Cartagena, SHOCKED Us - Cooking Class, Animal Attacks & Norovirus on Board
Today we are in Cartegena Colombia, a destination we never really had on our radar and wow, were we wrong about this place. We also will discuss the norovirus outbreak and a medical evacuation at sea. Growing up in the 80s, Colombia was known for all the wrong reasons. But Cartagena surprised us in the best possible way with incredible food, rich history, unexpected wildlife encounters, and a whole lot of adventure. Our day starts with a famous cooking class, where we learn to prepare traditional Colombian dishes — from coconut rice and arepas to banana-leaf-wrapped fish and a wildly unique shrimp cocktail. We even made our own coconut milk the traditional way! Next, we explore Cartagena’s Old Town, walking through historic plazas, candy-lined streets, iconic landmarks like the Clock Tower, and a cathedral dating back to 1612. Along the way, our guide gives us a refreshingly honest look at Colombia’s past — and how far it has come. Then things get… chaotic. Back at the port, we discover an animal reserve — and that’s when: - Peacocks roam the parking lot - Parrots aggressively attack Nancy - A monkey steals food right in front of us - Tortoises… well… do tortoise things It’s some of the funniest footage we’ve ever captured, so make sure you stay till the end. As if that wasn’t enough, we end the day getting absolutely drenched in a tropical downpour on the walk back to the ship. To wrap up our 30 days of cruising, things take a serious turn as norovirus strikes the ship, leading to enhanced cleaning, buffet changes, and even a medical helicopter evacuation at sea. We share exactly how Royal Caribbean handled it and what passengers really need to know. This episode is fun, eye-opening, honest, and full of surprises — and it perfectly captures what Living Phase 2 is all about. Come along as we visit our 91st country! If you enjoyed the video, please leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you! Also, please remember to give us a thumbs up and SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://bit.ly/3DK9DvU Please visit our website at: https://livingphase2.com where we cover a multitude of information, such as leisure activities, health, wealth, and family topics that are relevant to empty nesters and living in the second phase of life. For any products we mention that we have tried or recommend, you can find most of those linked in our Amazon Store, where if you click through there, we do make a small commission. However, we will never recommend a product we haven’t tried and wouldn’t use ourselves. Here’s the link to the store front: https://www.amazon.com/shop/nancyjacobs #cartagenacolombia #norovirus #cdc #panamacanalcruise #royalcaribbean #cruisevlog #cruiselife