Bernardo Gómez is a Chef Consultant from, Bogotá. He’s come to Cartagena to give a seminar for people who want to learn how to cut meat. I first noticed him, or rather, I’m made aware of him when he, seated in the bar of the lobby of the Ibis Cartagena Marbella, promptly tells me the Cheese Tris snack I’m ordering is not queso. He knows everything, apparently. I’m intrigued. I also have an assignment to complete but lack inspiration. Perhaps this great Oracle of Colombia has the answers. I return to my room to retrieve a pen and notebook. “I love Cartagena,” says Gómez and adds, “It’s a special city that wakes up feelings from the past when you walk inside the historical centre. The architecture, it’s like you’re going back in time.” The historical centre he speaks of, particularly it’s inner walled town, is one of the main attractions of the city with its friendly atmosphere, diverse pop-up concerts, contemporary commercial centres, annual cultural festivals, and street vendors who demonstrate the solidity of their handcrafted artisan jewellery through the ignition test is where they hold a lit lighter to their beaded bracelets as proof of concept the material is real.In the evenings, the inhabitants of the streets filled with overhanging balconies and large doors decorated with detailed aldabas sometimes practice what is known as fresquito, which means to catch some fresh air and the latest gossip around town while seated on the pavement. The tradition also serves as an effective confrontation method to an evasive neighbour with whom you wish to settle a score.. The city is indeed charming, enchanting almost, even the Palanqueras, or Fruit Ladies, as they’re known with their prime coloured blocked outfits and mahogany hued skin, seem unrealistic. They are a symbol of the residues of Cartagena’s and by extension, Colombia’ slave trading, and otherwise, complicated past. “We are having social and political problems,” says Gomez while surfing on one of the public computers in the hotel lobby. “People from Venezuela, they have decreased the social welfare and increased unemployment. Terrorism problems, strikes…” I ask if it is fair to blame societal ills on immigration. He thinks it’s not. It’s the fault of the politicians. One person whose name he can’t recall but assumes I would know by the way he fixates his eyes on mine and gesticulates with his hands, he is responsible for the gap between the rich and the poor in Colombia. Even if that is the case, the Colombian government has committed to promoting social and economic development through the Orange Economy, and they have seen success in their objective. The colour, orange, is not random however, as put forward by Duque and Restrepo, the wordsmiths of “The Orange Economy, an Infinite Opportunity". It is the cast of creativity. The tint of identity and the commanding colour of culture. It is the shade that decorated the tombs of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. Be that as it may, the foundation on which they lay their thesis, is purely a rewording of John Howkins’ “The Creative Economy: How People Make Money from Ideas”. Adding to this, evoking the glories of ancient empires is a practice as old as time. If it’s not Ancient Egypt, then it’s Ancient Rome or Ancient Greece. Or, to a lesser extent, the Six Dynasties of China. Adding to this, it’s confusing as to why the pharaohs are held to such high esteem. Although revered, the pharaohs were mostly feared and completely disconnected from the everyday plights of those they reigned. “The Orange Economy,” says Gómez, who is wearing a white chef’s uniform decorated with badges from his many achievements in life, “It has a lot of technology. It does not help me. I work with food.” Gómez studied in California and has inflections of an American accent. His career in the food industry spans 30 years. With such dedication to culinary arts, I’m of course curious about his preferred cuisine. “Meat,” he says. “Yes,” and what else? “I only like meat.” “What do you eat with your meat?” “Rice. Potatoes, and plátanos”. “What is your favourite dessert?” “I don´t like dessert. Only meat.” “You are boring.”