Medellin Reports

[ColombiaLover]

I used to enjoy Mayorista. Got some diamonds in the rough for a cheap price, with good service. The vibe has changed with the removal of tables and chairs from the sidewalk. As far as security, back in the day there were always police around. So it was fairly safe. Not sure if that's the case now. The negative. Lots of [CodeWord902] chicas lurking in the shadows. The hotels could care less about their age, so you were on your own to check ID. Keeping in mind the policy were there. So, for me, that was the biggest risk. If you could not tell a real cedula from something fake.

How so? What changed?

I'm going to be in Medellin in a few weeks. Last time I went I got bored because I thought the action would be around parque lleras, and I'm not up for bothering with the fb thing or the Mansion. Centro by day, and Mayorista by night are in my sights now. What surprises me is its almost never mentioned in this thread despite Mayorista being so close to El Poblado.

[Knowledge]

The Exitos are good and have efficient check out lines, but they close earlier than TiendasD1.

Glad I am not the only one that drove crazy, the Tienda-D1 on Carr51 next to Nutribarra in Centro I went in like 5 times and turned and left, 20-30 people in a slow moving line every time.

1 cash register open, 4 to 5 other employees standing strategically about the store for stock-loss prevention.

I go 3 blocks away to the TiendaD1 across from Parque Bolivar on Carr49 and it's empty, no line. The other one is right between 2 subway stations though.

So tip, if staying in Hotel Botero or close, walk to Parque Bolivar to shop.

[Manizales911]

How so? What changed?

When they banned the use of tables and chairs from the sidewalk it changed the vibe of the place completely, it has never been the same since.

[Wolf662]

If you get bored at Mayorista I'd cab to Conejitas or Barre Ejectiva.

How so? What changed?

I'm going to be in Medellin in a few weeks. Last time I went I got bored because I thought the action would be around parque lleras, and I'm not up for bothering with the fb thing or the Mansion. Centro by day, and Mayorista by night are in my sights now. What surprises me is its almost never mentioned in this thread despite Mayorista being so close to El Poblado.

[YippieKayay]

Mayorista years ago used to be a lot better than it is know, however I don't consider it anymore dangerous than El Centro.

How so? What changed?

I'm going to be in Medellin in a few weeks. Last time I went I got bored because I thought the action would be around parque lleras, and I'm not up for bothering with the fb thing or the Mansion. Centro by day, and Mayorista by night are in my sights now. What surprises me is its almost never mentioned in this thread despite Mayorista being so close to El Poblado.

[Surfer500]

IMHO, I would avoid hobbying in Mayorista since you don't speak fluent Espanol and don't look like a local. There have been robberies of tourist gringos and locals too. Why risk it! I went there only once before, did alright. But I speak Espanol, and have not returned for a second visit yet. Wasn't to impressed with the talent I saw that night. Have fun, but need to feel safe!

Mayorista years ago used to be a lot better than it is know, however I don't consider it anymore dangerous than El Centro.

[Knowledge]

It's the relative pace of progress. In regions where there are no supermarkets, the wait to buy the same goods is even longer because the buyers and sellers socialize and haggle during the transaction. In a more developed country like Hong Kong or Singapore, check out clerks can complete each transaction without asking questions that their Latin American counterparts have to ask:

- do you need a copy of your receipt?

- are you a member of our buyer's club?

- what is your telephone number?

- do you need a tax receipt?

- should I divide the total for you?

- is this a credit card or a debit card?

- what are the last 4 digits of the account number?

Honestly, I've purchased real estate with fewer conversations.

The waits at supermarkets in Medellin and Santo Domingo are ridiculous. I am in Hong Kong now and the line at the supermarket could be 15 persons deep and you will be out of there in 5 minutes.

[Wolf662]

I do not mean to harp on this because I know it is not what the forum is about. But so many times I am in line waiting to check out for something and I cannot believe how slowly even the checkers move to ring up groceries. How can the Colombians be so patient?

Sometimes I ask a girl if she will stay at least as long as it takes to check out at a grocery store just to know she will be with me for an hour or two.

Glad I am not the only one that drove crazy, the Tienda-D1 on Carr51 next to Nutribarra in Centro I went in like 5 times and turned and left, 20-30 people in a slow moving line every time.

1 cash register open, 4 to 5 other employees standing strategically about the store for stock-loss prevention.

I go 3 blocks away to the TiendaD1 across from Parque Bolivar on Carr49 and it's empty, no line. The other one is right between 2 subway stations though.

So tip, if staying in Hotel Botero or close, walk to Parque Bolivar to shop.

