I spent a week in Cartagena in October of 2003. I found the city to be quite safe and tranquil. I walked the streets and encountered no problems. There were a lot of security forces in place. The city is divided between 2 sections, the colonial section and the modern section. The colonial section is older than Plymouth, Mass. It is a walled city with an impressive fort that overlooks the city. The people are friendly and the prices are cheap. For just a few bucks you can take a horse and buggy trip all around the city. Also there is a trolly that goes to all the places of interest including to the top of the Church of the Pope which is the highest point in Cartagena and also to Fort St. Felipe. This is a great place to see colonial spanish architecture and to experience the warm people of Cartagena.