Friday, November 29, 2019

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, got up twice during the night, finally waking/getting up at 7:15.

We left the apt at 10am and arrived at Mayorca just before 10:30. 

At the Puro Cuero (pure leather) furniture store Teresa talked to the saleslady about dining room tables & chairs, living room chairs, and living room tables. 

We broke for lunch at 12:30.  In J&C Delicias I had their Cesar salad and Teresa had fish.

I understood it was important to finalize everything today because they had a 25% off sale.  Back at the furniture store Teresa finally settled on a dining room table with 4 chairs, 2 living room chairs, and a chest of drawers for the bedroom.  The total came to 10 million and I paid 6 million with the remaining 4 million due in January.  The dining room table with chairs won’t be delivered until January 29^th but I’m unsure about the other deliveries.  We finally left at 3:30. 

It obviously had been raining and there were still a few sprinkles but we got lucky catching a taxi back to the apt.

The porter gave me an envelope.  It’s from someone named Carolina living in the apt complex.  She’s trying to introduce me to Jehova’s Witness (sp?) but I’m not interested.

Teresa told me that she’s taking her mother shopping at Mayorca tomorrow so I’ll be on my own for lunch again.

Among new US movie releases I would like to see Knives Out (8.1).  Locally I would like to see it and Midway (6.9).

4,255 steps today.

Joke of the day

A senior citizen was chatting with his 80-year-old buddy. 

"So I hear you're getting married?" 

"Yep!" 

"Do I know her?" 

"Nope!" 

"This woman, is she good looking?" 

"Not really." 

"Is she a good cook?" 

"Nah, she can't cook too well." 

"Does she have lots of money?" 

"Nope! Poor as a church mouse." 

"Well, then, is she good in bed?"  

"I don't know." 

"Why in the world do you want to marry her then?" 

"Because she can still drive!"

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving Americans!

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, fell asleep quickly, was rudely awakened at 1:30 by a calf cramp, fell back asleep, got up at 4:15, fell back asleep, woke up at 6:30 and got up at 7am.

I feel like I’ve got a ball in my calf and I wonder how that’s going to affect my walking today.

I left the apt at 7:45 and walked to downtown Envigado.  I had breakfast at Carbon de Leña, made an ATM withdrawal, bought a package of AAA batteries at Exito, and walked to the used bookstore to exchange paperbacks.  I arrived at 9:10 and found it still closed.  Drat!

I walked back to La Buena Mesa and had a café con leche in Parva.  There was no line when I arrived but it got busy pretty fast.

I returned to the apt at 10:30.

So far my calf is not giving me any trouble.

Laura needs us to send her her birth certificate.  Teresa thought she found it but in my opinion it is a copy and Laura says she needs an original.  Teresa showed me where it says “original” on the page but, LOL, the word “original” doesn’t magically disappear if you make a copy of it.  In my opinion an original should be partially in color or embossed so you could easily tell the difference.  I recommended she show it to a Notaria and get their opinion.  She thinks the original might be in a suitcase in our garage storage area but that’s packed with stuff and will be very difficult to get to.

Teresa has to take her mother to a doctor's appointment.

I left the apt at 11:30 and walked up to Avenida Poblado.  It was a 5 minute wait for an Envigado bus.  I arrived at Parque Poblado at 12:05 so I walked up to Patrick’s Irish Pub instead of taking a bus.  I was still 10-15 minutes early so I walked a couple more blocks to Los Souvlakis.  Both the guys working there spoke English.  I told them it’s been 30 years since I’ve had a souvlaki so I will be returning to try theirs.

I walked back to Patrick’s and found a lot of the tables were reserved.  I joined Paul, a gringo from Boston, alone at one of the tables.  He is just visiting here for a few weeks and I gave him some advice about visiting Guatape.  I had the turkey plate and a Coke for about 78mil.  The turkey was just from a turkey roll and all of the food was room temperature but I was mainly there so I could see the Bears vs Lions game.  I recognized one of the gringos sitting outside and at halftime I was going to say hi but a shoe shine guy soon got in the way.  I saw Jooks arrive with a couple young Colombians.  The Bears pulled it out 24-20 but they’ll be lucky to win more than one of their last 4 games against the Cowboys, Packers, Chiefs, and Vikings.  I said “hi” to Jooks on the way out.

I walked down to Avenida Poblado and took a bus back to Envigado.

