Saturday, March 30, 2019

Despite getting up a few times during the night I felt I slept well finally waking/getting up at 8:45.

I left the apt at 9:45 and walked up to Avenida Poblado.  I was a little surprised by how much progress had been made on the new Smart Fit gym.

I quickly caught a bus to Poblado.  At Envios Market I picked up my April Reader’s Digest and paid 39mil for April’s rent.

I walked up to Cedimed where I withdrew a bunch of 20s.  I also grabbed the Poblado version of the Gente newspaper.

Back down the hill to Avenida Poblado I caught a bus to Starbucks.  I was wrong about a Peruvian restaurant going in the old Krispy Kreme location.  Actually it’s next door and something else is going on in the old KK location.

I had my usual cold café mocca blanco with whole milk without whipped cream but this time I was given an option I didn’t understand.  She called another girl over who asked me in English if I wanted it with ice cubes or frappe (which is like a slushy).  I asked for the latter and I took it to an outside table.

I was reading a Chess Life magazine when I reached for something and knocked over my drink.  I had only finished about 1/3 of it.  I went inside and got a girl to come out with a mop and clean it up.  She offered me a fresh one but I declined.

I got a call from Chuck from New Orleans.  He’s finally sold their house with an upcoming close date of April 11^th and then they are going to visit some friends and relatives in the East.  By late April they will have moved to Envigado.  Darnelly has had her surgery and is in physical therapy.  Hopefully, that won’t slow them down.  When they get here Chuck will get a spousal visa.  In fact, Chuck if you’re reading this, he can come on a tourist stamp and he’ll have 90 days (another 90 if he needs it) to apply for the spousal visa.

Across the street I stopped at Pasteur pharmacy where I bought 10 Metacarbamol tablets for 3,120 pesos ($1).

I took a bus back to Envigado arriving at the apt by 12:15.  Btw, the portero told me that their new guard house is still 2-3 weeks from completion.

I forgot to mention that last night Laura went out with that young man from Boston.  He must have driven about 7 hours (or flown?) to see her.  Interesting!  Later Laura told me its 11 hours driving or 1 hour by air.  His name is Lenny and he has a fishing boat in Alaska.

We have a little problem with our hummingbird feeder.  It leaks slightly and because the balcony railing slopes outwards it drips down to the balcony below us.  At some point the downstairs neighbor will probably complain so I’m going to see if I can buy a can of Playdoh to put on the edge of our balcony to contain it long enough for it to dry naturally.

Teresa informed me that we don’t have any meat so for lunch she made me tortilla soup.

In the Poblado Gente newspaper there were articles about 1) By 2030 Medellin will be the latin american capital for electric mobility, 2) a memorial park will be built in the previous location of Pablo Escobar’s building, 3) Parque del Rio is in stage 1B (whatever that means), 4) 120 kilometers of bicycle routes have been constructed, 5) 300,000 visitors arrived in Medellin to view last month’s (bicycle race) Tour Colombia 2.1, 6) Medellin will host the World Cities Summit July 10^th to 12^th, and 7) April 22^nd they will start a 4 month project to renovate Parque Poblado.

About 3pm Teresa said she had a good idea for dinner tonight – we’ll go to Mu, if it isn’t raining.  I said it won’t and it was not 5 minutes later that I heard a clap of thunder and outside it was raining.  But luckily it only lasted 5 minutes.  But 5 minutes later it started again so we’ll see.  Again it only lasted 5 minutes.

Teresa called Mu just after 6pm and placed an order for a medium plate of ribs.  I dressed and went downstairs and soon was in a taxi to Poblado.  The driver waited outside, I ran in and paid 62mil ($20) for the ribs and back outside the driver took me back to our apt for a total of 17mil.  I was back by 6:45.  There was almost no traffic in Poblado probably because they have increased pico y placa to include Saturdays.  What that is is only those with license plates ending in a specific digit can drive on main thoroughfares during certain busy times.

The ribs were great.  In fact I think the owner made a mistake because it was (at least) a large order with 9-10 ribs.  We have enough left over for lunch for both of us tommorrow.

6,171 steps today.

