Chase the Feeling

10 things to do in Cartagena in one week

Cartagena de Indias is a beautiful coastal city north of Colombia, in which the Caribbean Sea touches the shore. It is also called Cartagena La Heroica (Heroic Cartagena) in honor of their resistance during the Hispanic war in 1815. There is a lot of history and beauty. Here I share what I did and some tips for traveling safe to a precious country.

It was exciting to visit Colombia, homeland of one of my best friends, as it was also my first visit to another Latin American country. I arrived in Bogotá and took a flight to Cartagena, where summer-like temperatures welcomed me. Being born in Puerto Rico, I am more than used to the hot-all-year cities and the humidity from the beach. I took an inDriver (similar to an Uber) and crossed Old Cartagena to reach to where I gladly call my home in Colombia. The moment I saw the center, the murallas, the people, I said “wow this feels like Old San Juan.” I am amazed at the similarities both cities hold, despite being in two different countries. Each one has its charm.

I stayed for four days before seeing other cities. So, what to do in Cartagena?

1. Visit the historic center – the city has lots of colonial buildings that are beautifully kept, in which now there are restaurants, stores, and hotels. You will find artisans who sell local candy and handmade items, see the Cathedral, the Iglesia de San Pedro Claver in front of Plaza de San Pedro, the Clock Tower, and various museums for history, design, and naval enthusiasts.

2. Las Murallas – the Walls that served as protection for the city, are open to those who want to walk around and feel the night breeze. Remember to respect this and all other landmarks. You are not supposed to run bikes, so, even if you see locals doing it, don’t.

3. Visit Castillo San Felipe de Barajas – if you don’t visit this fortress, you are missing out on a part of history, back when Spain was the colonizer. Go ready with a sombrero or a hat because the sun is heavy.

4. Go to la Serrezuela mall – I’m not a shopaholic, but this mall is unique since it is located inside a former theater arena. It also has a lot of Colombian brands and handmade jewelry from artisans for those who love unique pieces truly made in the country.

5. Swim at the beach (and maybe take a boat to Tierra Bomba) – I may be biased, but the Caribbean sea is the most beautiful in the world. You can visit the beaches at Bocagrande and spend the day under the sun. Likewise, there’s Tierra Bomba, a nearby cay where you can purchase a day pass from places like Margarita Beach Club and Medussa Hostel. There you can enjoy the facilities, the food, drinks, and music.

6. Eat local food – the food in Cartagena is delicious. Fish, coconut rice, patacones (fried green plantain) and natural fruit juices are tasty and inexpensive for those who carry a currency like USD or euros. The services is warm and welcoming.

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7. Drink local coffee – if you’re in Colombia and you didn’t try their coffee, were you really there? The city is full of coffee and tea shops, along with Juan Valdés, a chain of only-Colombian coffee. Just do yourself a favor an order coffee with milk, expresso or cappuccino. If you go to Colombia to ask for an “Americano” just… maybe go to the US? I’m joking (or not?), you can choose whatever you want.

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8. One-day trips – from Cartagena you can go to Barú, Barranquilla and other nearby places to spend the day. I went to Barranquilla and Barú, where I visited the aviary but didn’t get to see the beach.

9. Enjoy the nightlife – Cartagena is lively and at night you can go to the center and find great places and latino music. Their local alcoholic beverages and beers are pretty good, just don’t go overboard!

10. Visit las Islas del Rosario – I have this one still in my bucket list because time seems to never be enough. Rosario Islands are farther away from Cartagena, so take a whole day (and maybe one night) to enjoy pristine beaches where you can continue living the tropical life.

