Love and Death in Gabriel Garcia Marquez

“Cartagena de Indias is a city so beautiful that it seems to be a lie.” -Gabriel García Márquez

The Importance of the Reality Versus the Literature

Course before the trip: Interesting, but difficult to comprehend. The descriptions of the cities in the novels seemed more fantastical than real.

After: We had a greater understanding of the magical versus the reality in Marquez’ literature. The existence of various settings in his novels confirmed the importance and beauty of Colombia.

The dynamic of the class changed dramatically, as well.

Jaime y Gabriel García Márquez

We went to the original newspaper “El Universal” where Gabo first started his writing career. It was incredible to be in a space where so much inspiration came from one man, as well as to see his contributions to the paper as well as the writing community.

Jaime, Gabo’s brother met us there and we proceeded to have a discussion about Gabo and his works.

It was amazing to see how enthusiastic Jaime was about his brothers writing. It was almost like he had written the books himself because he knew so much about them.

It was this feeling and this meeting about his writing that allowed everyone to see the extent to which Gabo has had an effect on other writers as well as on people around the world.

We were able to go to a restaurant and see Gabo himself. This experience came without words and was a memory that did not need a picture to remember it.

Palace of Inquisition Built towards 1770 for the

Inquisition Tribunal See, this house is one of most significant constructions of civil architecture in Cartagena. It was the second see for the tribunal that from it's beginning in 1610 operated in another house in front of the existent Bolivar Square, at the Actuary's Portico. Inside of this palace were many instruments of torture designed to bring out a 'confession' from the accused.

Aracataca:

La casa de

los abuelos The river town of Aracataca is a very quaint town in northeast Colombia that prides itself on being

the birthplace of Gabriel García Marquez. Here, Gabo grew up with his many aunts and his maternal grandparents, whom shared with him tales that he would forever remember and include in his works years down the road. The original home was knocked down, but it has recently been rebuilt and turned into a museum to commemorate its history and importance to this pueblito. Our group had the great opportunity to enter and tour the museum before its actually opening date (Thanks to Sra. Margarita Sanchez). We had the opportunity to enter into a world that to us was only previously imaginable through the pages of Marquez’s novels. His powerful quotes lined the walls of the cottage. Each room contained items such as family photos, furniture, typewriter, etc. to depict how he and his family once lived. You can almost visualize Gabito playing on the hardwood floor and eavesdropping on his aunts in the hallway that separates the rooms. You can almost smell the hot summer rain that would fall just outside the dining room area that is exposed to the outdoors. The last room on the left was home to his cousin who scared him away from entering by telling him a ghost would get him if he were to pass through the doorway. Everything just seemed so much more real by being there. It was almost as if we were once, too, a part of his life and upbringing. But the history doesn’t end there. Once you leave the gates of the museum and ask any passerby about Gabo (even the youngsters at the corner convenience store), it seems as if they all can tell you his life story. He is a hero, and not only does he provide enjoyable and unforgettable works of art, but he provides his people with hope. The spirit of Gabo still lives in this little cottage, in the dirt roads of Aracataca, and especially in the hearts of his people. It was truly…an unforgettable experience.

The house of Florentino Ariza

The Arcades

Exploring Love in the Time of Cholera in Cartagena

Love in the Time of Cholera Inspired in Aracataca

LA FAMILIA – THE FAMILY•We stayed with the Madera family, which consisted of Onira, her mother, her brother (Antonio), his wife (Luzmilla), and their 3 kids (Pacho, Ignacio and Rafa). •Each experience in the families was different than the next. •In our family, we were really close to everybody and felt like we were right at home. They brought us into their house as members of their family and told us that we were welcome to come back with our families whenever we wanted.

Fried Plantains with “suero” (which is a cross between yogurt and sour cream)A delicious dish from the Caribbean Coast of ColombiaIt is typically served for breakfast. It can also be a side to both fried fish dishes and meat dishes

Fried Plantains with “suero” (which is a cross between yogurt and sour cream)A delicious dish from the Caribbean Coast of ColombiaIt is typically served for breakfast. It can also be a side to both fried fish dishes and meat dishes

A traditional dish that originated in the north coast. It is made basically with any kind of meat along with corn, potato, yuca, plaintain, and local spicesThat are cooked together to form a soup. Very popular dish in Colombia!