Joke of the day

Two farmers, John and Henry, were sitting around talking about their day when John notices a pig with a wooden leg hobbling across the front yard. He turned to his friend and asks, "Henry, why does that pig have a wooden leg?"

"Well, John, that pig...," his eyes mist up, "That pig's mighty special! A few weeks back a wild boar attacked me while I was in the woods. That pig there came a runnin', went after that boar and fought him off. Saved my life!"

"And the boar tore up his leg?"

"No, just got a few scratches, nothing too serious. But that night the barn caught fire. That ol' pig started squealin' like he was stuck, woke us up, and before we got out here, the darn thing had herded the other animals out of the barn and saved them all!"

"Ahh so that's when he hurt his leg?"

"No, John, the next day my tractor hit a rock and rolled down the hill into the pond. I got knocked clean out. When I came to, that pig had dove into the pond and dragged me out...but that's not how he hurt his leg." "Oh no, no, he was fine. Cleaned him up real nice, too."

"Okay, Henry. So just tell me. How did he lose his leg?"

"Well", Henry begins to explain, "A pig that special...you don't want to eat all at once."

Friday, March 29, 2019

I guess I was really tired last night because it seemed the second my head hit the pillow I was asleep.

I remember waking up once to rain during the night.  I woke up at 7am and got up at 7:30.

Among new US movie releases there isn’t anything I want to see.  Locally, the only thing I’m interested in seeing is Five Feet Apart (7.1) playing today at 4pm.

I had a bowl of cereal, watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and left for the gym.  I bought a Q’Hubo newspaper at the corner.  I completed all my exercises in an hour and 30 minutes.  My hamstrings have been great with almost no “creaking”.  Next week it’s time to start adding some more weight to a few of my exercises.

Back at the apt Teresa called and asked me to meet her at La Bahia for lunch.  I told her I would be there as soon as I took my shower.  I took my metal platinum Cine Colombia bucket with me.  When I got to La Bahia MT was there also and they had already finished eating.  After I finished my lunch we went across the street to the mall where Teresa found a light jacket for 229,950 ($75) in Nike that she bought for wearing after the gym.  We killed about 90 minutes then they left and I went to Cine Colombia.

I bought a ticket to Five Feet Apart for 12,500.  A young lady there spoke perfect English and explained some Platinum Card benefits to me.  (Though born in England she lived in Fort Lauderdale and Miami for a few years.)  We can use their Platinum room before or after movies.  They have a special menu which includes sushi (not for me), burgers, hot dogs and Panini sandwiches.  They also have their own condiment counter so we won’t have to wait in the long lines outside.  And in theaters 4 & 5 you can have food delivered to your seat.

I bought a small soda and they filled to overflowing my platinum bucket with popcorn for free.

After the movie, just as the credits were starting, Teresa called and asked me to meet her at the entrance to her mother’s apt.  I was there in 10 minutes and we walked back to our apt.

Teresa went to bed real early – 9:15 – but I managed to hold on until 10:30.

10,837 steps today.

Joke of the day

There was a blonde who found herself sitting next to a Lawyer on an airplane. The lawyer just kept bugging the blonde wanting her to play a game of intelligence. Finally, the lawyer offered her 10 to 1 odds, and said every time the blonde could not answer one of his questions, she owed him $5, but every time he could not answer hers, he'd give her $50.00. The lawyer figured he could not lose, and the blonde reluctantly accepted.

The lawyer first asked, "What is the distance between the Earth and the nearest star?"

Without saying a word the blonde handed him $5.  Then the blonde asked, "What goes up a hill with 3 legs and comes back down the hill with 4 legs?"

Well, the lawyer looked puzzled. He took several hours, looking up everything he could on his laptop and even placing numerous air-to-ground phone calls trying to find the answer. Finally, angry and frustrated, he gave up and paid the blonde $50.00

The blonde put the $50 into her purse without comment, but the lawyer insisted, "What is the answer to your question?"

Without saying a word, the blonde handed him $5.

Pollution in Medellin - Colombia Reports

(Image: Mike Ceaser)

News

Is Colombia’s oil company Ecopetrol killing citizens for profit?

by Adriaan Alsema February 23, 2018

Colombia’s inspector general blames oil company Ecopetrol for selling gasoline that is a public health hazard, but fails to address the government’s neglect to impose common fuel quality standards.

