Medellin Reports

[Mr Enternational]

You should google it. Compare it by county or region, then you might get a different picture. There are 50 states, why only pick these two states? Why not compare all 50 states?

Because those 2 states handled it complete opposite (Florida out partying with the Covid; California hiding in the house from the Covid), but still pretty much have the same results.

[Surfer500]

I am not seeing much discussion about vaccination status as the path back to normality. I am NOT talking about whether or not you believe in the vaccine or politicizing it, I don't care. But I believe the handwriting is on the wall that being vaccinated is going to be required for international travel. I have been back in the USA for two weeks and in that short time there have appeared two huge, free, drive through vaccination stations set up in the busiest areas of the city. I don't need to be vaccinated, I am still immune, I didn't really want one, but they made it so easy, I did not have to get out of my car or show ID to get vaccinated, for free. I have an appointment for my second dose. Colombia won't be like it was until a critical mass of it's population is vaccinated. I don't have a timetable for that but the drug companies are trying to vaccinate the entire world, not just the USA, obviously. The buzzword I keep hearing is "vaccination passport."

Unfortunately Colombia is a long way off from it's population becoming fully vaccinated, and as your aware a lot of people in the Country got the Chinese vaccine wth an admitted low efficacy, and those people are now going to want to get the Pfizer vaccine. The actual question is whether a Country can actually vaccinate it's way out of the Pandemic which the USA is attempting to do right now, but may never achieve given that a lot of people are reluctant to get vaccinated, so nobody really knows at this point in time. As far as Colombia, it may end up that the virus will just run it's course thru the Country versus being eradicated thru the population being vaccinated.

As far as vaccination passports, I am perplexed when I hear people who are against them for whatever reason, and a lot of people are against them. I see no difference with the "Yellow Fever Shot" required for entry into certain Countries and don't know why this hasn't been worked out already but am guessing the authentication of those people being actually vaccinated is part of the reason. It will eventually become a worldwide requirement, it's just a matter of time, and Countries are already starting to accept them as a basis for entry.

[Nounce]

For the comparison of Florida and California, I agree, the lockdowns in California didn't seem to make any difference.

You should google it. Compare it by county or region, then you might get a different picture. There are 50 states, why only pick these two states? Why not compare all 50 states? I would agree with this conclusion if I see consistency across the nation.

If there is one populous region in a state that is hit very hard, the entire state won't look good. If I were going to debate it by cherry picking, then I would pick two counties that would bolster my argument and ignore the rest of the counties that are against my argument.

All very depressing regardless of how you look at things.

Indeed, just when I started to consider Thailand, it now also looks shaky.

[JjBee62]

You would go without being vaccinated, but you think others have to be crazy to go without being vaccinated? I have been to 9 countries since this thing started and Colombia 3 times during the past year. I have no intention of getting vaccinated. I was at a packed comedy show a couple weeks ago and the comic clowned me because I was the only one with a mask on. Haven't caught it yet and not even worrying about it.

As soon as availability for my age group was announced I set up my appointment. I'm now 3 weeks past my second shot (and still wear a mask wherever I go). Lost an aunt to this crap a year ago. One of my cousin's lost her husband about 7 months ago. He was in the ICU room next to me when I spent a night there. Just found out yesterday that 3 other cousins (all of them "nobody is going to vaccinate me" types) are sick, 1 just went to the hospital.

I'll keep postponing my next trip until things are looking better in Medellin. Maybe by the end of May.

[Mr Enternational]

Yes, I definitely would go without being vaccinated. I I think you'd be crazy to go down there without being vaccinated.

You would go without being vaccinated, but you think others have to be crazy to go without being vaccinated? I have been to 9 countries since this thing started and Colombia 3 times during the past year. I have no intention of getting vaccinated. I was at a packed comedy show a couple weeks ago and the comic clowned me because I was the only one with a mask on. Haven't caught it yet and not even worrying about it.

[Andres901]

Well I just got the news that the toque de queda or curfew will extend for the the following weekend. If you are caught you may get fined 900 mil peso. Well what can we do? I'll be there that weekend but will follow their strict rules.

