Saturday, March 2, 2019

Puende de Occidente - Medellin Living

Puente de Occidente (Bridge of the West)

What was once the longest suspension bridge in Latin America was directly inspired by the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.  

On December 27, 1895, and after eights years of construction, the Bridge of the West became the longest suspension bridge in all of Latin America and the third in the world.
The bridge, which was named after its location on the western side of Colombia, was designed by architect José María Villa, who had previously worked on the Brooklyn Bridge. He used that previous experience to design and construct this bridge, adjusting it to the local conditions. This can be noted on the cable-stayed-suspension hybrid structural system and the wooden pedestrian passageways, which were employed in both structures.
The construction of this structure spearheaded an industrial revolution in the nation. Before there was a bridge on this part of the Cauca River, the only other method to get around the waterway was by finding a narrow passageway farther south. The bridge facilitated the connection between the interior of Colombia and the Caribbean Sea, and therefore became an essential player in developing the country’s economy. 
Today, the bridge remains in use and is a local attraction due to its importance for the development of the Antioquia region, which grants it a symbolic reference for the strength and unity for the people which inhabit the area. 
Know Before You Go
The bridge is located between the towns of Santa Fe de Antioquia and Olaya on the Cauca River.

Parque Arvi - Medellin Living


Parque Arvi

Located outside Medellín, this Colombian park focuses on conservation and sustainability.  



Parque Arvi is a nature preserve and archaeological site found outside of Medellín in the Aburra Valley. Covering over 16,000 hectares, Parque Arvi is known for its wildflowers, nature tours and over 54 miles of hiking trails.
Within the park rests sections of prehistoric ruins including waterworks pathways, platforms, gardens, trenches, and roads. The “pre-hispanic trail”—or the Camino Cienza de Leon—is assumed to be over 1,500 years old. Offering spectacular views of Medellín and the surrounding Aburra Valley, the high terrain running through the western part of Parque Arvi is one the most preserved trails leading to the Laguna de Guarne and Seca Lake region.
Parque Arvi also boasts an outdoor regional food market and an Ecological Hotel. Guests to the park can enjoy nature tours, cycling, outdoor adventure sports, and guided hikes such as a two-hour butterfly (and flora) tour— called the “Porton de Guabayo”—that identifies native butterflies in the park. Other tours include nightly guided-hikes showcasing the regional cultural exchange through music, and campfire discussions on Medellín history and folklore.
Know Before You Go
Within Parque Arvi, the Environmental and Cultural Center is open to visitors year round, offering events, educational tours, a food court, and the Arvi store. The Arvi Market, or the Mercado Arví, is located at the entrance of the cable entry. The market highlights regional farmers and craftsmen where products include handicrafts, foods and agricultural products of the Santa Elena region. The Market has been established to revitalize the regional economy highlighting rural community tourism.
Piedras Blancas Hotel and Ecological Park near Parque Arvi has a museum and hotel space along with boat rentals, canopy, and even a butterfly garden. Located near the Piedras Blancas dam, and surrounded by native forests, a longer trip to Parque Arvi should definitely include a stay in this hotel.

Friday, March 1, 2019


For the past few weeks I’ve had lower back pain that tends to lessen a bit as the day goes on but the mornings are horrible.  If I cough or sneeze I have a shooting pain in my lower back.  I also have a cold which makes coughing and sneezing that much more likely.

Teresa called nueva eps and got me an appointment for Monday at 10:40am.

We left the apt at 11:15 and took a taxi to Nueva eps.  We took a number and 5 minutes later we got a slip of paper with my medical description on it.

Using my translator app I learned that we were there hoping someone would cancer their appointment and we would get in.
We gave up at 1:20 and walked across the street where we had lunch at Mariskos.

Back at the apt I finished watching Michael Cohen’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Youtube.

I vegged out for the remainder of the day.

Today only 3,866 steps.

