“He always said he wanted to be buried facing the sea,” the old woman whispered, dabbing a tear. She carefully placed a yellow rose at the base of the Gabriel García Márquez – morada final Statue. Many call it a tomb, but it’s more a monument to the literary giant. You can feel the weight of his words here in the air, heavy with the scent of the sea and bougainvillea. Gabriel García Márquez, lovingly nicknamed “Gabo”, chose Cartagena as his final resting place. He once said, “I completed my education as a writer in Cartagena.” The city, with its vibrant colors and rich history, seeped into his soul and poured out onto the pages of his novels, most notably “Love in the Time of Cholera.” Although he lived in many places, Cartagena always held a piece of his heart. The Gabriel García Márquez – morada final Statue, a simple yet elegant marble structure, sits within La Merced monastery. This location, on the edge of the University of Cartagena’s campus, offers a poignant view of the Caribbean. It’s almost as if Gabo, ever the storyteller, is watching the waves and dreaming up new tales. Even in death, he remains a silent sentinel, forever intertwined with the city he loved.
Hotel Bellavista
Is it just me, or does this place exude a certain kind of magic? We’re standing before Hotel Bellavista, a