Medellin Reports

[L00PY]

People just don't know that outdoors is safe. Mask use might make sense at times in indoor or crowded places, but many people just wear them if they have been advised to. Nothing wrong with that.

I was walking around in a mask in El Centro long after the majority had taken them off.

As long as I'm not the only one masked, I liked the anonymity of a mask. I ran into an expat that warned me about another person I was talking to, how he liked to talk to mongers and shoot hidden camera video of people and out them online. Do I think it's going to happen to me? Probably not. Do I need my face plastered on any of the thousands of walking videos of El Centro? Again, probably not.

That all said, I'm a big fan of you do as the locals do. Don't stand out and don't make a scene. If that means wearing a mask, I'll wear a mask. If that means going without, I'll go without. I don't need to attract any attention or second looks.

[Nil Admirari]

Should be down there in in a few months again but bringing a ExGF who wants to look into plastic surgeons, she likes strip clubs but don't think she would fancy the Centro ones. Can you bring a women into Fase II?

Not my idea of a night on the town, but, yes, I've seen guys bring lady friends into Fase II. I would imagine that doing the same would pose no problem at La Isla as well.

[Knowledge]

My gut tells me if LOS Angeles County backs out of its tentative plan to resume an indoor mask mandate then Colombia will not proceed with resuming mask mandates here. My reasoning is L. A. Country is the only highly populated location in the Americas to propose a new mandate. The history of coronavirus in Colombia is the government follows the lead of other countries.

[JjBee62]

If you happen to smoke cigars, the Colombian stock is no comparison in quality to DR sticks. Will be interested in your report when it is ready.

The shop in Poblado (is it on Calle 11?) doesn't have anything worthwhile? I don't smoke, but I've been a few times with cigar smokers who seemed pleased with the place.

[JjBee62]

Should be down there in in a few months again but bringing a ExGF who wants to look into plastic surgeons, she likes strip clubs but don't think she would fancy the Centro ones.

Can you bring a women into Fase II?

Yes. You'll probably have to pay the cover charge.

[Knowledge]

I'm pleased most of your trip went well. To avoid the gastrointestinal woes and unfulfilling bland dishes next time just stay away from Colombian food. I disagree with the member who recommended Mondogos as some sort of better alternative. In my opinion it is more of the same. I agree with the member who recommended the restaurants near the Laureles parks and Avenida Nutibara. You can also find some more interesting choices in Provenza. The dining scene on La 70 is so basic that other than Mondongs you don't even find branches of the local chains like Crepes and Waffles, El COrral, or La Pampa Parilla. None of those are especially good but you don't have to worry about getting food poisoning.

As I recently posted, here's the report I promised. Quick background, first time to MDE. Been to the Su many times in past and a few other places. I'm going to try to write this with newbies in mind and hopefully it is useful and maybe even interesting to vets. I will preface it by saying, I got very useful info on this site. But damn had to sift through 100's of pages and 6 months worth to get some of my basic questions answered. I dare not post and ask fir a little help, as seems anyone who does is told to RTFF. Thar's a shame. I get it about the guys asking a million questions. But I just wanted basics, girl friendly hotels, what to watch out for at airport and other scamd, best areas, where and how the casas work. Anyway, here goes. I'll focus on everything else here, and the girls in another post.

I went for a full week, weekend to weekend. I was supposed to gave a wingman but he bailed, no. Problem fot me. Based on board input I considered Poblado (Hotel M or otherwise), El Centro, and Laureles.

I crossed off staying in El Centro as a first timer for obvious reasons. I liked how Poblado sounded wirh more gringos and a target rich nice area. But wanting something different from the Su and over-commercialization of our little hobby, I chose Laureles. Not only did I want to avoid the constant hussle and poor service in the Su now, I also didn't like the thought of being a target just by being in Poblado.

I stayed at Hotel Dorado la 70 in Laureles. I really liked it there. I knew from the board it is not a target rich area, but is nice, close to El Centro, safe and anything you need in walking distance. I saw a few gringo tourists, but it is mainly an upscale (by Colombia standards) local community. I felt very safe walking around even at night, although I did not venture farby foot. Everything can be found in 4 or 5 blocks on that main street right in front of hotel. It is very vibrant with open restaurants, clubs and bars, street vendors, etc. It goes late night. It is noisy but walls are pretty sound proofed. I recommend a room with balcony up high, is what I got. Great views of city and region and street below.

Standard free breakfast was fine. It is chica friendly, no upcharge. I did not have many girls there, but the two facebook girls I had come over wasno problem. I met them out front as they arrived and they were checked in at front desk with a copy made of cedula.

Free breakfast was fine, nothing special but fine. A few tips for anyone that wants to stay there. I only know basic spanish. But if you stay here, make sure you write down address. Ots a bog hotel, but when I told cabbies the name, often they had no clue, even in the area of Laureles from a casa I visited. Either my accent was so poor or they know it by different name. Pick up a few cards at front desk and carry with you. There is a walk in Davida bank to left very close but I saw no ATM. To the right and across street is an outside, but walk in door by yourself ATM that was my go to. Felt very safe there. No idea about exchange rates and I used Wells debit card so I think $5 charge on home end each of two times I used. Exchange rate? Don't know, don't care. If I lost $10 I'm not wasting any time over it.

