Medellin Reports

[LatinaLover#1]

Don't believe everything you read right away. Fish around for confirmation or the truth.

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If your flying within Colombia to San Andres and some other smaller airports from Colombia you will need a test.

https://www.medellinherald.com/ln/it...covid-19-tests

The reasoning here is that there are many areas of Colombia, Usually the smaller remote areas that have no or very little cases of covid to keep them safe from invection.

[TheCarlAnthony]

It's not a test you do at home: they send you a kit to take the samples, you send back to the lab. You receive the result and certificate COVID-19 Fit for Flight, 2 days later. You can't do a PCR test at home, because PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction, a technique invented by Kary Mullis, who got the Nobel prize for that. It amplifies the segments of DNA. You need special equipment to perform PCR, only a lab can do that.

Nooooooot true I have a PCR test sitting on my lap as we speak. Sending it back Monday morning and results are expected 2 day turn around. Visit the site Pixel by Lab Corp for more details. Also it's covered by insurance. $0 out of pocket. There are about 9 different sites that offer this service. This was the only one that didn't require you to pay for the kit and took insurance.

[TheCarlAnthony]

Anyone notice Spirit Airlines canceled your future trip reservations?. I'm heading down in November and out if the blue my flight just got canceled. I'm meeting a few friends from different cities / states in the US. DC, , Virgin Islands etc etc. All of our flights were nixed. If you go on the sight it says no availability until Nov 19.

I contacted Spirit because I figured it might of had something to do with the fact I payed $90 for my flight. Maybe due to demand the bumped us all for a higher price ticket buyer.

Hahah.

Here's the skinny: Basically the flight schedules changed. The earliest flight that lands in FLL by Spirit per the rep has changed to 2 pm. So you would miss that 10:30 am flight that heads to Colombia. The work around is call the regular number. You will have a credit tied to your old booking number. Request a $50 voucher for your inconvenience. Then have them schedule your flight from FLL to MDE. Flights like $80 as if today for me. Book your own ticket separate to get you down to FLL. I got a $60 rt flight with another economy line. That would get me there by 8:05 am which is more than enough time to catch that now 11 am flight to MDE or CTG. I used the rest of the credit to bump up to the big comfy seats LOL. With a few dollars credit to spare for later. I am actually now flying a day before so I can get my Video test done there in FLL at that place mentioned in the board. Results in 12 to WR HOURS (PCR). I contacted them and they desk assured me the results would be in the lab and results back same night as long as I'm there by 2 pm. Hope this helps anyone that recently received a spirit cancellation. MDE flights are still happening. Just need a little extra effort. Good luck. Don't let the connection times be your demise. I wish they would have told me all this in the email besides a email saying we canceled your flight and you now have a credit for future bookings after Nov 19 LOL. Supposedly that is just the day the schedules will resync for connections.

[Surfer500]

The reviews were exactly as you described. I am suprised of the mention of majority foreigners. I thought being in the lower parts of poblado was locals. I think I will enjoy it. Certainly will post my experience. Thanks again..

The lower parts of Poblado, below Avenida Poblado on both sides of Calle 10 with the Manila barrio to the North and Astorga and the Patio Bonito barrio to the South are inhabited by locals who live there, yet, and prior to the Pandemic, numerous high quality restaurants existed that foreigners would patronize. Unfortunately a lot of the best places are gone. In Manila there was a Mexican place called Chilaqulies that actually made black refried beans and homemade tortillas, mole, carnitas, etc, that no other Mexican place in Medellin had, and they used to be in Patio Bonito, moved to Manila, and are now gone but have a restaraunt I think in Envigado. I would eat there twice a week as it was the best Mexican food around. In Astorga they had a five star restaurant called BARCAL. I enjoyed dinig there on a few occasions albeit it was very expensive, and it's gone now as well. For good steaks, forget Malevo in Manila if still open, terrible meat, yet try Cambiloche in Patio Bonito if still open. For good Italian there's Graspa de UVA in Astorga and hopefully they haven't closed. My point here is that there are a lot of great places to eat besides around LLeras which a lot of people patronize and I can't recommend, not a single one of them, however in and around Provenza there's some great places like Taboon, a middle eastern place with Colombain belly dancers, and they are open!