The state-run Ecopetrol has come under renewed pressure to lower excessive sulfur levels in gasoline after Medellin, the country’s second largest city, announced measures to improve air quality.

To prevent a health emergency, the local government in Medellin announced emergency measures on Thursday that include restrictions for drivers and motorcyclists.

The substandard quality of gasoline is the main culprit of pollution in Colombia’s second largest city, where according to estimates eight citizens die every day as a consequence of the low air quality.

According to Ecopetrol, the sulfur level of its gasoline is 221 particles per million (221ppm).

This is more than 20 times higher than what is allowed in gasoline sold in the United States and the European Union, where environmental regulations for fuel products are considerably stricter.

Legal sulfur limits

	Colombia	United States	European Union
Diesel	50	15	10
Gasoline	300	10	10

According to Colombia’s inspector general, Fernando Carrillo, Ecopetrol has ignored calls to voluntarily commit to lowering sulfur levels in the gasoline and diesel products sold in the country.

Carrillo accused the state-run oil company of prioritizing profits over the environmental and health hazard posed by the substandard quality of its refined oil products.

Some believe that development processes continue to be guided by traditional patterns of economic cost and benefit, as if the environment does not have its own dynamics, as if one is unable to measure the social and environmental costs.

Inspector General Fernando Carrillo

Also Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez urged Ecopetrol to take part in a public-private pact to improve the air quality in the polluted city.

“The residents of Medellin and the Abbura Valley need Ecopetrol’s commitment to improve the quality of fuel that is sold in the region,” Mayor Federico Gutierrez said three weeks ago.

Ecopetrol said in 2014 that its products’ sulfur levels are considerably lower than the standards set by the national government.

The Colombian government allows sulfur levels in gasoline that are 30 times higher than those in the US and Europe.

Neither Carrillo nor Gutierrez dared to address the national government’s failure to update the quality standards of fuel.

Colombia’s fuel standards are among the most lenient in Latin America. Only Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru use even more lenient standards on the oil products sold at gas stations, according to an study by Stratas.

Stratas Advisors’ map identifies maximum gasoline sulfur limits worldwide in 2017. (Image: PRNewsfoto/Stratas Advisors)

Neither the national government not congress have shown interest in updating the fuel quality standards for almost a decade.

The national government is largely dependent on its oil company to pay its bills. Imposing stricter environmental regulation would directly affect the country’s treasury.

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Probably because I knew I had to get up early I woke up several times during the night, finally waking at 6:30 and getting up at 6:45.  For breakfast I had a bowl of granola with a sliced banana.

I left the apt at 7:45 and a portero quickly called me a taxi.  I arrived at El Tesoro mall at 8:05 for 11,200 pesos.  Since I had some time to kill I walked around the mall checking which ATMs they have: Bancolombia, BBVA, Scotia Colpatria, and ATH Banco de Bogota.

I arrived at Dr. Rendon’s office at 8:25 and he was already with a patient.  He informed me that he plays squash as 5am and opens the office at 7am.  Wow!  He cleaned my teeth for 165,000 pesos ($53).  I mentioned my cold and he said lots of people have colds from the pollution in Medellin.

I quickly caught a taxi back to the apt for 15mil arriving at 10am just in time to catch a little of the Today show.

Teresa came back at 11am.

I left the apt at 11:45 and walked a block to the bus stop.  It arrived after a 10 minute wait.  I took the metro to the Exposiciones station and a taxi to Unicentro mall.  In the food court I had a spring salad with chicken and a small Pepsi.  Rory arrived right a couple minutes after I had finished.

In our first game I made some mistakes and he was soon up 2 pawns and I couldn’t castle.  I held on and beat him in the endgame.  I showed him a game that Jose and I had played last Tuesday.  In the second game I beat him quite easily.

He left, I packed up and retraced my steps back to the apt.  Teresa informed me that the mother of her friend from the gym passed away and she hoped to be able to go to their mass tonight.