Food, I found the food there incredibly bland. I know there are an amazing number of fruits and maybe on a longer or future trip I will try more. But being a less Gringo area, most restaurants served local fare. I tried the national dush and several other common ones. They were all bland no seasoning. One fried fish dish was awful. A nice restaurant and they brought me an english version of menu. I kept pointing at fishes I recognized and he just kept nodding no, and pointing at a fish that I googled was the most popular off the coast. It was awful. All bones and poorly prepared.

It took my stomach several days to adjust to food and I am not sure I ever did. One night I found a cheap little hole in the wall place on a side street that served monster greasy burgers (and dogs), and fries. I have never felt so good or better after eating super bad for you, low quality, greasy off the restaurant fry station skillet. It was heaven.

I also got food poisoning that really hit bad my last day and on my day of travel. Traveler's diarrhea the CDC sote sats. Very common over there as poor sanitary conditions in restaurants and food often not properly kept.

Okay, enough of that. I'll get into more of the fun and better stuff on a second, maybe third report. I really had a great time and can't wait to go back. The women are unreal and beautiful and just freaks in a good way. I knew that before going. Which is why I went.

[Zeos1]

I walk quite at a lot at a beautiful park. It is all woods and sometimes there is no other people walking there. Many times I see people walking alone and they are wearing a mask.

I have talked about scared rabbits in MDE These people take the cake.

People just don't know that outdoors is safe. Mask use might make sense at times in indoor or crowded places, but many people just wear them if they have been advised to. Nothing wrong with that.

[Knowledge]

You can buy bismuth subsalicylate in any pharmacy here.

This is sound advice if you have a weak stomach. The peptp coats your insides and protects you before a meal. Prior to a trip I also bring Diomax, altitude sickness, and a few tabs Zithromax antibiotics.

[LoveItHere69]

A park in NJ. I'm just amazed at silly this has become. .

Oh! Oh! Pick me! I know the answer to this one. Just be careful of the bigger parks like Natural Cerro El Volador and La Asomadera (in New Jersey). I hate I always have to be alert and not relax. Can not listen to music on my headphones. When I was heading up to hike there was a guy looking for victims towards the entrance. 20 meters up was a buddy of his. I walked less than 50 meters and kept looking back so they knew I knew what they were doing. There could have been guys. They do not hang out in groups until it is too late. Seen how it works at Botero with 4 of them about 10 meters apart so it looks safe like it would be one on one but is not. I did see a cop one day with his dog who surprised me by coming up the back way that I had come which was more like a horse trail.

Funny you mentioned Medellin in the next sentence but it was missed. I just mentioned 2 parks and Botero which are in Medellin but still there will be someone who will ask about New Jersey since we both mentioned in our dry humor.

[Maelstrom]

I would recommend anyone traveling to poorer countries to bring chewable Pepto Bismol tablets. I was dealing with stomach issues before I even arrived in Colombia and those things saved me from wasting my first two days.

This is sound advice if you have a weak stomach. The peptp coats your insides and protects you before a meal. Prior to a trip I also bring Diomax, altitude sickness, and a few tabs Zithromax antibiotics.

[Wolf662]

Should be down there in in a few months again but bringing a ExGF who wants to look into plastic surgeons, she likes strip clubs but don't think she would fancy the Centro ones.

Can you bring a women into Fase II?

[Bill]

First, I am new to this board. Recently went to MDE for first time. I was on the DR board for years and Sosua was my main spot, with visits to the DR. Most reports under an old screenname though as I forgot password and was off board for awhile.

Anyway, thanks to all who have shared info. As so much was useful to me. To those complaining about the board, it was FAR worse for months leading up to my trip.

I didn't even bother posting or asking any questions. I dared not steal the thunder of Ost. And a few others. But he was far and away the worst. Endless diatribes about his conquests and girl #1, 2, 3, 4 and so on. And the pics. It was so pathetic and I have never seen (or thankfully met) a more insecure vapid human being. The thought of him ever telling me to RTFF, after reading his useless cry for help dribble for so long, was more than I could stomach, so I didn't even bother.

But thank you to all who have added useful info. It helped me with an enjoyable trip. I will write up details this weekend to pay it forward and maybe help others.

If you happen to smoke cigars, the Colombian stock is no comparison in quality to DR sticks. Will be interested in your report when it is ready.

[AmorPorFavor]

It is actually.

P.S., the guy criticizing you is the only poster I have on my ignore list after many years on this site.

That probably says something.
A serial criticizer, blowhard, lol.

The last thing this thread needed is another sexually frustrated miserable troll only here to start arguments. Makes me not want to write a report.

[Nounce]

...& 3. Because most airbnbs and hotels in medelland only allow 2 people per room.....

It depends on the size of the place you get. You can still go to love motel that were discussed recently.

[John Gault]

Is this a park in Medellin your referring to, and if so, which park and where?

A park in NJ. I'm just amazed at silly this has become. .