Lover's Lane South American Style

In Cartagena, an old tradition among the youth of that city makes one appreciate the need for a boy and girl to have a private place to talk. The tradition is to meet your love in the evening on the wall of the old city, perhaps sitting on an old cannon overlooking the city or on the wall in a rifleman's slot that does not have the cannon.

Lovers have many different views. One can choose to meet at a place overlooking the Caribbean, typically facing into the wind. Colored lights on the wall keep the amount of light low but romantically beautiful.

The place can be quite private if you choose the right location, but many times there are others nearby on the wall.

Sometimes, there are three persons, sometimes two. This pair was observed talking and kissing under the low lights on the wall.

So why is this a story to write? Typically, an entire family lives in one home. There is no privacy. Most teenagers have no automobile. They are limited to traveling by foot or taxi or carriage or bike. Most use motorcycles or bikes to get around. That does not provide any privacy either. Therefore, one solution is to go to the wall. A girl says, I want my sister to be there. I saw that in several cases although I had the thought that the notion came from parents rather than the girl.

Here are two young people talking across the gap of the cannon. Notice that it is safe. To get to know each other is a formal process and depending on the time in the relationship, the need to be close but not too close is apparent in the process. The light is not exaggerated. It was perhaps a little darker than it seems in this photo.

In the night, the temperature at this time of the year is very comfortable and in fact almost all year long, it is quite comfortable being out at night. That adds to the convenience of the wall.

Then there were lovers in more advanced stages, turning the location into what we might call "lovers lane".

Gringos don't typically understand this culturally, but sure understand what they see going on the wall of this great city - Lover's Lane!