Teresa and I left the apt at 6:10 for my 6:40 appointment at Nueve eps.  I paid 3,200 pesos and there was a 10 minute wait.  The doctor, a woman, checked my weight (80 kilos) and height and gave me a digital exam of my prostate.  She signed a form that will allow me to get a blood draw next Monday.  Teresa asked for 6:09am.  She explained to me that after my blood draw she will go next door to the gym and I can go to Carbon de Leña for breakfast.

We walked almost to our old apt and Teresa went to the mass and I went to La Casita Parilla.  I had a Coke while waiting for her.  There was a soccer game between Medellin and some other team and 3 middle aged guys were watching the game.  It was 1-1 when Medellin scored and one of the guys was so happy he jumped up and walked outside for a minute.  It was still 2-1 after the 90 minute regulation and 10 seconds left to the 5 minute overage the other team scored making it 2-2.  The guy looked deflated.

Teresa returned and we shared a chicken shish kebab.

We walked back to the apt and we were both so tired from getting up early that we soon went to bed.

7,411 steps today.

Joke of the day

During a visit to the local mental institute, John asked the Director during a tour how to determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized.

"It's simple actually," said the Director. "We fill up a bathtub, then we offer a Teaspoon, a Teacup and a Bucket to the patient. We ask him or her to empty the bathtub."

"Ohhhh, I understand.  Obviously a normal person would choose the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."

"No. A normal person would pull the plug and let it drain. Do you want a bed near the window?"

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

I slept well, once waking but not getting up, finally waking/getting up at 7am.  Teresa had already left for the gym.

She returned by 8am and made me breakfast.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show and left for the gym.  It wasn’t very busy today and I completed all my exercises in an hour and 15 minutes.

After lunch Teresa and I took a nap from 2:15 to 3pm.

At 4pm I left the apt and stopped at the bakery where I bought 2 English muffins.  I’m only planning on eating a half at a time so they should last me about a week.  I walked to the mall and printed out a couple things at Arios the copy center.  I went up to Café Arangos and had a café con leche while reading my November Chess Life magazine.  Teresa called me and asked me to pick up a roll of paper towels at Dollar City believing that they are less expensive there.  I did and it was 7mil for a very large roll but I don’t know if that’s a bargain or not.

Back at the apt complex it looks like workers have put up brackets for a suspended ceiling in the guardhouse.  One of the porteros informed me that water will be shut off tomorrow from 9am to 2pm.  When I got to the elevator there was a sign that it was under maintenance and I had to walk up to the 4^th floor.

I’m going to be very busy tomorrow.  At 8:30am I have an appointment to have my teeth cleaned with Dr. Rendon.  At 1pm I’m meeting Rory at Unicentro to play more chess.  And at 6:30 I believe we have an appointment to see a doctor to get an appointment for a blood draw.  Only in Colombia.

10,519 steps today.

Joke of the day

An 86 year-old man is out fishing. He was sitting in his boat when he heard a voice say, "Pick me up!"

He looked around and did not see any one. He thought he was dreaming until he heard the voice again.

"Pick me up." The old man looked in the water and there, floating on a lily pad was a frog.

The man said, "Are you talking to me?" 

The frog replied, "Yes, I'm talking to you. Pick me up. Then, kiss me and I'll turn into the most beautiful woman you have
ever seen. I'll make sure that all your friends are envious and jealous because you will have me as your bride."

The man looked at the frog for a minute in confusion, reached over, picked it up carefully, and placed it in his front pocket.

The frog screamed, "What, are you nuts? Didn't you hear what I said? I said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride!"

He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said,

"Nah, at my age I'd rather have a talking frog."

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

I slept well only getting up once during the night.

I left the apt at 9am and walked a block to the metro bus route.  It was about a 5 minute wait.  I added 20mil to my Civica card at Ayura station.  I transferred at San Antonio station and arrived at the chess club at 10am.

I had the White pieces and I won a long close game.

We had lunch at our usual place – Tropical restaurant in Obispo mall for 11mil.

I had Black in the second game and I gained a pawn early but struggled to hold on to it.  We ended up in a drawn game after 48 moves.  A Colombian guy watched us finish the game.  His name was Renaldo (sp?) and Jose told me he’s a 1900 player but doesn’t have much time now because he’s busy with his business.  Jose walked with us to the metro and then Renaldo went with me as far as San Antonio mall.  He lives in Envigado but had some business to take care of.