[Elvis 2008]

For the comparison of Florida and California, I agree, the lockdowns in California didn't seem to make any difference.

But I don't think you can use the same logic when it comes to Colombia, with the differences being the percentage of people being vaccinated, the housing situation with multi-generational families living together, and the variants in Colombia.

Regardless, time will tell. If we see a drop in infections within the next few weeks and the weekend lockdowns stop, that is great news and perhaps indicate they helped, if not, we might never know.

The rule I've been using for the past year is 6 weeks. Whatever a city or country does takes about 6 weeks before you will see results.

This works both ways. When the US started with the lockdowns and masks things looked much better after 6 weeks. When states reopened schools, after 6 weeks we were in another surge.

It actually takes 4 weeks before numbers should start dropping, but it takes an additional 2 weeks to get below the level you were at before you took action.

If these lockdowns are effective, ICU numbers should be coming down before the end of April and should look much better by mid May.

It amazes me here we are a year later, and people are still talking about IF lockdowns work. There is no evidence that they do and even if they did, it would not matter because as I have said a million times before, viruses mutate and in some cases get more deadly. Colombia has the Brazil variant of the virus.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-h...-idUSKBN2B50FW

And if you look at the numbers in Brazil, and you will see they are scary as shit.

Like the PCR testing for entrance and the travel ban, this is the Colombian government "doing something" about Corona. In this case, it is once more doing something stupid. With this kind of incompetence, my bet is the COP is going to stay down for a long time.

What works? The mRNA vaccines work best and the amazing part there was actually a country that followed the data versus just kowtowing to the private interest groups like the vaccine companies and blowhards like Fauci. The UK had public health experts that actually looked at the data themselves and recommended that more people get one dose of the mRNA than prioritizing high risk people get two.

And now the UK is wide open.

100% of Colombia's effort for Covid prevention should be focused on the vaccine. For travelers, that should mean getting rid of the pointless PCR testing, taxing travelers, and putting said money into vaccines and increased ICU capacity. The testing is just a fucking gift to lab companies when Colombia itself needs the money.

I have twice now taken a Colombian to Mexico. In fact, I am here now with three women (two Mexicans and one Colombian in tow). I asked the Mexican women and many people in their families had been vaccinated. The Colombian woman told me no one in her household has gotten vaccinated but I do know one Colombian girl whose grandmother has been.

I cannot tell you how different the attitudes are here in Mexico versus Colombia.

Another poster mentioned that going through customs put a damper on his trip.

The Colombian I have here had never traveled before so it was interesting to see things through her eyes. So we get to the airport three hours early and get to Wingo. I mean they were not bad there, but it was like 15 minutes per person. I think I have gotten a handle on it, but I forgot to download my Mexican entrance application. We got the Corona app for her but not one for me.

So outside the airport, there was one checkpoint for the Corona app. Then there was the Wingo counter. Then a woman who prevented us going through customs until our Colombian migration form was filled out. Then there was Customs itself. Customs had prevented another one of my women from getting in so I was worried about that stop. Fortunately, we were able to be seen together and whisked through.

Then once we got through customs, we ran into two tough looking police officer types who asked about money right outside of customs. All in all, there were five check points in the Bogota airport.

In Mexico, there was the migration form. Then a Covid form that had to be filled out. We go through Mexican customs. My Colombian girl only had gotten her passport the day before but fortunately as I traveled with her, we go through customs no problem. I was proud of her. My mixed Costena had the part down perfectly. With every question, she smiled and said "Si senor" showing total compliance.

Then there was the baggage, one checkpoint to tear our Covid form, another to collect them and hit a red button, another where we put our bags through a machine, and a new wrinkle, Mexican customs thoroughly searching every bag. All in all, there were 10 yes 10 fucking check points. If you are a government expert loving type douche, you say all this is necessary.

The humor is when we finally exited the automatic doors and got approached by someone selling us a taxi who tried to look official. I laughed and told my costena, "No, it is okay. You can tell her to fuck off. ".

