Every year around Christmas, Medellin is transformed into a wonderland of shimmering lights and colored fountains.  Tourists from all over Colombia make the journey to Medellin to join the throngs of people enjoying the lights, music, food, and performances on display nightly. The rest of the year Medellin relaxes but still is a lively city almost everyday; especially on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Some of the best Salsa dancing happens on Tuesday night. The weather is consistently temperate due to the location and topography. Medellin is known as the city of "eternal spring" due to this consistent climate throughout the year. The city is broken up into "barrios". The most famous for tourists is Poblado but there are others worth visiting such as Envigado, Sabaneta, Parque Belen and Laureles if you want a more authentic Colombian experience.

Cartagena is an historic city popular with both foreign and Colombian tourists who come for the beaches, fine dining and nightlife- but above all else- to see the Colonial architecture.

Cartagena was one of the primary port cities for exporting Spanish booty acquired after  plundering the South American mainland.  The resulting Spanish architecture is undeniably beautiful, and the cities Old Town echoes sentiments of Europe, with it’s narrow cobbled alleys and stucco buildings. The amount of precious metals being routed through Cartagena made it a magnet for perpetual pirate attacks.  Consequently the Spanish constructed a fort and 11 km wall surrounding the city, a feat which took more than 200 years due to a constant barrage of pirate attacks.  When finally completed, the city was said to be impregnable.  A large fortress, The Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, still looms over the city and is a primary tourist attraction. (photos) In addition to historical sites and architecture, Cartagena possesses a distinct Colombian and Caribbean flair with vibrant shopping, nightlife, and dancing that lasts until the early hours of the morning. (photos) The only drawbacks to Cartagena, en mi opinion, are the heat and humidity and the uber-touristy vibe.