I took the metro to Envigado and the metro bus up to the park where I paid the finca city tax at Cotrafa (short line) and then bought a bottle of L-Arginine at the health store.

I walked back to the apt and then watched a movie on Direct TV then entered one of my games into my computer for analysis.

Teresa came back at 5pm, having spent much of the afternoon with her mother shopping at Santafe mall.

We left the apt at 6:30 to see Us (7.5) at the mall at 7:20.  Walking past McDonald’s Teresa informed me she was hungry and could she get something fast there.  Well, yes, speedee is their name, sort of.  I told her she could buy a sandwich and I coiuld hide it in my nearly empty tech bag.  Inside she ended up buying a box of 4 pieces of chicken wings.   They wouldn’t fit in my bag so she held them in her arm like a baby and covered them with her jacket.

In Cine Colombia they only had 4 scattered preferred seats and the only general seats were in row D (4^th row from the front).  I bought 2 for 11,500 hoping they weren’t too close to the screen.  I bought a small popcorn to share and 2 small sodas for us.  We entered the theater and they were already playing a trailer.  Luckily, with my multi focal lenses I could see just fine.

We had seats D10 & D11 and someone was sitting in D11 so we just sat in the two empty seats next to them.

The movie wasn’t as good as we thought it would be.  It seemed like it was struggling to find a way to end.

After the movie ended and the light came up I noticed these chicken bones under Teresa’s seat.  I gave her a little hard time about that.  She picked them up and put them in the popcorn bucket and we threw it all away.  Walking back to the apt she complained that her neck was bothering her because she had to crane her neck to look up.  I didn’t think it was that bad.  I explained to her that when you go at night sometimes there aren’t any seats, sometimes the seats aren’t together, and sometimes they aren’t in a good location.  So that was my latest attempt to get her to go movies in the afternoon.  Sigh!

13,807 steps.

Joke of the day

A strong young man at a construction site was bragging that he could outdo anyone when it comes to pure strength.

He made a special case of making fun of one of the older workers at the job site. After several minutes of ranting, the older worker had had enough.

"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is and challenge me to a strength competition," he said. "I will bet an entire week's pay that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that building that you won't be able to wheel back."

"You're on, old man. Let's see what you got," the young boaster replied.

The old man reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the handles. Then, nodding to the young man, he said,

"All right, hop in."

Monday, March 25, 2019

Well, today is a holiday I just don’t know which one.

This morning I saw a different kind of bird on our birdfeeder.  It was similar to our English sparrow and had to get at the sugar water upside down.

I watched the first 20 minutes of the Today show then left for the gym.  I completed all but one of my exercises in 90 minutes.

I left the apt at 12:15 to meet Rory at Unicentro mall to play chess at 2pm.  I walked a block to where the metro comes by but after waiting 15 minutes I gave up.  I walked down the hill a block to Avenida Las Vegas.  After a 5-minute wait I was on a Sabaneta bus.  I got off across the street from Mercado del Rio and quickly caught a taxi to the mall.

I was there by 1pm.  At Frisby I bought a bowl of vegetable soup, an individual cole slaw and a Coke.  I was finished eating by 1:20.

Rory arrived at 2pm right on time.  I put 20 minutes on each of our clocks and less than 10 moves into the game he gave me his queen for a bishop.  He played on but the game was basically over at that point.  He didn’t have time to play another but despite his loss he wants to play again.

He is in Colombia on a tourist stamp which allows him to stay for a maximum of 180 days.  He is currently teaching English and hopes to get a contract which will allow him to get a visa. 

I took a taxi to the Exposiciones station and the metro back to Envigado.  I stopped at the strawberry vendor and was told it is 14 mil for 1 kilo.  He nearly filled a bag and showed me its 2 pounds.  I told him a kilo is 2.2 pounds but he wouldn’t budge so I left.  I walked to the mall where I had coffee at Habia Una Vez.

I left after about an hour and it was misting slightly.  It got quite windy the last block back to the apt.

MT was visiting.

