Camaro in Medellin Synopsis 2014
Camaro in Medellin:
I recently spent a week in Medellin. I have been 2 times prior as a tourist but this was my first time mongering. I have visited many other Latin American mongering destinations including Cartagena Cali. Originally this year's travel itinerary included trips to Cali for the Feria along with Baranquilla and Santa Marta but right now my heart is in the Dominican Republic so I may not return to Colombia after this trip we will see what the future holds. One of the primary reasons for going was to celebrate the other boards 10th anniversary and meet members of the board that I might not otherwise meet. This is not a comprehensive view of Medellin's PFP scene as there was insufficient time for me to do more but I hope the information contained within is sufficient. Some of the information contained in this synopsis is well known to veteran mongers but new information to others, my objective is to be as informative as possible to all who are interested.
Below I have listed my notes for your review:
The city:
I am sure the veterans are quite familiar with my research but I wanted to get some background on Medellin for my personal interest. My research has revealed the following:
Medellin is the second-largest city in Colombia and it has a population of 2. 4 million. Medellin is important to the region for its universities, commerce, industry, health services, festivals and nightlife. Since Medellin is located at 5, 000 ft above sea level, its average temperature is 72 degrees year round and is known as 'La Ciudad de la Eternal Primavera' or 'City of the Eternal Spring. '
Medellin was once known as the most violent city in the world, during the days of Pablo Escobar who was the world's primary nacro-trafficker in the 1980's. However, after the death of Escobar, crime rates in the city began to decrease. The era of huge bloody narco drug wars spilling into the public in Medellin are over. While drug trafficking is alive and well in Colombia the bloody drug wars have moved to Mexico. There is plenty of danger in Colombia but it's mostly something for locals to be concerned about there remains a high crime rate in the poorest communities.
The major neighborhoods in Medellin are as follows:
Downtown- El Centro
Prado.
Robledo.
Belen.
Laureles-Estadio.
Bello.
Caldas.
Itagui.
Sabaneta.
Envigado.
El Poblado.
Many people from Medellin are referred to as Paisa's, people of mainly Spanish ancestry. There is a small Afro-Colombian and Zambo-Colombian (people of Indigenous and African descent) population. The Chocσ Department is just west of Antioquia, and is home to many Afro-Colombians.
Risk Management & Safety:
Medellin is like a mirror it reflects you if you smile at Medellin it will smile back at you and if you frown at Medellin it will show you an ugly face. My point is that different people have different experiences. In my previous trips I have never had a problem however I guess you feel safe until something happens to you. The only known cure for fear is faith and confidence, therefore we have to move forward in order to conquer our fear. A little fear is positive because it keeps you alert too much fear is negative because it keeps you paralyzed and can cause you to miss some of the best experiences of life. Be careful about snatch and grabs there are reports of people with cameras being snatched out their hands after which the thief will flee on foot or by moto.
There are reports of girls using scopolamine to drug their targets. Scopolamine can render a victim unconscious for 24 hours or more. In large doses, it can cause respiratory failure and death. It is most often administered in liquid or powder form in foods and beverages. The majority of these incidents occur in night clubs and bars, and usually men, perceived to be wealthy, are targeted by young, attractive women. To avoid becoming a victim of scopolamine, one should never accept food or beverages offered by strangers or new acquaintances or leave food or beverages unattended. If course if you believe you are a victim of scopolamine or other drugs you should seek immediate medical attention.
Poblado Rentals:
Poblado Rentals is a real estate company that rents apartments in different areas of Medellin. Barry Brocs is the US contact and Ruben Martin is the on the ground point of contact and will make himself available as you desire. He also can help you with translation and sightseeing if you desire.
My apartment was in El Poblado next to the Hotel Dann Carlton and a 5 minute walk from Parque Lleras. The location was very convenient and the 3 bedroom apartment had 2 baths a kitchen and a front and back balcony.
Premium Plaza Mall Avenida Poblado.