Well, I am off to Xcaret to teach my Costena how to snorkel. She learned about tacos pastor, horchata, and cenotes yesterday. And tonight I will get back to the tough job of satisfying all these women. I am glad though that one country is still interested in having tourists.

[Kafka]

Yes, I definitely would go without being vaccinated. I I think you'd be crazy to go down there without being vaccinated.

Another thing travelers are not adding into their calculus: what if you go down there and happen to catch COVID? Do you really want to be in a situation where there is no room for you in the ICU with the current levels almost at 100% capacity? What if they have to transport you out of the city to a place where you have no connections and are trying to get by with your kindergarten Spanish-speaking skills? Talk about a nightmare scenario!

[Osteoknot]

I am not seeing much discussion about vaccination status as the path back to normality. I am NOT talking about whether or not you believe in the vaccine or politicizing it, I don't care. But I believe the handwriting is on the wall that being vaccinated is going to be required for international travel. I have been back in the USA for two weeks and in that short time there have appeared two huge, free, drive through vaccination stations set up in the busiest areas of the city. I don't need to be vaccinated, I am still immune, I didn't really want one, but they made it so easy, I did not have to get out of my car or show ID to get vaccinated, for free. I have an appointment for my second dose. Colombia won't be like it was until a critical mass of it's population is vaccinated. I don't have a timetable for that but the drug companies are trying to vaccinate the entire world, not just the USA, obviously. The buzzword I keep hearing is "vaccination passport."

[Surfer500]

Another thing travelers are not adding into their calculus: what if you go down there and happen to catch COVID? Do you really want to be in a situation where there is no room for you in the ICU with the current levels almost at 100% capacity? What if they have to transport you out of the city to a place where you have no connections and are trying to get by with your kindergarten Spanish-speaking skills? Talk about a nightmare scenario!

You bring up an issue I grappled with back in November when I came down to Medellin for a week, albeit at the time the ICU's were not overflowing. Back in November there were no testing requirements to either enter or leave the Country, and at that time I had not been vaccinated so I decided to come down for a week and also took out a health insurance policy for the week I'd be here. The specter of being in a Hospital in Colombia, which for many issues would not be a problem, but for COVID I don't think so given the limited availability of treatments. So for my trip in November my rationale was if I got infected I would most probably be back in the USA by the time I knew it as the thought of being hospitalized in a foreign country doesn't sound good.

For anyone contemplating coming down to Colombia in the near future I would strongly recommend three things.

First make sure you have been vaccinated, secondly, have medical coverage that covers COVID, and is acceptable at most of the Hospitals, albeit availability may be an issue, and lastly, wait until the current surge has subsided and there are no more weekend lockdowns.

I've been vaccinated and have worldwide health coverage, so I'm just waiting for the weekend lockdowns to end, and suspect there are many other board members sitting on the "side lines" like myself ready to leap, and hopefully sooner than later.

I have so many wives, candy girls, and coffee girls whom are walking the streets of Medellin waiting for my return!

[Surfer500]

The rule I've been using for the past year is 6 weeks. Whatever a city or country does takes about 6 weeks before you will see results.

This works both ways. When the US started with the lockdowns and masks things looked much better after 6 weeks. When states reopened schools, after 6 weeks we were in another surge.

It actually takes 4 weeks before numbers should start dropping, but it takes an additional 2 weeks to get below the level you were at before you took action.

If these lockdowns are effective, ICU numbers should be coming down before the end of April and should look much better by mid May.

The lockdowns I'm sure are helping, but will they be enough.

On Saturday El Colombiano had an article that the hospitals in Antoquioa are now conducting "ethical triage" to determine who gets an ICU bed if there is no availability even after looking for Hospital beds outside of Antoquioa. I think this is the worst it's been since the Pandemic in Colombia, yet I hope what your hoping for is true, because if things don't start going in the opposite direction this could be going on for a while like in Brazil.

Such a sad mess for Colombia, as up until a few weeks ago things were about as close to "normal" as they could be. And the cycle worldwide you have described is like a "bell curve", hence moving forward visits to Colombia may have to be timed accordingly to coincide with the "lockdown windows" on the curve. So mongering in Colombia has now taken on a new dimension at least for me as to when to return and I suspect others as well.