I figured out how to play music through the TV using my USB drive.  I also figured out how to add songs to a playlist but I don’t know yet how to play the playlist.

10,719 steps today.

Joke of the day

A little old man shuffled slowly into an ice cream parlor and pulled himself slowly, painfully, up onto a stool.  After catching his breath, he ordered a banana split. 

The waitress asked kindly, "Crushed nuts?" 

"No," he replied. "Arthritis."

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, got up once at 6:15, fell back asleep, waking/getting up at 8am.

My wrist is sore again so I’ll probably skip gym this morning.

I left the apt at 9:30 and walked to the mall.  First I recycled a vitamin bottle then walked inside to Exito.  I ran into Dora, Edwin’s wife, returning a Christmas tree.  I would have invited her for coffee but I had an errand to run.  In the electronics department I asked a young man if anyone there spoke English.  He said Estaban (that’s what it sounded like) does but he doesn’t start work until 11am.

I went to Home Center looking for a simple wall tap but they didn’t have exactly what I was looking for.

I went to Todo Fresa where I had a café con leche and solved some more chess puzzles until 11:30.

I returned to Exito and I found the same young man who introduced me to Sebastian.  His English was good and he helped answer a few of my questions about the new TV.

I returned to the apt.

I ordered a set of wall taps and a couple of other things from Amazon.  I’m glad I got that order in before the Thanksgiving rush.

I managed to get Netflix installed on the TV.

I left the apt at 2:45 and when I arrived at Parva Juan was already there.  We spent 2 hours practicing Spanish.  I learned he’s an English instructor for a company (or companies) and he’s 37 years old.

About 4:30 it started getting busy and thus noisy in the café so we agreed to try meeting earlier next week.

After he left I stayed another hour and had another café con leche and solved a few more chess puzzles.

On the way back to the apt I picked up milk at Exito.

Our new couch was delivered at 5pm and I’m so glad we didn’t order a larger one.

Today the currency exchange closed at 3,506 Colombian Pesos to the US Dollar, an all time high.

I downloaded the LG TV App to our cellphones which allows them to be used as remote controls.

7,803 steps today.

Joke of the day

A couple of elderly men were venting their frustrations about the woes of modern technology.

"I just can't ever seem to remember my darn passwords," grumbled one of them.

The other one smiled. "Oh really? I can never forget mine!"

"How do you manage it?" asked the first guy curiously.

"Well, I simply set all my passwords to 'Incorrect' so that whenever I'm told that my password is incorrect, I'll remember it!"

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, got up at 1:30, 4am and 6am, finally getting up at 6:30.

My wrist still feels pretty good.  I took half an Exedrin to clear my fuzzy head.

I left the apt at 7:45 and arrived at Habia Una Vez at 8am.  I had their breakfast special with a large coffee.  Jose arrived just before 9am.  We each had a coffee and I caught him up on what has been happening in my life the past 2 weeks.  We finally went upstairs at 9:45.

I showed Jose chess puzzle #144 but I solved it in one minute.  I must have been tired before.

I had the Black pieces in the first game and I played the Sicilian Defense but he got an attack going and I resigned on the 31^st move.

It was 12:30 and he had a sandwich from Q’Bano and I had the Picanugys from Frisby.  I made the mistake of ordering them with BBQ sauce and they came with 2 packages of BBQ sauce.  I should have ordered them “bathed” in BBQ sauce.

I had White in the 2^nd game and I played the London opening.  In the middle game he sacrificed a knight for 2 pawns in order to obtain passed pawns and attack my king.  I fought him off for awhile but resigned on the 51^st move.

It was 4pm and I’m sure he would have heavy traffic returning to his house.  I went upstairs and got a haircut for 30mil.  He did a good job on the top of my head but cut too much off my beard and mustache.  (Teresa loved it though.)

I called Teresa and got a busy signal.

I went downstairs and ordered a café con leche at Todo Fresa.  The young salesgirl spoke to me in English explaining that she needs to practice.  I asked her why she wants to learn English and she said because it’s an international language.  What was amazing is that her pronunciation was perfect without any Spanish accent.

I returned to the apt by 5:30 and the new TV was installed in the old location.  The old TV is installed in the bedroom but it doesn’t work.  I asked why not and Teresa pointed to the router and said we need another one of those.  I pointed to the decoder box and she agreed that that’s what we need.  Teresa said the guy was only here a short time and it cost 120mil.