[Wolf662]

Fuck so called strip clubs. The girls are mostly rude obnoxious worn out hags. There is almost no dancing. The clubs are outdated, uncomfortable chairs. There no point to give them any business. There are very rare exceptions to this. One lazy ***** dared to ask me for an unearned tip and when I coldly refused started insulting me. Then I just stood up and left to cool down. In a perfect world she would get a deserved response, but hey it's their country.

What clubs were you at exactly?

I felt just the opposite, I loved their clubs, I was in 4 clubs in Centro- Barre Ejecutiva & Maracibo, Conijetas & Grille Nueva Avenida. (last one is next door to Conijetas) No cover, cheap drinks, enough cute chicks. Hey I only need one and their was 3+ hot ones each time in Ejecutiva & Conijetas, didn't pull from the other 2 places. Looked to be close to 50 girls at Conejitas on the Sat night I was there. And BE had 3 hotties on a Monday night!

Unlike the street girls or Casa girls I could sit and have a drink with a few girls and see who seemed more cool / sweet / into it / fun and who seemed a stone cold bit*h. (I suppose you could have a drink 1st with the street girls but it might cost more then the session. LOL) Added bonus seeing them semi-naked on stage for further examination. 50,000 club fee to leave. $16?

Much better for me then 12 girls walking by me in a Casa and I have to pick based on looks alone, less likely to find chemistry for the TLN girl that way especially.

[Motcar]

Heading to Medellin next Wednesday with mis hermanos for primero tiempo( My brothers for the first time). Any good local bars to check out. Habla poco. Gracias amigos.

[Chicafan]

Look at GDP per capita of Hong Kong vesus Colombia That says it all. It's like 5 times more.

I do not mean to harp on this because I know it is not what the forum is about. But so many times I am in line waiting to check out for something and I cannot believe how slowly even the checkers move to ring up groceries. How can the Colombians be so patient?

Sometimes I ask a girl if she will stay at least as long as it takes to check out at a grocery store just to know she will be with me for an hour or two.

[YippieKayay]

The waits at supermarkets in Medellin and Santo Domingo are ridiculous. I am in Hong Kong now and the line at the supermarket could be 15 persons deep and you will be out of there in 5 minutes.

Look at GDP per capita of Hong Kong vesus Colombia That says it all. It's like 5 times more.

[Turgid]

Inefficient and dumbfounding. You check in at the store, wait, then eventually get called to sit at a desk with an employee. That person slowly prepares the requisition of what you are purchasing and sends you to a payment line. It might only be 3 people deep but you will stand in that line for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, your original employee gets that time to sit and do nothing but wait on you. It's free time for that person. They do nothing but wait on you to come back with proof of purchase, finish your deal, send you on your way. Makes no sense but they think it's normal.

Between the supermarkets and phone stores Colombians must spend a third of their days waiting in lines.

The waits at supermarkets in Medellin and Santo Domingo are ridiculous. I am in Hong Kong now and the line at the supermarket could be 15 persons deep and you will be out of there in 5 minutes.

[Bbrocs]

Inefficient and dumbfounding. You check in at the store, wait, then eventually get called to sit at a desk with an employee. That person slowly prepares the requisition of what you are purchasing and sends you to a payment line. It might only be 3 people deep but you will stand in that line for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, your original employee gets that time to sit and do nothing but wait on you. It's free time for that person. They do nothing but wait on you to come back with proof of purchase, finish your deal, send you on your way. Makes no sense but they think it's normal.

Between the supermarkets and phone stores Colombians must spend a third of their days waiting in lines.

100% correct. Phone store. Ok you go pay for that SIM card why I sit here and look at my what's app. Once you come back off that line I'll install your SIM card after I see your receipt. Just a extra un-needed step because of no trust. This is why families wait on three different lines at supermarket. I always get on the wrong line where the guy is putting minutes on phone and making a payment on his xito charge card. Going to the bank. Better bring a Magazine cause you can't use your phone while waiting. Still, I'm happier here then in the states where I'm invisible.

[Nektar]

I'll be in Medellin from April 7 to April 23 so anybody can PM me if they wish to contact me for whatever.

About cell phones: I went to Claro in a Mall around San Diego, Medellin last December, bought a phone and sim no problem with my passport. Get the phones at a big Claro, etc. Mega center and have them do all the work setup or adding minutes. Its better than buying a phone at a Bodega.

About prepagos, excellent posts in the last few pages! One of the funnest things in the world is to have a stunning beauty in bed and you are all over her while she answers the phone and its her boyfriend and she speaks like she is at the Mall. Prepagos see their sex work as normal work, so calling a boyfriend from another man's bed is just like you calling your wife from the office. If a guy just pays the prepago and respects her it will be fine in most cases. Its when a gringo chooses to pry into her personal business or to get closer to her that all the problems for the gringo start. Many beautiful prepagos work only daytime hours so you wonder what they do at night. Probably not Bible study or puzzle building.