Safety tips

Use Taxis and independent services like inDriver 🚕, available all around. Pay attention if you’re taking a taxi and make sure it’s official. Have Colombian pesos with you because that’s the most common payment method.
Don’t exchange currency at the airport 💱– it is better to visit some exchange houses in the city, as you can compare and decide which one gives you the best value. If you’re going to exchange a small amount, find out the rates to your destination. If you’re going from the airport to the center, it shouldn’t be more that 25,000 pesos.
Be mindful of motorcycles 🏍 – when you’re walking by the road, be alert to the motorcycles that pass by as robbery is often done while riding.
Avoid getting in trouble 🚨– Colombia has laws just like all the countries in the world. Forget about clichés, tv series, movies, and cartels. Don’t even try to imitate what you see on TV. It’s both disrespectful and stupid. Use common sense.

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Writer's block, mental health and H’oponopono

health 8:07 PM

Writer's block

It’s been quite a while since the last day I wrote on my blog. The outlet I have for sharing my thoughts, my trips, my wellness tips, and career advice. I could jump right now into making posts about my two trips to Colombia, a weekend getaway to the Bahamas or a change of environment living in Manhattan NYC for a month. But the truth is, even when I traveled, when I worked beyond exhaustion, when I tried to continue my journey to complete my levels of German, when I volunteered at work to do collaborations, mentorship, it all took its toll.

I’ve been suffering from writer’s block (and more). My levels of stress and anxiety went off the charts since the beginning of 2021 and, add to that a pandemic and six months of overwork, my health went anywhere but down. I questioned myself a lot as I would sit in front of my computer and not be able to write about my amazing and not-so-amazing experiences during my latest trips, about mental health and about other topics that I considered could make you smile or at least, help, in some way.

The Abyss

As I sit and write this while I drink my afternoon coffee with cinnamon, I can just say what a year of endurance, of emotional battles, distance, medication, and breakdowns it has been. One can only keep throwing under the rug our problems and how the environment affects us for so long. The say the more you push and push, stronger you are. But the day you can’t get up from bed, they say you're being weak. And that is completely wrong and not true. It’s a social and internalized belief that we all have, in which we can pretend everything is fine to keep a face in front of the world. It’s wrong because, we are human and have an array of emotions that are valid.

Eventually, handling all sorts of situations at the same time leaves us powerless to keep the mask on. It breaks - and as it breaks - we feel like we crumble and fall into the abyss. Suddenly the worries about toxic places, people, friend’s illnesses, unhappiness, frustration, work, hopelessness, anger, intrusive and illogical thoughts; they are very much alive and in control. This is the moment of the truth. The one where we decide to either ignore it and lose yourself or take the courage to seek help and heal. I want to emphasize that seeking help shows bravery and strength. Only strong people accept they need help, and take a step towards true recovery.

I have always been advocating for mental health as a priority and, while it often is overlooked or minimized, I will never stop. There is such a big opportunity for education about wellness. Empathy, diversity, humanity, support; all of what this world needs to know more about.

Having functional depression is such a dangerous illness. Nobody notices until signs begin to show off. And when signs begin, you are halfway down the abyss.

H'oponopono

As I prepare to continue writing, exploring, loving, taking risks, looking for opportunities, and most importantly, taking care of my health, I feel hopeful. Hopeful. I cannot believe I am saying it. But it’s the only mentality that I can have now, while being present. The past is gone and the future is uncertain, but the present is here and we cannot throw it to waste while worrying about the what-ifs and blaming ourselves.

Whenever you are having those invasive thoughts, feelings of not deserving something, feeling like you can’t, that you’re not good enough; use the H’oponopono Hawaiian technique and tell yourself:

I am sorry.

Please forgive me.

I thank you.

I love you.

Treat yourself with kindness, work on your happiness and well-being. We are often our most harsh critics. It’s time to stop, recognize and work with whatever we are facing. I haven’t, can’t and will not live a shallow life. My core needs happiness for me to do what I love more: sharing and communicating with others, leaving a positive mark in the world.

The next time that someone asks, “how are you?”, ask yourself honestly, “how am I?”. Being honest with yourself is the first step.

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Mental health in the Workplace is no joke

career 3:49 PM

When was the last time you felt someone minimized your emotions or mental state? There has been so much talk about mental health lately and I've realized how dangerous it is when it is overlooked in work environments. We spent more time at work than at home, so an unstable workplace can lead to mental health issues.