I figured out how to set up the date and time on the new TV and change the volume but not the channels.  Teresa got the old remote control and that worked.  Now all I have to do is learn how to take advantage of all of it features.  There is an owner’s manual but I haven’t been able to find a users manual.

On the news I see there is still some violence happening in protests in Bogota and I understand protesters have hampered traffic in Medellin.  (Teresa said it took Esmeralda 2 hours to get home from Itagui today.)

John Berrio, my Spanish tutor from 6 years ago, finally answered the email I sent on October 29^th.  “I am still living there (Laureles) but I am working at my students home…yes, I’m okey (sic)…what about you?”

I finished reading John Grisham’s The Rooster Bar on my Nook.

4,722 steps today.

Joke of the day

Two elderly men were sitting beside each other in a barbershop.

One of them said to the other, "Now that you're turning 80, how do you honestly feel?"

"Honestly? Like a newborn baby!"

"How's that?"

"Well, I've got no teeth, no hair, and I can't stop wetting myself!"

Monday, November 25, 2019

Last night I went to bed at 10:30.  There were some people outside Exito, Teresa told me later, that kept her awake but with my sleeping pill I fell asleep right away.   I woke up long enough at 5am to look at my watch, fell back asleep, finally waking/getting up at 7am.

Incredibly, my wrist feels better so I’ll be going to the gym but being careful not to damage it again (or further).

After breakfast I returned to bed for a short nap.

I left the apt at 9:30 and walked to the gym.  I completed my limited set of exercises in an hour and 15 minutes without any pain in my wrist.  We’ll see about later.

Teresa will be leaving soon for her eye appointment.  She says it’s a store by the Suramericana metro station.  I asked her why she’s going so far away and she said something about it’s for/with a friend.

I left the apt at 1:30 and walked to the mall.  I wanted to get a haircut but Mr. Kutz was closed.  I guess they’re closed Mondays.

I went downstairs and had a café con leche in Todo Fresa.  My chess tutor was supposed to grade my homework and return it to the porter for me to pick up before he left last Saturday but I guess he forgot or got busy with other things.  I guessed that I was early in the 100s so I started solving problems starting with number 129 and recording the results in another book.  I spent about 12 minutes on problem #144 but still couldn’t solve it.  It was the last one I was going to do so I just shelved it for now.

I walked back to the apt.

Teresa returned about 7pm with her eyelashes and eyebrows done and she said she can’t go to the gym this week.  Her eyebrows look like they are tattoed on (they aren’t) so, not wanting to be negative, I just said they look very shiny.

I plugged my iPod into my laptop to recharge it and I got a message from iTunes that it found songs on my iPod that it didn’t find on iTunes and do I want to copy them.  I would have thought it would have been the other way around but I gave it permission to proceed.

8,662 steps today.

Joke of the day

After 70 years of marriage, a man is asked what the secret of a long and successful marriage is.

"It's simple," he replied. "Two nights a week we go to a quiet restaurant and enjoy exquisite food, some candlelight, soft music, and a slow walk home.”

"She goes on Wednesdays, and I go on Saturdays."

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Last night I went to bed at 10:15, got up once during the night, again at 5am, couldn’t fall back asleep so I finally got up at 6:30.

I left the apt at 7:45 and took a bus to Parque Poblado.  It was only 8am so I walked up the hill to Calle 36 and turned right and walked to Ganso & Castor Café at Carrera 36 #7-46 arriving at 8:20.  It was a small café, it didn’t have a buffet but it did have a large menu.  I texted Glenn and he had just arrived at the Poblado station.  Over the next half hour he first couldn’t find a taxi then when he did the driver took him to another Ganso & Castor Café location.  He finally arrived at 8:50.  I had already finished a café con leche and ordered another.  They had an American plate that I enjoyed and he happily found his Eggs Bendedict and bagel.  When my 3^rd coffee arrived it was cold and I sent it back and they finally brought one that was hot.

The café wasn’t very large and I felt guilty taking up a table just talking so we paid and left.  (This location might be a keeper although I wouldn’t mind occasionally checking out some other locations.)

We walked up a block to Calle 35 and north to Calle 10.  We went down 2 blocks and I pointed out the approximate location of Pergamino #1 and we walked 2 blocks north to Pergamino #2, which is a shady spot without many customers.  (The only negative is it’s a bit of a busy road.)  We chatted until noon and then took a taxi to Envigado where I got out and he continued on to Sabaneta.

