Sunday, September 7, 2025

Last night I took Diphenhydramine and Zopiclona tablets and went to bed at 10pm, got up once at 3:45, finally waking/getting up with Teresa at 6:45.

Again, I’ve got a power problem, my battery is down to 82%. And I don’t have an internet connection. ☹

We left the apt just after 10am. Our Didi driver drove down to Ave Las Vegas expecting Ciclovia but the road was closed off - for a marathon? We had to take Ave Poblado which explained why the fare was 25,200 pesos where usually it would be closer to 10,000.

We were dropped off a block from Estacion Exposiciones just before 11am and waited 10 minutes for an El Retiro bus. We got seats in the back without any problem – I like the extra legroom back there.

I paid 18,000 pesos when we got off by a building called Industrial Habitat. We backtracked 100’ to the road entrance to Caballeros de la Virgin (Gentlemen of the Virgin?).

We waited for a busetta (sp?), a van, with a small group of others wanting to get to the church.

It was noon and after waiting 5 minutes Teresa suggested we walk as it’s only a 30-minute walk. I responded (mistakenly) with “whatever you want”. Now, I would be fine with a 30-minute walk on level ground but this was all uphill reminding me of the finca. I had to stop often to catch my breath and rest my legs while Teresa had no problem. Remember I’m almost 80-years old and Medellin is at 5,000 feet and we’re at an elevation higher than that, heading for an even higher elevation.

It took 45-minutes to arrive at the entrance

so it was now 12:45 and according to this sign, mass had already started.

As we headed to the restrooms, I saw they were at the point where they shake hands so I figured communion was about to start. When we returned from the restrooms we sat down in the shade next to the parking lot and had lunch – individual containers that Teresa packed of chicken, rice, with a little carrot – a typical lunch I see workers eating all the time in Colombia. We learned that the only food they sell there is bread and sodas. I understand there used to be a restaurant but it caused parking problems.

We took a van back down the hill and across the street was an Asia House that Teresa noticed. Interestingly, traffic stopped in both direction so it was easy to cross. The building contained clothing, furniture and accessories from India and Thailand. I guess she didn’t find it very interesting as she only checked it out for a few minutes. Next door she spotted this little café, Il Café Finno

and the owner had just brought out a fresh apple pie. We shared a slice and we each had a latte which was served differently with a cup of hot milk and a small pitcher of coffee on the side that you pour into the cup.

We arrived just in time because soon it was pouring outside.

Sorry I didn’t take a photo of the coffee and pie. Later, we had another slice with coffee. (A few others came in and sat down and they all had pie also.) The check came to 69,000 pesos and at 4:30 we went out to the street, still raining but not as heavily, and luckily our bus was just coming around the bend.

We got seats in the back with lost of legroom and when we arrived in Medellin it was raining harder as we returned to Envigado by taxi. We stopped in Ara where Teresa purchased some arepas and laundry detergent.

I modeled one of my new shirts for Teresa but she immediately replied, “no, that’s not going to work”. I’m guessing it’s because they are “slim fit” which would have worked fine 6 years ago before the pandemic and my two surgeries. ☹ We decided we’ll return them when we meet on Wednesday at their Mayorca store.

I watched some NFL football until 8:45 when I switched to my pre sleep routine.

 

FUNNY