cards, and entrance fees to archaeological sites, which aren't always included in free excursions. More From GOBankingRates The 10 Most Reliable SUVs of 2025 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years This article originally appeared on 3 International Vacations That Are Cheaper Than an iPhone
Telegraph
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The Colombian city loved by Harry and Meghan (and it's safer than London)
When Alejandra Velasco visited London, she didn't dare take her phone out in public. In the Colombian city of Cartagena, she's walking around the backstreets wearing an enormous emerald pendant and matching earrings. We've just been for dinner at her friends' restaurant (whose cauliflower tacos were so flavoursome, I had to ask the owners to confirm they hadn't given me meat by mistake). It's late, and the streets are quiet, but Alejandra seems impervious to any potential threat. I too, feel at ease in her hometown. This Caribbean port seems less lawless and run-down than many of the British cities I've visited recently. There's hardly any litter, no intimidating groups of youth, and everywhere you go in its Unesco-listed old town, you'll see freshly painted restaurants and swish independent clothing stores. Cartagena, though long considered one of Colombia's biggest tourism draws, has lately emerged as something of a South American St Tropez, helped in no small part by the country's dramatically improved crime rate. All the jet-set are coming to this unique city, which pairs a stunning, walled Spanish colonial old town and a Miami-like new town, with the added bonus of laid-back island getaways for snorkelling, sailing and scuba diving on its doorstep. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited last August, and Alejandra says she has served everyone from Asian royalty to Amazon's billionaire owner, Jeff Bezos, at her mother's emerald store, Lucy Jewelry. Her friend Diana, she adds, has met half of Hollywood volunteering at the international film festival held here each April. 'Will Smith, Willem Dafoe, Susan Sarandon, Owen Wilson...' She reeled off more than a dozen A-listers. It's quite the list, and likely to grow further – the luxury Four Seasons hotel chain is opening an enormous outpost opposite the 16th-century ramparts this summer. It'll cement Cartagena's place on the luxury travel circuit. Not that this is the sort of destination you can only visit with an A-lister's bank balance. While I used a local tour operator, Sulit Experiences, to arrange my airport transfers and a guided history walk, I organised everything else through the holiday comparison site Kayak. You can find return flights from the UK with well-timed connections for between £750 to £1,000, and there's no shortage of affordable yet sumptuous accommodation options. The four-star Townhouse Art Hotel, for example, has spacious doubles from just £86, B&B, and comes with everything you could ask for in a sultry Latin stay – from a sexy piano lounge to a rooftop bar with plunge pools and sweeping views across the pantiles. For a little more money – from £214, B&B – you can even stay in a converted bishop's palace, Casa Carolina. Incredibly chic, it has a zen-like pool built into its courtyard, with stepping stones connecting its lobby to the yoga studio at the far end. Influencers wander in off the street to sit on its rope swings and pose beside doric columns. The city is just as Instagrammable – even its shopping mall is gouged into the old La Serrezuela bullring. Cartagena often doubles for New Orleans or Havana in films – although it's far grander. So much gold and silver passed through here during colonial times that it was almost constantly besieged by the French and English – including Sir Francis Drake. It's why the fortress and city walls are so monumental, and why every other building within its seven-mile-long battlements seems to be a sumptuous palazzo. Most are now bars and restaurants, like Casa Bohême, whose collonaded courtyard and rooms have been turned into a series of restaurants and lounges by Parisian Franck Azoulay and his Vogue stylist wife, Jeannette. The couple discovered Cartagena while touring the world, throwing glamorous parties for their high-end events brand. In many ways, this sophisticated city offers the sort of lifestyle they're used to when working in Ibiza or Tulum. A 30-minute speedboat ride, and they can be moored off some mangrove islet, partying or reclining on deck. It's part of what makes this historic city that little bit special. As a tourist, you can book a trip to the nearby Rosario Islands for around £40pp. Or, for £205, you can charter your own 10-man vessel through Boating Cartagena, as I did. These Caribbean islands are nothing like glitzy St Barts. One minute you're dropping anchor off a private beach owned by a Swiss billionaire. The next you're snorkelling on the reef, surrounded by men in kayaks making 'coco-loco' cocktails from the cool boxes on their prows. On the car-free Tierra Bomba, I had to ride a horse to get between Amare Beach Club, where I had lunch, and the Blue Apple Beach House, where I'm told Jeff Bezos came to relax when he wasn't shopping for Colombian emeralds. This beach club with rooms looks like any other cabana-fanned hangout in the Caribbean – except you won't find the usual pizzas and burgers on its menu. Blue