I watched the Bears defeat the NY Giants 19-14.

Teresa returned and took a brief nap.

We left the apt at 4:30 and met MT (mother Teresa) at the mall.  They took a quick look inside the new J & M store and pronounced everything is ugly.  We went up to Crepes & Waffles for dinner then we went to Café Arangos for coffee.  We left the mall about 8pm.

Tomorrow I’m not sure if I will return to the gym or wait until my wrist is completely healed.  In the afternoon Teresa has to get her eyes done (eyelashes?  eyebrows?  You know, some girlie thing) so I’ll probably go get a haircut – at least a trim.

8,780 steps today.

Thought for the day: The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Last night I went to bed at 10:30, got up once during the night, finally waking/getting up at 7:15.

My wrist is much better this morning.  I seem to have regained most of my mobility without any pain.  I could hold a spoon normally this morning with no difficulty.

I left the apt at 8:30 and walked to Parva.  For some reason (I only understood Christmas and kids) my coffee (large this time) was 4,500 pesos.  I read some from my Reader’s Digest.  The café was mostly empty.  I left at 9:45.

On my way back to the apt I stopped at Exito and picked up a couple things for Teresa.

Wow!  Laura called Teresa and informed us that there is a gift waiting for us at the porteria.  By the time I figured out she meant “now” and not “later” Teresa said they are bringing it up to us.  I opened the door and a deliveryman brought in a 50” LG UHD TV.  (I asked Teresa, jokingly, if it’s supposed to go in Laura’s bedroom.)  Teresa informed me that Laura made it clear that this is a gift for me.  I told Teresa not to worry as I would allow her to use it occasionally.

I left the apt at 11:15 and took a metro bus and the metro to San Antonio station.  I went downstairs to use the TranVia for the first time.  (It’s like a ground level monorail but I didn’t get to really appreciate it because the ride was so short and I was concentrating so much on where I was and where I was going.)  A train arrived and I got on.  I handed a policewoman the Comfama address and she guided me off the train.  The train left and headed west so I knew that wasn’t right.  Another train arrived on the other side of the “platform” and we both got on.  It headed in the same direction so the only explanation is that I must have gotten turned around going down the stairs from the metro platform.

It went a few blocks and I got off at the first station – San Joaquin - at noon.  I walked a block looking for a street sign and walked back to where I started and asked a policeman.  A Colombian intervened and guided me to a small park.  There were 2 buildings with Comfama on it and I went into the one that also had a Smartfit sign on it.  I asked at an information desk and was directed to the other building.  Inside I asked a policeman about the chess tournament and he said it would be outside unless it starts raining.

I wanted to have lunch somewhere first so I walked around the block that the building was on without finding a restaurant.  I walked a block west and found Carbon y Sabor.  I ordered my usual and looking at my watch I realized I only had 20 minutes.  I ate most of my food, paid 22,900 and left.

I arrived back at the park at 1:10, 10 minutes late.  I saw 2 games going on and another half dozen or so men looking on.  I set up my board and pieces and soon had an opponent.

He was fairly strong but I eventually checkmated him in both games.  My 2^nd opponent wasn’t very strong and he finally resigned after I had taken all his pieces.  My 3^rd opponent was very strong and I quickly lost a piece and he did a good job of making my pieces useless and I resigned.  We had had a few drops of rain during the games.  I took a taxi back to Envigado and by the time we got to Poblado it started raining.  It was pouring by the time I returned to the apt.

We had a strong thunderstorm come through for about an hour.

I tried to take a nap but I think only Teresa slept a little.

Afterward, I plugged the TV back in but despite repeated attempts I kept getting the “no signal” message.

We left the apt at 7:30 and took a taxi to the patacon stand across from Antica Pizza.  (On the way we saw that Envigado has their Christmas lights on in the park.)  For 19,600 pesos we shared a patacon with guacamole and shredded beef, a cheese torta, 6 small empanadas and a soda.

There were a few raindrops but nothing serious.

We were back at the apt by 9pm.

The TV still doesn’t work.

Just before I went to bed I tried the TV one last time and I finally got a signal.

7,761 steps today.

Joke of the day

Two Roofers, Bob and Dan, were putting a new roof on a barn when a bundle of shingles slid down the slope and knocked the ladder over.