Premium Plaza Mall is less than 5 minutes from the apartment and is a one stop shop for everything that you need. I used the following:
Smartphone Plaza-I got a Claro SIM card that I put in my Galaxy which I previously had unlocked.
Mercado Libre de Divisas- Casa de Cambio 1960COP-1US.
Jumbo Super-mercado- I do not know if these are the same owners as the Jumbo in the Dominican Republic.
Exchange rate.
I exchanged money several times during my trip and have found some variation in the rates. I got some pesos from my home bank Wells Fargo because I wanted to hit the ground running but their rate was terrible. There are casa de cambios all over the city with close to the same rate. I discovered that there is a change house within walking distance of the apartment in the Dann Carlton Hotel complex on the 3rd floor.
Wells Fargo 1658COP-1US.
Medellin Airport cambio 1922COP-1US.
Casa de cambios-average: 1950COP. 1US.
E-Mongering:
The below listed sites are very useful for getting to know chicas in Colombia.
Facebook.
Romance Latina.
Colombian Cupid.
Latin American Cupid.
Tagged.
Badoo.
I used Romance Latina, Latin American Cupid and Tagged but I didn't put as much effort into it as previous trips. I have 3 numbers I had difficulty with the calling sequence for whatsapp as it is not as simple as calling DR from the US. Shout out to Tgunz who helped me with the numerical sequence for cell calls to Medellin which should be +57 followed by the 10 digit number. It takes lots of time and energy to pull off a civilian chica in Medellin on a short trip with lots of varying factors including age, looks, personality, language barrier. Some enjoy the challenge, as for me I would rather not waist valuable time since I have no plan to return in the near future.
Las Prepagos:
Prepago in Spanish literally means to pre-pay, the word is used to describe things that can be paid for like pre-pay cell cards. The word is also used in Medellin to describe women who exchange money or gifts for sex, in essence the word prepago in Medellin is a less offensive term for prostitute.
It would be wrong to think that Medellin, Colombia is like Sosua, Dominican Republic where 90% of the women are available for pay for play sex, however Medellin has an economy where most women do not make Western wages therefore for some it opens the door to become prepagos. Some of the venues for prepagos are as follows:
Casa de Citas- New Life.
Strip Clubs. Fase Dos.
Night Clubs- Cafe Havana.
Street-walkers. Mayorista
Publications-Mileroticos.
Electronic media to include Facebook and other Colombian websites.
It should be noted that many prepagos are not professionals in the sense that the sell sex for a living many are University students a low wage earners who simply sell sex occasionally to supplement their income.
Body Harmony:
Beauty is ubiquitous in Medellin. It is reported that Colombia has the highest rate of plastic surgery in the world. Plastic surgery abounds in Medellin silicon paradise like weave abounds in the Dominican Republic, the problem I have with both is when they look artificial and do not add to the woman's natural symmetry. Too often there is no harmony between the fake breast and but and the woman looks like a doll android or stepford wife instead of a woman.
Parque Lleras:
Parque Lleras is the central park area of El Poblado. There is a park with benches and greenery that is surrounded by night clubs and restaurants. As you walk around Parque Lleras you get a cosmopolitan middle-class feel as opposed to the gritty urban feel of Mayorista. Parque Lleras is so significant to the Medellin scene that it has its own Facebook page with over 30, 000 likes. It is one of the most popular night spots in Medellin. This is a diverse place in that sometimes you can find the wealthy of Medellin and other times you can find middle class college students along with a few ladies of the night. There is a heavy police presence and over all it is one of the safest areas of the city.
There were a few 7'sand 8's however it was difficult to discern which chicas were working and which were civilians. I was told one of the primary venues for freelancers was Cafe Havanna which is an open air bar with a DJ and small dance floor. You can expect prices to range from 150, 000COP. 250, 000COP and after looking around I could see why.
Mayorista:
Mayorista is one of the primary fresh food markets in Medellin for fruits and vegetables. During the day it is a commercial area but at night it changes to one of the major low end PFP strolls in Medellin. There are a string of short time hotels and street walkers that can be had for 30, 000COP. The talent level fluctuated in quantity and quality averaging between 4-7.