Apple's Venezuelan chef Pedro Mosqueda has worked under several Michelin-starred maestros in the West. Colombia is full of first-rate, highly trained chefs like Pedro, who were keen to return to South America when the drug wars fizzled out. So many have come back that Blue Apple puts on regular 'secret suppers' so Pedro and other fine-dining protégés – now working in kitchens across Colombia – can come together and cook. It's not just returnees who are transforming Colombia's food and drink scene. At Nia Bakery, back in the old town, I gorged on pastries topped with edible flowers and oozing with some of Colombia's 1,000 native fruits. The owners – Cali, one of the cities most affected by narco bombings and kidnappings – are trying to help farmers transition away from the drug trade they were once forced to participate in. They're also attempting to reclaim the coca leaf itself, using ground versions of it – known as mambé – to make ice creams and lattes. It's not my cup of coffee, but I admire the ingenuity. Colombia has far more going for it than the troubled history Netflix seems determined to forever tar it with. At Lunatico Experience, they're trying to showcase their contemporary reality by hosting everything from cooking classes to rum tastings. It's a message that needs shouting from the belfries. Even I came to Colombia with outdated preconceptions. As a vegetarian, I was dreading meal times. But I needn't have worried. Even seafood restaurants like Salon Tropical happily swap out ingredients to accommodate awkward travellers like me (using heart of palm and sweet potato in the ceviche, instead of the usual fish, for example). The chefs at Carmen Restaurant even prepared a meat-free version of their seven-course tasting menu at a moment's notice. Talk about the VIP treatment. I can see why Bezos and co have fallen for Cartagena.
ABC News
12-05-2025
- ABC News
Destination unknown
And now we travel from Rome to this picturesque South American laneway: BACK WHERE THEY BELONG No-go nations that are now must-see destinations - The Age Traveller, 3 May, 2025 Yes, the cover of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald's liftout for jetsetters transported readers to this colourful backstreet in Colombia's port city of Cartagena in this exquisite photograph of the city's 16th century cathedral, but look at it long enough and you become oddly nauseous because that tree seems to have sprouted directly from the masonry and is that balcony even attached to the eaves? And someone's taken a bite out of the pot-plant. So we traced the image to its source on this Adobe stock image gallery and the wider version comes complete with a floating wall-lamp, ghostly balconies and more of that drifting greenery. Yes, as you've already guessed, we discovered this is not a photograph at all but the work of a machine's imagination. The image was posted by an account dubbed 'Arnada', one of many turning famous destinations into AI slop. Like Buenos Aires in Argentina, a strikingly similar street in Lima, Peru and this somewhat disturbing Hindu temple supposedly in southern India, all of which come with a disclaimer: Editorial use must not be misleading or deceptive. - Adobe Stock We asked Nine about its use of the fake AI image, prompting a real human being to type up these corrections which appeared in both mastheads on Saturday. A spokesperson told us: … Unfortunately, on this occasion an AI image supplied by a third-party provider was published in the Traveller section. As soon as we became aware, the image was promptly removed from the online version… - Email, Nine Spokesperson, 10 May, 2025 Nine is not alone however in misleading its readers about what the real world actually looks like, just take a look at this apocalyptic image used by the ABC to illustrate stories about climate change on no fewer than four occasions since 2022. These birds wheeling above a dying planet were not AI-generated, but were nevertheless fake, and came from a similar stock library this time owned by Getty Images, where journalists can select their favourite flavour of climate hellscape with those same smokestacks in a cornfield or in the midst of precious wetlands or even plumb in the middle of a working mine all of which are all the work of a very creative Baran Özdemir who says his openly declared composite images are not intended to blow smoke but rather to: … convey conceptual and symbolic messages … - Email, Baran Özdemir, Photographer, 7 May, 2025 And if publishers choose to use these creations … well then: … it is their editorial responsibility to clarify whether the image is illustrative or documentary … - Email, Baran Özdemir, Photographer ,7 May, 2025 Which of course, the ABC had failed to do. After our inquiries it removed Ozdemir's composite image from its online stories explaining it had not properly labelled the image when it was first downloaded. A spokesperson added: We can't commission original photography for the dozens of images required each day ... We've been alerting staff to be vigilant to changes in the images available via agencies and the way they're presented. - Email, ABC Spokesperson, 9 May, 2025 This vigilance about what is real and what is not has been on the slide in overseas publications too. Can you spot what's wrong with this image from the Boston Globe late last year? Yes, that's right our