Bob and Dan decided since it was early they would continue working because someone would surely come around by quitting time.

It was nearing 5 PM and they hadn't seen hide nor hair of anyone.

So, they walked around the roof a few times and finally decided there was only one way down.

On the West side of the barn was a big manure pile.

Bob says, "It's the only way down. I will go first." Bob jumped.

Dan heard the squishy landing and yelled, "Hey Bob! How deep did you go?"

Bob yells back, "I went to my ankles Dan, come on JUMP!"
Dan jumps... and sinks clear up to his neck in manure!

"I thought when you jumped you went up to your ankles?" He shouts at his friend.

"I did..." Explained Bob, "but I landed head first!"

Friday, November 22, 2019

Last night I went to bed at 10:30 and didn’t wake/get up until 7am.

While my wrist is a little less sore with slightly more mobility, I’ve decided to skip gym today in order to rest it over the weekend.

I left the apt at 8:30 and walked to the mall.  I walked to Auros to print something but there was a line so I decided to delay it until after my other errands.

A small clothing store that was closest to the main entrance closed a few months ago.  Soon after that, a wraparound was put up on the outside wall promoting the opening of a new store, H & M, at 11am on November 23^rd.  A couple weeks ago a huge H & M clothes hanger advertisement was put up outside the mall.  Today as I entered the mall I saw those “ropes” have been put up outside the door to the store.  They must be expecting some huge lines.  (Later I googled H&M and their website advertises “fashion and quality at the best price”.)

I went up to Bancolombia where I took a number.  The machine didn’t have the buy and sell cash option I’ve gotten used to at the Parque Envigado location which is probably why I had to wait 45 minutes to see a cashier.  Despite having to partially fill out a form again I got my cash in 15 minutes.  For the first time I got it all in 100s instead of the usual 50s.

I went downstairs to Todo Fresa where I had a café con leche.  I was pleasantly surprised when one of the waitresses gave me my missing bottle of liquid correction fluid that I thought I lost somewhere in the apt.

Among new US movie releases there isn’t anything I want to see.  (I have mixed feelings about A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood because I love Tom Hanks but I have no interest in Mr. Rogers (7.3).)  Locally, there isn’t anything I want to see.

Teresa called me at 12:15 and asked me to meet her for lunch at the restaurant DoSabores near Aymara.  I got there early so I stopped at the nearby copy center and had something printed.

After lunch I was surprised that, even though Teresa was still in her gym clothes, she wanted to go look at furniture right away.  We took a taxi south on the expressway about a mile further south than Mayorca mall to a furniture store.

We found a couple dining room tables we liked.  One was 5 million pesos and the sales lady informed us that we would get a 5% discount if we paid in cash.  I told Teresa that I could send myself cash via World Remit and we could pick it up tomorrow at Bancolombia and then head straight to the furniture store.

We went across the street where we checked out another furniture store but found nothing we liked.

A couple stores down in another furniture store we found a couple more tables and chairs we liked.

Outside it was sprinkling and it took about 10 minutes to catch a taxi.  We were now headed in the wrong direction and the driver had to go quite a ways before he could turn around.

At Mayorca we went upstairs to a furniture store named Puro Cuero where we found a sofa we liked but we were afraid it was a little too long.  I understood we could order the same couch in a shorter length.

We went upstairs where we had dinner in J&C Delicias.  During the day I have been trading messages with Alex.  The movers haven’t been able to get the large sofa into their apt.  I understand someone said he could remove the cover, cut the sofa in 2, and reassemble it after taking upstairs to the 2^nd floor to their apt.

Back downstairs Teresa learned that if we wait until Friday we might be able to save on a couple chairs.  I paid for the couch which will be delivered Monday and we will put off buying the dining room table at the other store until we check out this sale next Friday.

It was 7:30 and crossing the pedestrian bridge from the new section to the old section we could see bumper to bumper traffic.  I suggested we have coffee to kill some time.  We found a Deli café and I ordered a café con leche for myself as Teresa said she didn’t want anything.  When I returned with my coffee she took it and told me to get another for myself.  When I looked back I saw that now there was a line.  I got in line behind what appeared to be a family and the father kept smiling at me.  I finally noticed that their young boy was unzipping the zipper on their teenage daughter’s blouse.  Lol.  Teresa motioned to me and I went over and she told me she only wanted a little of the coffee so I finished it.