[Tomcat 88]

Candy House, Calle 11 A # 43 B-27, is an upscale brothel in El Poblado. Nice decor, bar, classy chicas. And I always figure where there's one, there're more.

[Blakman]

The reviews were exactly as you described. I am suprised of the mention of majority foreigners. I thought being in the lower parts of poblado was locals. I think I will enjoy it. Certainly will post my experience. Thanks again.

I have not stayed there but walked around there some -its some of the flatter part of Poblado so its very walkable. There are a lot of hostels and restaurants in that area. I ate a place called El Gero Taqueria on the northeast corner of Calle 12 and Carrera 43 e, it was decent tacos. There is another Mexican place that some BMs rave about in Manila called Chilaquiles Manila at Calle 12 # 43 D but Google maps says that one is temporarily closed. There is also an Argentinian steak house called Restaurante Malevo on Carrera 43 e just north of Calle 11 a. Never been there either but I rarely hit an Argentinian place that I do not like. Even that cruddy Requismos in Cartagena serves some decent grilled meat with chimi churi. And this place Restaurante Malevo seems to have some decent looking empanadas which I think are probably better than the Colombian ones.

Here is a guy giving a tour of Manila. Its very long but you can jump to like the 15 minute mark because he is walking to there from the Metro for that long. It will give an good feel for what the area looks like. This video is when they were still in partial lockdown so it not very lively there then. Its probably picking up a little now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-7yVUd4GT0&t=2457s

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[Gringo Trooper]

Before the Pandemic, there were lot's of people out on the streets walking and eating at the restaurants. It's close to everything and a small barrio maybe 1/2 kilometer in width that taking a taxi within the barrio itself might not make sense, albeit coming from say Lleras with a Chica in tow it may make sense. You will understand what I'm saying when you arrive.

Good feedback from both of you gents. Blackman, you're going to have a great time and we look forward to your report.

That's technically exactly what I do down there, I stay about 5 blocks (sometimes more) away from Calle 10 and the bars, which is close enough to walk, and quiet enough where I can sleep without noise from the Lleras bars.

[Mr Enternational]

What are you smoking Mr. E, Pattya hands down has not hundreds but thousands of chicks in less than 6 square blocks. Oh, never mind, I guess because the women are all sitting in bar stools alongside the roads it's not considered a street scene.

Exactly. I am talking street walker scene, not bar girl scene. Otherwise of course it would be Pattaya.

[Nounce]

The guy was unusually tall, close to 2 meters, but the kitchen knife the police took from the guy was so long I could not understand how he could carry it around hidden without cutting himself.

That may be the same knife I saw last year when I witnessed a fight just a few feet from me. The group usually are confined in the outer area by the Metro when the tourist police was around. I guess now they roam free.

[Osteoknot]

Tools required: Pencil & Paper. This works in any country where the letters and characters are the same as English. In other words, it don't work in Tokyo, Russia. . .

Write Address on Piece of Paper (Pitfall: Many Medellin taxi drivers are illiterate).

Say, "Cuanto Es?" (Kwon-toe S?) and motion the pencil and paper to the driver.

If he writes down an acceptable number, get in. If not, you can write down a counter offer or move on to the next driver.

Yes, the taxi's are metered but they can stick to any deal they want. And just about any major American City is worse, but I don't trust meters.

BTW, I have used this method to pay MORE than expected, when I needed to go to my Girlfriend's house and they didn't want to drive all the way to the top of the mountain. I would add another 10 thousand and say "a la cima de la montaa" so they didn't "stop short" and leave me with ten stories of stairs to climb.

Photos are the view from my girlfriend's front door looking down the mountain; the second photo is looking back up at her open front door at night from where the girl was standing in the first pic; and the third photo is the view out her "back door. " Many of the lowest rent homes on the sides of the mountains ironically have these "million dollar" views. There were definitely places on the climb to my girlfriend's house that if you did not watch your step, it could be your last. I never went there drunk or high for fear of falling.

If you guys behave I will post photos of my Number One girl, my girlfriend, maybe jeje.