A traditional dish that originated in the north coast. It is made basically with any kind of meat along with corn, potato, yuca, plaintain, and local spicesThat are cooked together to form a soup. Very popular dish in Colombia!

Arepa de Huevo originated from the Caribbean coast but is popular in most major cities. This arepa is deep-fried with a single raw egg inside that is cooked by the frying process. They are usually eaten for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.

Arepa de Huevo originated from the Caribbean coast but is popular in most major cities. This arepa is deep-fried with a single raw egg inside that is cooked by the frying process. They are usually eaten for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.

This delicious soup is from the Caribbean coast and is made with yams, coastal cheese , garlic, onion, lemon juice. It is considered a national dish of the Costa and recognized throughout Colombia.

This delicious soup is from the Caribbean coast and is made with yams, coastal cheese , garlic, onion, lemon juice. It is considered a national dish of the Costa and recognized throughout Colombia.

It is one of the traditional tropical fruits from Colombia and in English it is known as "cape gooseberry",

It is one of the traditional tropical fruits from Colombia and in English it is known as "cape gooseberry",

This Shrimp Ceviche dish is very popular on the coast of Colombia.

This Shrimp Ceviche dish is very popular on the coast of Colombia.

It is a common side dish of the Caribbean coast of Colombia. White rice is cooked in coconut milk with water, salt and sugar. It is simply delicious!

It is a common side dish of the Caribbean coast of Colombia. White rice is cooked in coconut milk with water, salt and sugar. It is simply delicious!

Due to the unique climate there are more than 70 types of fruit produced in Colombia! There are tons of exotic fruits as well such as grenadine, tree tomato, papaya, pineapple, pink guava, passion fruit , tamarillo, mango,and much more. The fruit in Colombia is delicious with such great flavors!

Due to the unique climate there are more than 70 types of fruit produced in Colombia! There are tons of exotic fruits as well such as grenadine, tree tomato, papaya, pineapple, pink guava, passion fruit , tamarillo, mango,and much more. The fruit in Colombia is delicious with such great flavors!

Also known as the Yellow Passion Fruit. They are rich flavored and juicy. It is a refreshing juice with a sweet and sour mix!

Also known as the Yellow Passion Fruit. They are rich flavored and juicy. It is a refreshing juice with a sweet and sour mix!

The Richest Coffee in the World!The Richest Coffee in the World!

EL HOTEL SANTA CLARA

When I walked into the hotel Santa Clara, I cried. I was so overwhelmed with emotion, with connection, with final understanding, that the only way my body could digest those feelings was to cry. I was completely mesmerized by her presence, by her. I could feel the presence of Sierva Maria. I pictured in my head the book, “of love and other demons” coming to life. I pictured the priests and nuns from the book, their bodies quickly sweeping through the antique looking halls. The story finally made sense. Very often when a person reads, that person pictures the setting of the story, and the buildings and characters described in a very particular way, the mind creates images for us. But I think what was so incredible about Santa Clara, was that the grandiosity of the hotel, gave everyone’s mental images a chance to come to life, to become real. What really amazed me was how intact the hotel was. Although work had obviously been done to restore it from its original appearance, the work done never destroyed its originality. Even after being improved, the hotel held its original feeling and purpose. But the people of Colombia were partly responsible for that. I feel like in America sometimes people are obsessed with modernity, with having what is new and pretty. The people of Colombia are different though, there is very little modern architecture in the Colombia that I visited. People appreciate more greatly the beauty in originality. Hotel Santa Clara made the story real for me.

THROUGHOUT OUR TRIP WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE MANY DIFFERENT PLACES IN CARTAGENA WITH THE HELP OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXPERTS.

Los expertos en nuestro viaje

Moisés Alvarez (Historian) Eduardo Márceles

Daconte:Art expert, writer, personalFriend of García Márquez

Rafael Darío: Expertin Garcia Márquez

Jaime García Márquez: García Márquez’s brother

• The entire city is surrounded by a wall for protection, which we sat on the first night we were there!• At the Museum of Modern Art, the castle is represented in a piece of work that depicts the entire city of Cartagena.

• The Castle of San Felipe was essential to our trip to Colombia.• We learned that this Castle protected Cartagena during Spanish Control many years ago.• Everything was reconstructed here. We realized that what we learned on the first day about the importance of gold in Colombia, applied to this amazing piece of architecture. • The view of the old city and new city from the top is breath taking.