At 8pm we went outside and had to wait a little over 10 minutes to catch a taxi back to the apt.  Luckily the driver knew of a shortcut and we were back at the apt by 8:30.

10,388 steps today.

Joke of the day

A man was driving through west Texas one spring evening.

The road was deserted and he had not seen a soul for what seemed like hours.

Suddenly his car started to cough and sputter and the engine slowly died, leaving him sitting on the side of the road in total silence.

He popped the hood and looked to see if there was anything that he could do to get it going again.

Unfortunately, he had a limited knowledge of cars, so all he could do was look at the engine. 

Feeling despondent as he stood looking at the gradually fading light of his flashlight, he cursed that he had not put in new batteries like he had promised himself.

Suddenly, through the inky shadows, came a deep voice, "It's your fuel pump."

The man raised up quickly, striking his head on the underside of the hood. "Who said that?" he demanded.

There were two horses, one white, one black, standing in the fenced field alongside the road and the man was amazed when the nearest of the two horses repeated, "It's your fuel pump. Tap it with your flashlight, and try it again."

Confused, the man tapped the fuel pump with his flashlight, turned the key and sure enough, the engine roared to life.

He muttered a short thanks to the horse and screeched away.

When he reached the next town, he ran into the local bar.

"Gimme a large whiskey, please!" he said.

A rancher sitting at the bar looked at the man's ashen face and asked, "What's wrong, man? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"It's unbelievable," the man said and recalled the whole tale to the rancher.

The rancher took a sip of his beer and looked thoughtful. "A horse, you say? Was it by any chance a white horse?"

The man replied in the affirmative. "Yes, it was! Why, am I crazy?"

"No, you ain't crazy. In fact, you're lucky," said the rancher, "because the black horse don't know sh*t about cars."

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Last night I went to bed at 10:15, got up 2-3 times during the night, finally waking/getting up at 7:15.

My wrist is still sore just not as painful as when I went to bed.  I’m thinking I might have hurt it while doing my arm curls yesterday at the gym.  I’ll have to be more careful not to bend my wrist during that exercise.

I found that the new songs I copied to iTunes don’t work unless I have the thumbdrive plugged in.  Obviously I need to do more than a simple “copy” and “paste” to get it to work.

I texted Carlos and we’re going to meet at 10am this morning.  We had the lesson and I learned he will be in Moscow for the tournament in January.  He’s going to correct some of my homework and leave it with our porter.  I asked him to write me the details about his tournament so I can follow his progress.  We will be resuming our lessons around February 20^th.

My wrist is so sore I can’t even hold a spoon normally I have to grip it like a small child.

I left the apt at 1:45 and walked to the mall.  First I recycled a pill bottle then bought a ticket for 12,000 pesos to Ford vs Ferrari (8.3).  As expected I was almost alone in the theater.  This was my 35^th visit to Cine Colombia this year so I’m now qualified to renew my Platinum card for next year.

I stopped in Regatta and bought a ticket for my brother to a beer festival being held in Jardin de Botanico next February 1^st.  As I was leaving the store I was pretty sure I heard the Muzak playing White Christmas.

Outside the mall I saw the Encicla station now has bicycles.

My wrist was feeling a little better as the day progressed.

I finally figured out how to get the songs to play on iTunes without the thumbdrive.

At 9pm I heard people out on their balconies banging on pots and pans.  Even Teresa had no idea what that was about.

I watched a little Thursday Night Football.

7,988 steps today.

Joke of the day

What time does the library open?" the man on the phone asked.

Annoyed, the librarian composed himself before he answered.

"9 am," came the reply. "And what's the idea of calling me at home in the middle of the night to ask a question like that?"

"Not until 9 am?" the man asked in a disappointed voice.

The librarian began to get angry. 

"No, not until 9 am," said the librarian. "Why do you want to get in before 9 am?"

"Who said I wanted to get in?" the man sighed sadly. "I want to get out."

A Guide to the Christmas Lights in Medellin - Medellin Living

A Guide to the Christmas Lights in Medellín

By

 Grace

 -

November 5, 2019

Come December, there are few things more exciting than watching the city streets become illuminated with colorful light displays. And while the decorations in Europe and North America consist mostly of Santa, gifts, and Christmas trees, in Medellín the lights include fish, boats, flowers, castles, rainbows, and more. No matter how old you are, the holidays in the City of Eternal Spring are guaranteed to have you buzzing with Christmas joy. So, whether you’re away from home and looking to feel festive, or simply need a seasonal Instagram upload, here’s your guide to the Christmas lights in Medellín.