forearms do not contain a third bone, not yet anyway, which the Globe later acknowledged in this correction. And do you need more than a single guess as to why publications might prefer concocted landscapes or anatomically imperfect X-rays? No, of course you don't. They look cheap because they are, and as they bloom across the news so the value of real photography withers as Matthew Abbott, the 2020 Nikon-Walkley Press Photographer of the Year, explained: … AI-generated images are often sensational and hyper-polished in ways genuine documentary photographs rarely are. I worry that as audiences consume more of these constructed images, the emotional impact of actual photographs will fade. - Email, Matthew Abbott, Documentary Photographer, 11 May, 2025 Dean Lewins, who won the same honour two years earlier, told us the use of AI: … undermines the trust and authenticity of the masthead or news organisation. The three main pillars of journalism are truth, accuracy and objectivity. An AI generated image, just like AI generated text, breaks all three rules.) - Email, Dean Lewins, Chief Photographer, AAP, 9 May, 2025 News Corp is also snubbing us mere mortals and turning to machines for imagery almost every week like this traffic jam from hell, or a train going nowhere, or this renewables wasteland which it should be said was all declared to be the work of Chat GPT. The company's AI policy says any use of AI needs a final tick from an editor, who must: … apply the same editorial rigour and standards to how we use all information … sourced from AI technology … - Email, News Corp Spokesperson, 9 May, 2025 Nine's AI policy for its newspapers says: …there must always be a human between any AI tool and our audience… AI will not be used to generate photo-realistic images or illustrations for publication, except in cases where the AI-generated nature of the image is the point of the story. As for Aunty, it's in the final stages of developing a new strategy for the use of AI. Presently its policies say any significant use of machine learning must be approved by senior staff disclosed to audiences and must not mislead. Loathe it, or loathe it, it's clear that photoshopped fakes and dystopian AI images are now rooting themselves into the industry of journalism and the impact may be as profound as it is disturbing. If newspaper and website editors don't fight for the proper and meaningful discrimination between what is real and what is not, they will be betraying not just their readers and not just their industry but the very notion of the truth.
Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Telegraph
Why Europe's sunniest city should be your next holiday destination
The coastal city of Cartagena, in southeastern Spain's Murcia region, has been found to receive more sunshine than anywhere else in Europe. Why it should get a few hours more than, say, Alicante, just up the coast, or Malaga on the Costa del Sol, I'm not entirely sure. Then again, it is on the Costa Cálida, the 'Warm Coast', as this stretch of Murcia is called, so maybe there is something in it. After crunching World Weather Online data, covering the period 2009 to 2025 and looking at European cities with populations above 200,000, Holidu, an accommodation platform, found that Cartagena gets an average of 283 hours of sunshine a month. Thirteen of the top 30 cities in the survey are in Spain, with not much between them, but while the likes of Seville, Granada and Madrid are top city-break choices, Cartagena flies largely under the radar. Most of its British visitors are either arriving on the cruise ships that dock in its large port or popping down from the resorts of the nearby Mar Menor to do a spot of shopping. But it is deserving of more attention. There is a lot of history to get your head around here, as Cartagena was founded in 227 BC and is one of the oldest cities in Spain. It was from here that Hannibal set off with his elephants in 218 BC to cross the Alps and invade Italy. Although much of the city was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War and earlier conflicts, you are constantly coming across vestiges of its rich past as you walk around. If you whizz up in the swish lift to the observation point by the castle, you'll understand why this strategic location was so attractive to numerous rulers over the centuries. From the vantage point of the hilltop, you see that the city curves around a natural harbour that is sheltered in a crinkly inlet, a bit like Plymouth. The port sprawls around the waterfront, while immediately below you a Roman theatre is tucked into the hillside. To learn more about it and get a closer look, stroll down to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the sparkling square that showcases the splendid town hall. Opposite is the Museo del Teatro Romano, designed by Rafael Moneo, where you can soak up as much or as little background as you like before emerging in the theatre itself. It's astounding that no one even knew it was there until 1988, as the structure lay buried under layers of ruined buildings – including a cathedral. It was only discovered because this prime yet derelict bit of land was being cleared with a view to building a centre to promote the Murcia region's traditional crafts. A plan that was dropped, obviously. Since then, remains of Roman Cartagena have been gradually coming to