Those birds have finished almost all the sugar water I put in the feeder last Saturday.

I found out that the holiday today is Dia de San Jose.

My back and my cold both seem to be much better today.

8,755 steps.

Joke of the day

A loving couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were just terrible kids always getting in trouble.

Running out of ideas, the parents decided to look to the church.

They heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children in the past, so they called him, and he agreed to give it a shot. He asked to see the boys individually, so the eight-year-old was sent to meet with him first. The clergyman sat the boy down and asked him sternly, "Now where is God?"

The boy made no response, so the clergyman repeated the question even louder, "Where is God!?"

Again the boy made no attempt to answer, so the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face, "WHERE IS GOD!?"

The boy suddenly ran out of the room, ran directly home, and slammed himself in his closet. His older brother followed him into the closet and said, "What happened?"

The younger brother replied, "We are in a BIG mess of trouble this time. God has gone missing and they think WE did it!"

Lessons from an Expat - Medellin Living

Lessons From an Expat: 10 Things to Know Before Traveling to Medellín

By

 Grace

 -

March 18, 2019

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You’ve booked the flights, you’ve got your vaccinations and you’ve started telling people you’re off to Medellín – no doubt with a few frowns of concern from the older generation. You’re feeling organized and excited but still want a few insights about what to expect when you arrive. Look no further! I sat down with Fraser, a Scottish expat who has been living and working in Medellín for over a year, and was living in Bogotá for a year before that. He talked me through the subtleties of life in the City of Eternal Spring and surprises that might be in store for travelers new to the city. Here are his top 10 things to know before coming to Medellín. 

There’s Spanish… and then there’s paisa Spanish

By Catalyst Weekly

Having lived in Bogotá before moving to Medellín, one of the biggest differences I noticed was how people speak. Rolos (people from Bogotá), in my opinion, use far less slang than paisas. The reception people give you from ‘como estás’ to ‘quihubo parce’ is huge: one is speaking Spanish, the other is speaking paisa. Antioqueños are generally very warm people but you’ll definitely get some extra brownie points for trying to speak like a local as it shows you’ve done your research and are trying to integrate. If you’re ever unsure how to express something like a paisa, adding ‘pues’ on the end of a sentence normally does the trick.

Don’t criticize the food

By Jiann

You might be picturing plates of colorful fruits and vegetables, dishes with hot spices and a mix of flavors, but it’s not quite like that in reality in Medellín. One of the biggest complaints from expats is that the food in Colombia sucks (bar the avocados). However, people in Medellín are not only proud of their Colombian identity but moreover their Paisa identity, a big part of which is the cuisine. Talking badly about Bandeja Paisa won’t do you any favors, especially if you are in a paisa household. If you’re lucky enough to be invited to a local’s home, there’s an unsaid expectation that you eat and drink, and refusing to do so can be interpreted as offensive. Many times, out of sheer politeness, I’ve consumed full dishes of food when I wasn’t even slightly hungry.

There’s no speed limit

By Publimetro

OK, there is a speed limit (60 km/h in urban zones and 100 km/h on motorways) but don’t expect taxi or bus drivers to keep to it. Most taxis and bus drivers are male, and machoism is certainly part of how they drive – I’ve seen (and nearly been involved in) many collisions with cyclists and other cars during my time here. As a general rule of thumb, the older the driver, the safer you are. Younger guys seem to take on a boy racer mentality and will happily whizz, cut, swerve and beep their way around the city. That said, the road system does kind of demand erratic driving, as the city has poor street markings and is often congested.

Another thing to note is that yellow cab drivers tuck the backseat passenger seatbelts into the chairs, so it’s impossible to use the belts – ironically on a journey where you’ll probably need them most. Although it’s technically illegal, Uber runs in Medellín and the cars often have functional seatbelts, so is a better choice if you’re safety-conscious.

Always be prepared on long bus journeys

By horariodebuses.com.co

Separate to how people drive, bus journeys out of Medellín are probably going to make your hands sweat. Medellín sits in a valley, so any direction out of the city is a series of continuous turns and loops through the mountains. Now, imagine that, plus not having a seatbelt, plus going at 100km (minimum), plus being on a small bus packed full with people, luggage, and anything from musical instruments to chickens (seriously). Heading south from Medellín to the coffee region is known as the most treacherous route because the roads become extremely windy and buses don’t always have air con. That said, the bus journeys boast some of the most incredible views of Antioquia, and if you’ve got the stomach for it, can be kind of fun.