Where: Parque Norte and Parques del Río

Dates: November 29th – January 6th 2019

Time: 6 pm – Midnight

Cost: Free

History of the lights

Medellín’s Christmas lights are known as ‘Alumbrados Navideños’ or ‘El Alumbrado’ in Spanish. The first public Christmas lights in the city took place in Plaza Mayor in 1851, however, it wasn’t until 1955 when the annual display began happening. 1955 was the year that EPM (the utility company in Medellín) was consolidated, and in collaboration with the government and press, started putting up Christmas lights in Medellín.

Fast forward to 2019 and it’s the 52nd year the light show has taken place, which is now solely organized and sponsored by EPM. EPM is responsible for many projects in the city that promote community and mobility. Each light display features millions of lights formed in various structures and patterns. The highest number of lights adorned in the Alumbrados was in 2017 when 37 million lights were hung.

Recently, the number of lights has had to be reduced due to financial constraints faced by EPM. Nonetheless, the spectacle is a huge annual event and draws crowds from around Colombia and the world. Up to four million people in Medellín see the Alumbrados Navideños each year, and approximately 90,000 extranjeros head to Colombia specifically for the Christmas lights.

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Where to see the lights

Unlike previous years, 2019 will host the lights across two different locations. The first, and main location, is Parque Norte – the theme park located nearby to Universidad metro station. The second location is Parques del Río, along the road following the river.

In terms of the type of lights you can expect to see in the two areas, Parque Norte will be a more traditional show, while Parques del Río is more modern. Additionally, Parques del Río will include lighting that changes the color of the river, and elsewhere the Medellín City Hall will feature huge installations, and the EPM building will have colorful projections on it.

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How to arrive

For Parque Norte, the metro is the cheapest and quickest mode of transport. Take Line A to Universidad and the park is then a 5-minute walk away. Parking at Parque Norte is very limited, so if you can’t use the metro, we suggest catching a taxi – all drivers will know the location but be prepared for long traffic queues.

For Parques del Río, again, the metro is the best option. This time, take Line A to Exposiciones station. From there, it’s a 15-minute walk west, including going over the river bridge. There is also the option to go via taxi but we recommend leaving early to ensure you don’t spend time and money sitting among the blocked roads.

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Other places with lights

Although Parque Norte and Parques del Río are the primary spots to see the lights, there are a few smaller displays in other parts of Medellín. All the main parks in the 16 comunas of Medellín will have lights, such as Primer Parque in Laureles, Parque Poblado in Poblado, as well as the parks outside of the metropolitan area; like Parque Envigado, Parque Bello, and Parque Sabaneta.

La 70 (Carrera 70 near Esadio), Avenida Las Palmas (in El Poblado), Avenida La Playa (El Centro), the Ayacucho tram line (from San Antonio to Oriente in El Centro), and Pueblito Paisa will all have their own mini Alumbrados too.

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Food, drinks, and shops

Even with EPM’s financial restrictions, this year’s light display is guaranteed to be spectacular. More than 27 million LED lights will be used, plus there will be 32,000 hand-woven figures to admire. It takes a team of roughly 200 people to prepare the Alumbrados, consisting of welders, architects, designers, artisans, engineers, and more working throughout the year to ensure that December in Medellín is fully illuminated.

Both the Parque Norte and Parques del Río locations will have booths selling food, drinks, and souvenirs from the light shows. There will also be small Christmas stalls to buy local arts and crafts from.

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Tips for expats

– Although known as the City of Eternal Spring, Medellín also sometimes gets unexpected heavy rain, so pack an umbrella

– Because the event information is in Spanish, it’s best to brush up on a few words and phrases to get around easily

– Note all the locations for the displays you want to attend. The metro and roads in Medellín get very busy during the festival and you’ll need extra time to arrive at places

– Arrive early to secure a good viewpoint; people also take chairs or stools with them to sit

– Keep personal belongings close to you, theft is common at large events. Don’t flash valuables or take your passport with you

– Drinking alcohol in public is technically illegal and if caught, you face a fine. However, the police can (and do) choose to ignore public drinking so long as you’re discrete