This is the colorful Don Sancho Street where I was born in the home made up of Simón a descendant of Spanish Hidalgo from Gibraltar, Andalucía; and Leonor, a native woman with Spanish, Indigenous and African blood. I have four brothers and sisters, and many nieces and nephews of different colors and flavors. This origin marks my life and interest in knowing my cultural roots.
My father belongs to a family of sociologists, politicians and historians, author of the book “Liberal Constitutions in Colombia”, one of his cousins, is author of the most complete research about the history of the streets of Cartagena entitled “Nomenclator Cartagenero” and other wrote the book “Social and Political Aspects of Cartagena”, among other texts. From my mother’s side I discovered our diverse musical and food heritage, as well as the language of dance. Here, we first learn to dance and then to walk and talk.
However, my passion for the history of Latin America and Cartagena was developed very far from here. First, during my time as university student in Bogotá, through the economic history cycle to obtain my undergraduate degree in Economics and then at Humber College – Canada where I did postgraduate studies in International Marketing with emphasis on Latin American history and culture. It was such an interest that the Dean of the faculty asked me to be a professor of that subject and for three years I shared our history and culture with students of different nationalities interested in knowing more about Hispanic America, from the perspective of American authors.
Now when my two sons finished their undergraduate studies in Bogotá, and driven by the nostalgia of the Caribbean, I returned to Cartagena with my wife Rosario to live and share this amazing place with travelers of the world.
Welcome to Cartagena! We invite you to learn and enjoy our history, culture and natural resources.
Roberto
cartagenawithlocals.com 