Three bits of advice: firstly, if you’re sitting by the window, be prepared to see stomach-turning drops down the side of the mountains. Secondly, always take travel sick tablets for long bus journeys (‘pastillas para el mareo’ in Spanish). And thirdly, expect to see passengers and the drivers making the sign of the cross throughout the trip – a trait that’s not too reassuring about the fate of the journey.

The locals are loud

By El Social Facebook

Medellín has no concept of curfews or music regulations, so matter how late it is, you’ll probably hear reggaetón or vallenato booming from somewhere. Paisas are loud and their parties are too. If you’re used to quiet countryside neighborhoods, definitely bring earplugs with you to Colombia. Don’t think the police will show up for noise complaints, it’s more a ‘can’t beat them, join them’ attitude here. Colombians will sing like it’s communal karaoke and the noise will only continue until the Aguardiente is gone – so go and have a beer with them instead.

Getting around is easy

By USA-Reiseblogger

Unlike Bogotá and other big cities, Medellín has a great metro system that most people use to get around. The metro includes two train lines, the tranvía (tram), metrocable and buses, and locals are extremely proud of the system – 24 years old, it’s impeccably clean and is one of the defining characteristics of the city’s progression. Whether you’re visiting for a short time or planning to live here, it’s worthwhile getting a Cívica card. The cards are free and can be used on all modes of transport at a discounted fare.  To get one, you simply need your passport or cedula, and to register at the Cívica stalls found at San Javier, San Antonio, Itagüí or Niquía station.

You’ll never get bored of the views

By alefunky

Coming from a relatively flat British city, the hills around Medellín are a complete novelty for me, and I’ve never lived anywhere that has the same landscape as here. You don’t need to go hiking for a spectacular vista (although you definitely should), simply walking down the street or on public transport is impressive enough. I take the metro every day and am never fed up of looking out the window watching the mixture of orange buildings and green hills roll by. Night time is particularly pretty, when the lights illuminate the hills and the valley makes Medellín feel even more special.

Be sensitive with the ‘E’ word

By Museo Casa de la Memoria Facebook

Sadly, Colombia’s reputation has been dominated by portrayals in shows like Narcos, meaning there’s been a steep rise in Escobar tourism. The reality is, some locals in Medellín have lived through the terror years and have had family and friends killed as a result of drug cartels. It’s respectable – even more so as a foreigner – to be cautious with throwing Escobar’s name around in public. If you’re speaking another language and Colombians can’t understand but can hear the name, it can be upsetting. If you want to know more about Medellín’s history, I recommend Museo Casa de la Memoria in El Centro over any Escobar-oriented tours.

The best coffee is exported

By Mike Kenneally

While Colombia is famous for its coffee beans, most locals don’t drink the good stuff. Instead, tinto is more common. Tinto is the dregs of coffee with lots of sugar, served in small plastic cups on the street, and is cheaper than the coffee served in cafes. There are many places throughout the city to buy and enjoy delicious Colombian coffee, but these are typically filled with foreigners or wealthier Colombians.

Also good to know, you don’t need to visit the coffee region to tour a coffee farm. Antioquia has several pueblos (towns) known for their coffee production. Jeríco is about three hours away from Medellín by bus and has a big coffee culture, minus all the tourists.

Beware toilet paper trash cans

By Michael Jasmund

Perhaps the biggest culture shock I got arriving here, was adjusting to putting dirty toilet paper in the trash. The pipes in Medellín are narrow and the water pressure is weak, so plumbing systems can’t break down large amounts of toilet paper, meaning a trash can alternative is used. There are some places in Poblado where it’s fine to throw the paper down the toilet but on the whole, you’ll have to develop a reflex to wipe and look right!

Overall, Medellín has a certain charm to it that has seen hundreds of expats visit for a weekend and end up staying for years – embrace the cultural differences here and the city won’t disappoint you. Disfruta!

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