At night Mayorista does not represent the best of Medellin in fact it is reported to be dangerous. I was told locals use the phrase "Todo o nada" in reference to Mayoritsa which means either everything happens or nothing happens. When they fight someone gets killed when they don't fight everybody has a good time. For this reason early in the night there is a heavy police presence but later into the night you are on your own.
El Centro Casa de Citas.
El Centro is urban Medellin and one of the most dangerous parts of town especially at night. The one advantage to El Centro is the plethora of casa de citas. The casa are constantly changing their names and locations and can often be noticed by men standing in front passing out fliers. Most of the casa de citas are non-descript residences with a waiting rooms for clients and rooms in the back for sessions. Some serve drinks and some do not. These casas put in the mind of the "poor man's casas" that I visited in Cali & Cartagena, they are called the "poor man's casas" because an hour of sex averages less than 75, 000COP which is approximately $40. 00. All of the casas had line ups of 6 or more with talent ranging from 5-8. I was astounded at some of the beauty I saw in these casas for such an in-expensive price.
Below I have listed a few of the El Centro casa de citas:
Paisa Relax Calle Balo Carrea 60.
37, 000COP 1/2 hour.
73, 000COP 1 hour.
Afrodita Calle Balo Carrea 45.
37, 000COP 1/2 hour.
73, 000COP 1 hour.
Dulce Compania Calle Balo Carrea 57.
37, 000COP 1/2 hour.
73, 000COP 1 hour.
New Life Calle 56 #43-39.
The menu was more extensive than the other casas with gradations of times with 70, 000COP for an hour.
El Centro Strip Clubs.
El Centro is one of the most dangerous parts of Medellin at night so it is not for the faint of heart. There are taxis in front of each club therefore it is recommended to use the taxis and not wonder around the area at night. Both Maricaibo and Barro Executiva are two strip clubs next door to one another I believe the name of the street is Calle Maricaibo but I am not certain.
Maricaibo.
No cover charge.
No drink minimum but apparently the girls get commissions off the drinks because in both clubs the girls were pushing drinks.
Salida 50, 000COP.
Chica 100, 000COP.
There are rooms in house but I neglected to get the fees, for the sake of argument I will guess they are the same as Barro Excecutiva.
Chicas: Maybe 6 present averaging 5-7.
Barro Executiva.
No cover charge.
No drink minimum but apparently the girls get commissions off the drinks because in both clubs the girls were pushing drinks.
Room: 20, 000COP in house.
Chica: 80, 000COP in house *The chica I sessioned with quoted me 200, 000COP for 2 hours in my apartment but I stayed in house with her. The sex was terrible and I am glad I did not take her out.
Chicas: Maybe 12 present averaging 6-8. The chica selection and caliber was much better at Barro Executiva. I saw more than one I would like to sample.
*It should be noted there was no consistency amongst the chicas about the fees in both locations which were all over the place. It may be advisable to go to the register at the bar and ask the hefe then negotiate with the chicas so you don't get overcharged.
High end Strip Clubs:
The strip clubs in Medellin are different from the strip clubs in the US because in Medellin they are fronts for brothels. The same is true for many US strip clubs with the exception that PFP is legal in Colombia. Luna Lunera, Fase Dos and La Isla are some of the more notable strip clubs in Medellin. I only visited Fase Dos & La Isla and IMHO they are absolute rip offs. First you pay a 10, 000COP cover charge then there is a drink minimum. I think the drink minimum is a rip off because many clubs include a drink with the cover so it's like you get hit in the head twice. In my case I felt slighted because I do not drink alcohol so water cost the same as a mixed drink. I was told on busy nights in order to sit close to the stage you have to buy a bottle at an inflated price. In addition after the girls dance the girls walk around the club and collect tips.
Below are my notes on the strip clubs I visited.
Fase Dos.
10, 000COP- cover charge.