Does this sound familiar? Bosses ordering all around, deadlines that seem impossible and that are only met at the expenses of compromising the employees' health, both mentally and physically? A human being can only do so much at a fast rhythm until their body shuts down.

There are numerous studies about mental health in the workplace. During my research, it was disappointing -but not surprising- that most of these studies where focused on how much money companies lose due to mentally-ill employees, rather than how companies negatively impact mental health. Seemed to me that it was about how dealing with the consequences than to creating change in how companies carry themselves and treat their employees.

The World Health Organization says here that by 2030, 12 billion working days will be lost to untreated depression and anxiety. Yes, that sounds alarming but, what if we focus on creating healthy work environments because life matters instead of because it is a money-wise move for corporations?

I have had my fair share of toxic work environments and, while I am now lucky to be on a very employee-first organization, the wounds that toxic environments leave aren’t easy to heal. To shed some light on this situation, I’ve interviewed Ingrid Quiñones, an industrial psychology graduate.

Q: Do you consider mental health in the workplace as a taboo topic?

A: I believe so, but it will depend on the organizational culture.

Q: Tell me a bit about mental health in the workplace. Do you think it is given the importance it deserves?

A: Mental health is the state of emotional balance that enables a person to achieve its goals. When talking about it within a work environment, that balance could be impacted if in this environment there are problems such as:

High level of stress
Poor working conditions
External factors such as health problems, personal situations, psychological issues or economic difficulties

Q: Based on your research and experience, which factors can impact mental health within a work environment? Both negatively and positively.

A: In a negative way:

Work stress: this can be caused by demands that sometimes don’t apply to the job position. It might be requirements that are challenging in nature or unrelated to the job description.
Working conditions – Is the workplace adequate? Sometimes the space is small, the temperature is not comfortable.
Work schedules – when an employee works rotating schedules, this inconsistency can be a risk factor because of how the body is in a constant state of alert.

On the contrary, these are factors that can positively impact mental health:

Communication – promoting an effective communication between management, employees and coworkers is very important. This not only includes verbal communication, but also written communications, in which we often rely so much.
Recognition – recognizing the work employees do not only impacts its mental health but also its productiveness.
Autonomy – giving employees the opportunity to take the lead and believe in their capabilities helps greatly their self esteem and mental health. Micromanagement is not only outdated but puts unnecessary pressure on an employee that is most likely aware of what his/her responsibilities are and is committed to fulfilling them.
Career and skills development – helping an employee on his professional development takes the pressure off of them to try to balance work with extracurricular activities. When the employer creates and individualized development plan, the employee feels valued.

Q: What are some of the symptoms of mental burnout?

A: Symptoms can include:

Physical problems: lost of appetite, stomach pain, sleeping problems.
Low self-esteem: the person doesn’t feel fulfilled
Chronic fatigue
Depersonalization – the person’s work is inconsistent; their mental state is negative, and they don’t involve themselves with their duties.

A burnout can cause post-traumatic disorder (PTSD). There is treatment to help with burnout as well as prevention techniques.

Q: What are some of these prevention techniques?

A: Some of them are:

Taking care of your physical health
Eating healthy and not skipping meals
Sleeping 6-8 hours per day
Work out
Establish limits for every given task, allowing yourself to rest when needed
Establish short and long-term, realistic goals to keep yourself motivated and eliminate --unnecessary pressure

After having experienced the aftermath of toxic workplaces, I can't emphasize enough that we must begin to pay more attention to our mental health. A job is important, but nobody is irreplaceable. Don't compromise your well-being for a company that doesn't care. There are other organizations that do care and will protect their employees and encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle. The healthier you are, the more productive you can be. Put yourself first. Let's pay more attention to our mental health and realize how vital it is to protect it.

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Photo credit "Self care": Madison Inouye from Pexels

Photo credit "Black and white": J uan Plablo Serrano Arenas from Pexels

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