Little Lolly's Small Adventures: Cartagena, Spain. Excursion: Agrupa Vicenta Mines & Flamenco Performance.

Another day and another port to get out and about and explore. This time in Spain.

When silver, lead and zinc were found in the surrounding hills of Cartagena, the city became a sea port from which the minerals could be exported.

My tour was an interesting one, going to the Agrupa Vicenta Mine within the mineral park not far from Cartagena. As it was, we didn't do a full tour of the mineral park but it was only a tour of the mine itself.

Unfortunately Agrupta mine was abandoned over 40 years ago but it has been opened up to the public. Every year the International el Cante de Las Minas Flamenco Festival takes place at the mine, being selected for its fantastic acoustics in the mine halls. We had just a 'taster' of it.

When we arrived at the mine reception area there was a short video presentation after which we boarded a ‘train’ up to the mine entrance. From there we did a nice underground tour, our guide explaining the history of the mine, mining of the minerals, and its influence it had on the area and economy until it closed in the 1960’s. During our tour we also saw an underground lake with its reddish-coloured water, discoloured from the minerals.

At the end of the tour there was a flamenco performance in one of the caverns. A dancer, a singer and someone playing the guitar. It was very nice.

To me, going inside a former working mine made the whole experience a bit more ‘special’ - not just seeing it from a video aspect. The entertainment underground was different too. The tour group was small as well, which made it a lot easier for the guide to keep an eye on us and for us to hear him and see what he was pointing out to us properly, rather than being overcrowded and crammed.

After the performance was over we headed outside and were able to have a look at the views of the mining area before heading back in the ‘train’ to the car park.

When we got back at the port some guests headed into town. I went on board the Prinsendam and found Paul. The captain had just got back from town so Paul and I had a chance to wander around the old town. There was a festival going on and lots of locals were dressed in Roman-type outfits. It was very interesting and there was a good atmosphere in town.

When we got back to the ship I headed down to the print room to help Shore Excursions Department with brochure folding and collating.

The ship had just left the harbour when it had to stop. Someone had become very ill, requiring immediate medical disembarkation. A pilot boat was called out to the ship and an ambulance was requested to go to the pier. The pilot boat came alongside the ship, the patient and the ship's doctor were offloaded and went back to the waiting ambulance on the pier. After a hand-over, the pilot brought the ship's doctor back to the Prinsendam and we could set sail. It is unfortunate that the person took ill but it was also fortunate that we were just heading out so the ship was able to stop just outside the harbour. Any later and we would have had to have turned around or request an air ambulance.

Tomorrow is another day!

PHOTOGRAPHS

Arrival in Cartagena