20, 000COP- drink minimum.
Session: 1 hour in house 185, 000COP.
Girls- The talent level was all 8's and some 9's. You were expected to give a minimum of 2000COP tip after the girls were complete dancing.
Music- Hip Hop.
La Isla (Girls Club)
10, 000COP- cover charge.
25, 000COP- drink minimum.
Session: 1 hour in house 185, 000COP.
Girls- The talent level was all 8's and some 9's. You were expected to give a minimum of 2000COP tip after the girls were complete dancing.
Music- Hip Hop.
*The ambiance in La Isla was much nicer than Fase Dos because it appeared to be a more modern club. The talent level was about equal in both clubs with La Isla having a slight edge over Fase Dos.
Liquid Lounge.
The Liquid Lounge at the time of this report was a freelance take out bar with no cover a small stage and dance floor. There is a mamasan that supervises the girls. There were about 6 girls on my first visit and about 10 on my second visit. First visit they were 7's second visit they were 7-8's. There is a dance floor and a bar in back and seating for about 40 people.
Mamasan Liquid Lounge.
If you see someone you like you buy a drink chat her up and negotiate the deal. The girl checks in with the mamasan and she gives you a brief interview where are you staying etc etc. You give the money to the mamasan and I watch the mamasan then give the money to the girl. Apparently some of the girls have been ripped off recently.
On my second trip I picked the same girl and gave the mamasan 150, 000COP just like the first time but now she is asking for 200, 000COP. WTF? Now we start going back and forth on what happened in 2 days that the price is different and she goes on and on in Spanish. I find the manager and then all of a sudden everything is kool. Yeah right. Another DAMN Paisa trying to rip a gringo off!
The New Liquid Lounge.
The owner advised after May 16th there will be rooms and it will be a strip club where you will pay a cover for entrance. If you pick a girl inside you pay for the room if you want her to leave you pay a salida and negotiate the price with the chica.
Medellin Taxis.
Medellin is flush with taxis 24 hours a day. The taxis should be yellow and have a meter that starts somewhere around 2600COP. If the meter is not running it would be a good idea to bring the situation to the drivers attention. If for some reason there is a problem with the meter you have a choice negotiate the fare ahead of time or find another taxi.
Problems with Taxis.
It may be difficult to find available taxis at different times for example when it's raining and during rush hour or any time where there is high traffic volume. It is also difficult to find taxis on streets not commonly traveled therefore you should go to major streets where there is a lot of traffic.
For the most part Medellin taxistas are polite and very professional, however I had one taxista at Mayorista that drove me around in circles to different locations I had the address for and he claimed to know where they were. When he finally took me to my apartment he wanted 100, 000COP, after arguing with him for 5 minutes I gave up and paid him. I could have taken a photo and got the cab number however I was so infuriated I wasn't thinking straight.
Suggestions for Taxis.
I had a driver (tour guide) from previous Medellin trips however he was not always available. You can get the card of a reliable taxista and call him whenever you need a ride, you may have to wait an extra 10-15 minutes but the dividends are likely to pay off for both you and the taxista. You have reliable transportation and he has a loyal client. In addition taxistas are a wealth of knowledge about the city therefore you are not just paying for a ride you are also paying for their insight and experience.
Observations:
This was an intel & recon trip as much as a mongering trip because I am still open to where I would like to retire. I found Medellin almost as expensive as where I live which makes it an unattractive option for me.
I have been to Medellin, Cartagena and Cali several times and I would say that Medellin gives you a cosmopolitan feel, Cartagena gives you a touristy feel and Cali gives you a rustic authentic Latin American feel. Each city is like a woman with a different personality and they need to be deal with accordingly. IMHO the Cartagena colonial city is one of the most beautiful cities in the Western Hemisphere and should be on every mongers "bucket list." The biggest turn off with Cartagena will be inflated prices the 9 that you could get in Cali at La Picina will cost you 40, 000COP but in Cartagena La Dolce Vida will cost you 350, 000COP. The gringo tax in full effect.