light, including the forum, where there is also now a museum, the Museo del Foro Romano Molinete. It's one of those places, like Malaga, where every time a digger breaks up a pavement some sort of relic is revealed. All that history and heritage can be a bit exhausting – particularly in that relentless sunshine. In the summer months, the temperature in Cartagena is actually more conducive to sitting around doing as little as possible. Just as well then that the city has no shortage of café terraces with shaded tables. I always like to get in the swing by ordering an asiático, a punchy local concoction with layers of coffee, brandy, Licor 43 (a liqueur made in Cartagena) and condensed milk and served in a covetable chunky tumbler – resist the temptation to slip it into your bag though as the glasses have become one of Cartagena's most popular souvenirs and are easily available to buy. An asiático is guaranteed to pick you up, although your cultural agenda may slip a bit afterwards. From the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, follow the throng of people walking up the Calle Mayor, which is not only lined with shops and bars but also features several ornate modernista buildings – the form of art nouveau architecture that will be familiar to you from Barcelona and Valencia. The style flourished in Cartagena at the turn of the 20th century when wealth generated from the mining industry was used to build lavish residences. You could start a second day down at the port, where there are two museums that are essential to understanding Cartagena's maritime importance. The Museo Naval, where there is a section on Isaac Peral, who designed the first electric submarine in the late 19th century. I remember seeing the submarine on the waterfront, where it was displayed for many years, exposed to the elements, and was in a bit of a sorry state. Fortunately it was transferred indoors to the museum in 2012 and has been restored to its former glory. A stroll along the waterfront brings you to the ARQVA, the Museo Nacional de Arqueología Subacuática, where you delve into an underwater world of fascinating finds from Phoenician times up to the present day. Back outside, the aroma of the freshest of fish being fried is likely to lure you into one of the quayside restaurants. Varadero, in the fishing harbour, is a great spot to try arroz de caldero, the Murcian rice dish which is made in a hefty iron pot rather than a paella pan, a tradition devised by local fishermen. Woozily sipping another asiático after your lunch, under the almost eternally blue sky, you'll probably be thinking that Cartagena is pretty much perfect for a city break. How to do it The nearest airport is Murcia International, to which Ryanair and EasyJet fly from London and several regional airports. The Sercotel Alfonso XIII is a good central base; doubles from £82, room only. For something fancier, the Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Golf & Spa is a 30-minute drive from Cartagena; doubles from £330, including breakfast.
Boston Globe
10-05-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
As Eliot Tatelman exits, Jordan's Furniture taps MullenLowe as its ad agency
Advertisement Tatelman was not only the star of the ads, he also helped write the copy. Now, that task will be handled by the scribes at MullenLowe. It was an account that everyone in MullenLowe's Boston office wanted a part of, Cartagena said. Cartagena is based in the firm's New York office, but he grew up in Bolton and is all too familiar with the Jordan's shtick: As a kid, his parents dragged him along for furniture shopping to a Jordan's store with the promise of watching an IMAX movie there. 'We had to win this thing,' Cartagena said of his agency's attitude about pitching Jordan's for the gig. 'I knew that if we won this, everyone is going to go out to make sure it's a success.' Advertisement Over the years, brothers Barry and Eliot Tatelman became household names throughout much of New England thanks to their ads, ubiquitous and often quirky. They sold the company to Berkshire Hathaway in 1999, and Barry Tatelman walked away roughly seven years later. 'In a way, they were kind of trailblazers in advertising, especially Eliot,' Cartagena said. 'Eliot was the one writing all this stuff.' Now, MullenLowe has an opportunity to reinvent Jordan's for a new generation of furniture buyers. Cartagena said he expects to watch old Jordan's ads to see what ideas can be gleaned for the new campaign. For now, the details are under wraps: He wouldn't say when the campaign would begin, but admitted that MullenLowe crafted a new tagline for the company that it aims to roll out. 'Partnering with MullenLowe is an exciting new chapter for us,' Linda SanGiacomo, senior vice president of marketing at Jordan's, said in an email. 'It builds on Jordan's legacy of doing things differently while bringing in fresh creative energy to help connect with a new generation of customers.' It's unclear how much longer Tatelman will appear in Jordan's ads. MullenLowe is still figuring out the best way to transition into the new era. 'The last thing we want to do is just go dark on Eliot,' Cartagena said. 'I think you would have a mutiny in New England.' This is an installment of our weekly Bold Types column about the movers and shakers on Boston's business scene. Jon Chesto can be reached at
