Walking Otrabanda
By late morning, boo twists my arm to go for a walk outside of the hotel complex.
Before agreeing to the idea of leaving the hotel by foot, I ask two employees if the surrounding area is safe.
Remember all that urban decay that I talked about earlier?
I have to admit, it made me question the neighborhood.
I mean, where did everyone go???
Both the girl working behind the kiosk/front desk, and the lady working in the small shop where we bought a cold bottle of water, assured me that despite it’s shady appearance, the neighborhood is indeed safe.
In fact, there is a school just down the street.
I don’t feel much safer, but I decide to take their word for it.
I channel my best Daryl Dixon and stay alert. I’m ready to unleash some fists of fury, if needed. Thankfully, it’s not necessary…I don’t see any zombies.
After walking a few blocks, passing piles of trash and crumbled remnants of buildings along the way, followed by crossing a relatively busy street with no cross walk, we arrive at a gorgeous river lined with boats and tables filled with fresh fruit and vegetables.
This little market place is a nice departure from the barren rubble we passed to get here.
I no longer feel like I stumbled into an episode of The Walking Dead. Or at least if I have, then I have found Alexandria.
I should probably stay alert…just in case.
Crossing the river…
In order to cross the river, you either need to walk across the Queen Emma Bridge, or take a ferry.
Since the Queen Emma Bridge was parallel to the shore in order to let a large cargo ship pass through, we ended up taking the ferry the first time we crossed.
On the walk home and later on the trip, however, we used the pedestrian bridge, aka the “Swinging Old Lady“…