I spent time talking with locals and the impression I got was that the PFP scene in Medellin has been corrupted by big money. Medellin is becoming a premier PFP destination and with that the Paisas are becoming more hard core and really about the paper. My mongering MO is the interview pseudo date approach where I like to spend time with a chica before I pull the trigger. I found many Paisas wanted to skip that stage and get to business.
In order to understand the PFP scene in Medellin one has to understand that there is plenty of money in the city. Medellin is a major center for commerce, the drug trade and now that tourism is increasing there are many who are paying premium prices for Paisas which is making it a more expensive PFP market.
The open secret in Medellin is how PFP has been woven intricately into the culture. I am not speaking of full time sex workers but women who you would otherwise think were just students or having normal jobs when approached some are available for PFP this is especially noticeable on Facebook which is one of the primary venues some chicas use to get clients.
By European standards no doubt Paisas as a group are more attractive than Dominicanas however physical attractiveness and sexual performance are not mutually exclusive, in fact my experience was the Paisas were more business than the Dominicanas which for me made the sex less enjoyable and Paisas as a group less attractive.
"No de papaya" is a local phrase which in essence means "don't be stupid!" When you wear gold chains, walk around with your cell phone out or do any other activity that would cause you to stand out and be a mark you are "papaya" a low hanging fruit. I recommend you be careful but not fearful alert but not paranoid. There are parts of Medellin that are very sketchy therefore if you cannot draw it is recommended that you keep the sketch pad closed.
I can go on and on because I learned much but I will stop, the best advice is to do your research and visit and judge for yourself.
Conclusion:
Most mongers have a favorite destination that is based on a myriad of different factors to include personal preferences. Medellin is a beautiful city especially at night and many of the Paisas I saw were nothing less than stunning, however for me Colombia is like the other woman. As many issues as I have with my main woman the Dominican Republic I still remain connected to her, during my entire trip I longed to be back home in the Dominican Republic and I cannot wait until my return in June.
Camaguey "possible" Mombasa "no se"
[QUOTE=BrasilSoccer0; 1559006]Camaro,
Have you been to Mombasa? If you like the natural curvaceous bodies, you may find your Utopia in Mombasa. I been there once and it was an instant Utopia from the beginning. Only one starfish and NO drama or constantly asking for shit. Very sweet natured.
For me sex was the greates in both Mombasa and Camaguey (Cuba).
I would like my next trip to be the DR for the first time. And that's why I'm interested in your experience! Are you a stricktly P4P monger?
P. S: There is a Latin beauty contest called "Nuestra Bella Latina" and the dominican girl "Nabila" is my kind of women: perfect skin tome, hips, Butt, thighs, cheekbone structure, curves. Etc. There must be plenty of that in the DR. And that's my Utopian woman. LOL.[/QUOTE]BrasilSoccero I have never been to Africa, in fact my primary interest would be in West Africa over East Africa as I have a great interest in the African Diaspora. I am Afro-American so while it would be difficult to discount the European model of beauty I witnessed in Medellin I feel a ethnic connection to people of color. Ad for Camaguey Cuba I so desperately want to visit Cuba my struggle is whether to wait for it to open to Americans or to go illegally. I have a professional situation that makes me sober about ging to Cuba at this time but it is definitely on my "bucket list."
I wish we could have talked before my trip
[QUOTE=Vegas Jeff; 1558912]Could someone move this report into The Reports of Distinction area as it deserves to be there. I tried but somehow could not.
Excellent report, Camaro. For someone who has been to Medellin only a few times I have to take my hat off to you. Lots of good detail in regards to facts as well as your opinions.
As you said there are different places for different people and there are no paradises. Every place has it's positives and negatives and how these align can be different for different people.
I, as well as others, appreciate the time you took to put together such a well written report. Good luck with your future journeys.[/QUOTE]Thanks for your comments and insight. Experience like yours is what we need in order to make more informed decisions in this thing of ours. Thanks again.