[SpiderRider]

Interesting topic.

In the past 10 years here in Medellin I, like a thousand others, have met hundreds if not more than a thousand single mothers raising their kids as the Colombian biological father just fucks them and when they get pregnant find another.

I personally know one paisa who had a baby with a costeno who lived in Medellin, he has had 9 baby's with 8 different women and this in not out of the realm of normal by any measure rather the culture ingrained in the majority of the women is that them getting pregnant with such a guapo is like wining a lottery.

He does not pay a dime for any of the 9 kids and as this information is now 3 years old chances are that he has had 4 to 6 more babies.

And this guy is not necessarily attractive rather in fact he is chubby, about 40 yo now, and drives a delivery truck.

Other single moms I know personally, most are in starta 2 to 4, if they get something from the biological father it is about 150 mil a month.

I have also met a few gringo (from Canada) biological fathers and my experience is that they too, even though they have the means to support their baby / kid the find good lawyers to get them out of payment.

Now I have a real twist to this pregnancy thing.

I happen to have an extremely rare color of eyes which are not only rare in the worlds population but especially so in Colombia.

So I often have young and very fertile paisas and Venezuelans, once I get to know them, ask me if I would impregnate them as in their words "I would have the dream baby with your European traits and very rare color eyes", this is no joke as this is a regular occurrence and they are serious.

So I need to be careful. In the past 2 month alone I have had 3 serious offers to impregnate them, they even go so far as saying that they will not hold me financially responsible, right!

The Tall Man.

Yes, I've been told I have eyes "of a Barbie Doll". Ha ha.

[Surfer500]

The whole curfews and lockdowns are a bunch of BS. All anyone needs to do is compare the Covid stats of Florida and California. Florida is practically completely open, and has been for months, while California has been closed. The per capita stats of the two states are almost the same.

For the comparison of Florida and California, I agree, the lockdowns in California didn't seem to make any difference.

But I don't think you can use the same logic when it comes to Colombia, with the differences being the percentage of people being vaccinated, the housing situation with multi-generational families living together, and the variants in Colombia.

Regardless, time will tell. If we see a drop in infections within the next few weeks and the weekend lockdowns stop, that is great news and perhaps indicate they helped, if not, we might never know.

All very depressing regardless of how you look at things.

[Jbj64]

I am usually going down on them and then I usually slip it in and don't say anything, usually I get the "condom amor" but sometimes you get lucky.

Jbj64,

Do you discuss bareback with these chicas before meeting, or are you finding that in the moment, these chicas don't ask you to wrap up?

Thank you.

[JjBee62]

For me personally, as soon as the weekend lockdowns stop, "I'll be back".

Three weekends ago when there was only an evening curfew starting at 5 PM and ending the following morning it was tolerable when I was there, as I was able to get out everyday, so I was okay with it. But being caged in for 72 hours at a time just wasn't going to work for me, hence I departed.

According to an article in El Colombiano today, the same weekend lockdown scenario will take place starting next weekend from Thursday at 8 PM until Monday morning.

In regards to whether it's worthwhile for someone to visit Colombia, that is most probably a definite "no" for most mongers until the weekend lockdowns cease, but nobody knows when they will end.

I track what's going on everyday, and the numbers are not going in the right direction in regards to ICU capacity which the Colombian government has been using as it's metric to make the lockdown decisions.

I am have resigned myself, based on what is happening in the other South American Countries that it might be a while until this surge abates and envision this 4/3 Lockdown scenario could easily go thru May or longer, but I hope I am dead wrong as I'm climbing the walls to return.

The rule I've been using for the past year is 6 weeks. Whatever a city or country does takes about 6 weeks before you will see results.

This works both ways. When the US started with the lockdowns and masks things looked much better after 6 weeks. When states reopened schools, after 6 weeks we were in another surge.

It actually takes 4 weeks before numbers should start dropping, but it takes an additional 2 weeks to get below the level you were at before you took action.

If these lockdowns are effective, ICU numbers should be coming down before the end of April and should look much better by mid May.