Joke of the day
A magician was working on a cruise ship.
Since the audience was different each week, the magician did the same tricks over and over again. There was only one problem: The captain's parrot saw the shows each week and began to understand how the Magician did every trick.
Once he understood, he started shouting in the middle of the show, "Look, it's not the same hat!" or, "Look, he's hiding the flowers under the table!" Or "Hey, why are all the cards the ace of spades?"
The magician was furious but couldn't do anything. It was, after all, the captain's parrot.
Then one stormy night on the Pacific, the ship unfortunately sank.
The magician luckily found himself on a piece of wood floating in the middle of the sea, as fate would have it ... with the parrot.
They stared at each other with hatred, but did not utter a word.
This went on for a day... And then 2 days. And then 3 days.  Finally on the 4th day, the parrot couldn’t hold back any longer and said...
"Okay, I give up. Where's the freaking ship?”

Thursday, February 28, 2019


We left the apt at 9am and took a taxi to Bancolombia.

We had about a 30 minute wait for our turn.  I paid my bills for the month and got 200mil in cash, for some reason in all 10s.

At 10am we were at Nueva eps where Teresa set up an appointment.

At 11:10 we were at Diagnostarte in ciudad del rio where, after an hour wait, Teresa picked up her liver test results.  She was negative for cancer so that’s good; just one more indication that we caught the breast cancer early.

She didn’t want to go to mercado del rio for lunch so we took a taxi to La Bahia in Envigado where we got the menu of the day for 11mil.

She went to visit her mother and I returned to the apt for a nap.

From what I’ve read the best part of Michael Cohen’s testimony came after I left yesterday to meet with Erwin and friends.

Teresa called me at 4pm and I met her and MT at Crepes & Waffles for ice cream.

Afterward, we went up to Café Arangos where I had café con leche and a slice of carrot cake.  I suggested we go later for pizza but I got voted down.  Teresa asked me about the movie The Mule and I checked and informed her that it’s no longer playing at any Cine Colombia location.  I googled and found it’s playing at El Tesoro’s Cinemark theater at 9:30.  Teresa called and confirmed that it’s in English with Spanish subtitles.

I left them for a few minutes and went to Home Center where I found a Pyrex nockoff measuring cup and ¼ - 1 cup spoons. 
I reported back to them what I had found and showed them photos I had taken and Teresa called Wilson and asked him about them.  We went to Home Center and bought them for him.

We then did an about face and went to Wilson’s bar for dinner.  We all had shish kebab and sat around for awhile.  About 9pm it got cool enough that with my cold I decided it would be better if I left.  We walked MT to her building then we walked back to the apt.

Teresa showed me a “lump” on the back of her calf.  The doctor says it’s a lipoma “A lipoma is a slow-growing, fatty lump that's most often situated between your skin and the underlying muscle layer. A lipoma, which feels doughy and usually isn't tender, moves readily with slight finger pressure. Lipomas are usually detected in middle age. Some people have more than one lipoma.
A lipoma isn't cancer and usually is harmless. Treatment generally isn't necessary, but if the lipoma bothers you, is painful or is growing, you may want to have it removed.”
Then I showed her one I’ve had on my thigh for 20 years or so.

Today I did 8,132 steps.

Joke of the day
Four guys have been going to the same Golfing trip to St Andrews for many years. Two days before the group is to leave, Jack's wife puts her foot down and tells him he isn't going. Jack's mates are very upset that he can't go, but what can they do. Two days later, the three get to St Andrews only to find Jack sitting at the bar with four drinks set up!
"Wow, Jack, how long have you been here, and how did you talk your missus into letting you go?"
"Well, I've been here since last night.  Yesterday evening, I was sitting in my living room chair and my wife came up behind me and put her hands over my eyes and asked, 'Guess who?" I pulled her hands off, and there she was, wearing a nightie. She took my hand and pulled me into our bedroom. The room had candles and rose petals all over. Well she's been reading 50 Shades of Grey......On the bed she had handcuffs, and ropes! She told me to tie her up and cuff her to the bed, so I did.
And then she said, "Do whatever you want."
So... here I am!