[Nounce]

Wow guys, I have to say I'm impressed. I mean, I wonder why you all go to Colombia if you are so scared to get robbed any minute, or stabbed or kidnapped. Stay safe at home in USA, when a guy can buy an AK-47 or any fuckin automatic gun and do a massacre in a school, just because he is annoyed.

I think you read too much into my posts. You are saying things that I never said.

I am only telling you what to expect so you are ready for it. I said to keep some small bills as tips to get rid of undesirable people in those areas, not weapons. If you want to take bus, use the information provided to prepare for that, otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned it. The other poster confused about taxi that is the reason I replied again to provide information.

Once you become familiar with the whole area, you will see a migration pattern, day and night are completely different.

I'm sure I can get a taxi in Medellin ANY time, night and day.

If you are smart, you would not pick a location with addicts and where you have to wait a long time to get taxi at midnight. There is a difference in safety level to wait for a taxi at the bus stop and wait at the triangle area where nothing can hide in front of the Nutibara Hotel late at night.

It looks like they are all waiting for me at the bus stop, I mean, the main bus stop for the bus coming from the airport. Come on.

That maybe what is happening because the passengers are with luggage and they help you to get tip whether you like it or not.

[Blakman]

Don't believe everything you read right away. Fish around for confirmation or the truth.

Someone posted that a COVID test would be necessary to leave Colombia, I believe it was Pollo Negro. Can someone clarify this? I understand that Panama is requiring this for entry into their Country, along with other Countries, but wasn't aware that this might be a requirement to fly back to the USA, at least right now. I asked COPA about this and they told me to transit thru Panama at the airport no COVID test was necessary.

So the question is, do you need a COVID test to take a departing flight from Colombia to the USA.

Yes or no, and if yes, where did you get this information.

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[Elvis 2008]

So the question is, do you need a COVID test to take a departing flight from Colombia to the USA.

Yes or no, and if yes, where did you get this information.

No, you do not need another Covid test to leave Colombia for the USA.

The form that you filled out necessary to enter Colombia and was emailed to you will be checked again before you leave for some reason.

I know because I have entered and left Colombia from the USA.

[Mojo Bandit]

Anyone stayed in this area before. How is it? Feedback welcome.

I have not stayed there but walked around there some -its some of the flatter part of Poblado so its very walkable. There are a lot of hostels and restaurants in that area. I ate a place called El Güero Taqueria on the northeast corner of Calle 12 and Carrera 43 e, it was decent tacos. There is another Mexican place that some BMs rave about in Manila called Chilaquiles Manila at Calle 12 # 43 D but Google maps says that one is temporarily closed. There is also an Argentinian steak house called Restaurante Malevo on Carrera 43 e just north of Calle 11 a. Never been there either but I rarely hit an Argentinian place that I do not like. Even that cruddy Requismos in Cartagena serves some decent grilled meat with chimi churi. And this place Restaurante Malevo seems to have some decent looking empanadas which I think are probably better than the Colombian ones.

Here is a guy giving a tour of Manila. Its very long but you can jump to like the 15 minute mark because he is walking to there from the Metro for that long. It will give an good feel for what the area looks like. This video is when they were still in partial lockdown so it not very lively there then. Its probably picking up a little now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-7yVUd4GT0&t=2457s

[Surfer500]

I haven't stayed there but I used to frequent several restaurants. Most of those haven't reopened yet. The neighborhood is popular with young foreigners. It looks like what the Colombians call a "traditional barrio" but its proximity to Parque Poblado and Parque Lleras attracts the young Euros, South Americans, and a smattering of US / Canada gringos. You will note the cost of rooms and apartments is much lower there than in the Poblado towers. As always, shop around, ask questions, and try to get as many photos as you can. Don't accept wide angle lens photos or photos taken at an odd angle because it is usually a sign the owner is hiding something.

The truth is that most photos of apartments for rental are taken with a wide angle lens to make things look much larger than they are. And in Manila there are not a lot of tall buildings to begin with. A bigger concern for people renting apartments which photos's don't reveal are how noisy the apartment is meaning is it directly over a street and whether there is AC which typically will be required on upper units with a lot of windows facing to the west. Asking questions about these things as you suggested is imperative.