Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=Gallant555;1895889]Hi,

Has any one used the MDE airport ATM? There are 2. Based on forums, second floor ATM gives better rates. I was wondering what is ATM limit (maximum withdrawal)?

Any information on ATM is appreciated!

Thanks![/QUOTE]I have found that different banks have a slightly different rate at their ATM's. The ones at the airport will give you the same rate as the same bank's ATM's at other locations. On the first floor (arrival floor), there are two Bancolombia ATM's. They do not charge a fee and the rate is competitive with other banks. I do not know what the max withdrawal is. At Bancolombia, I always withdraw 400,000 COP because that is the highest pre-selected amount. Since my bank (Schwab) does not charge any fees, I make multiple withdrawals if I need more money. Many times, there will be people waiting to use the ATM, so I make the fastest withdrawal (pre-selected amounts). If you hesitate during the transaction, like 10 seconds, the transaction will time out and you will have to start from the beginning.

Someone else mentioned that usually your bank sets the exchange rate. I doubt that because I have received different rates at different banks within minutes of transactions. Of course, that could be hidden fees built into the transaction. Most of the Colombian owned banks do not charge an ATM fee.

[QUOTE=FunLuvr;1895953]Just to let you know I am the novio of M. Psyche and we also monger as a team. Our doors are open for anyone who wants to join in.[/QUOTE]Sounds like you have a lot of fun. Since you seem to be in Medellin quite often what are currently the two most popular nightclubs? Continue to have fun and to hell what anyone thinks.

[QUOTE=BoneRoller;1895855]I rarely post, but I must say this gives me pause. I'm due for my second tour in a couple of weeks, speak decent Spanish and generally focus on non-pros. I try to be conscious and aware, but that being said, by the look of it, it could easily be me laying there on the sidewalk. Any of you old timers want to give your top five safety tips specific to Medellin?[/QUOTE]Queens35 gave 11 very good tips a few posts down. The only one I somewhat disagree with (as he expected) is # 3 regarding using taxis. During the daytime, I always walk unless I am going further than I want to walk, or it is raining. I do it more for exercise than saving a taxi fare. After all, the minimum fare is 4600 COP, I think. I almost always give them 5000 COP ($1. 67) if the fare is less than that. I think the last two robberies outside the Mansion have been of gringos arriving in taxis.

I will emphasize Queens35's first tip. Stay away from illegal drugs. It has been reported that the last two victims of murders of foreigners (an Israeli and a Dane, this one) in Medellin were involved with drugs and supplying prepagos.

If you are walking at night, try to stay on the heavily traveled, well lit streets. In Poblado, that is calle 10 (one-way up the hill), not 10 A or 10 B.

The police in Medellin will help you. Don't hesitate to ask.

Do not wear shorts outside of where you are staying, except on Sunday during the day. Shorts label you as someone not familiar with Medellin, or not very smart.

The buses and the Metro are safe. I have heard of pick-pockets on the Metro. Loop your thump in your pocket that contains your cell phone or your money, which ever is more valuable. Don't carry excess money.

Don't get complacent. Be alert.

[QUOTE=FunLuvr;1895970]Queens35 gave 11 very good tips a few posts down. The only one I somewhat disagree with (as he expected) is # 3 regarding using taxis. During the daytime, I always walk unless I am going further than I want to walk, or it is raining. I do it more for exercise than saving a taxi fare. After all, the minimum fare is 4600 COP, I think. I almost always give them 5000 COP ($1. 67) if the fare is less than that. I think the last two robberies outside the Mansion have been of gringos arriving in taxis.
[/QUOTE]This happened in also in Poblado just last September:

"An American tourist was shot to death during an apparent robbery attempt after leaving his hotel in a wealthy enclave of Medellin, Colombian authorities said Saturday.

Police identified the victim as John Mariani, 65, of New York, and said he was attacked Friday night when his taxi was intercepted by gunmen in a car and on a motorcycle. They said the assailants tried to take his wallet and personal belongings and shot him when he resisted. The attackers then fled."

[URL]http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/new-yorker-killed-botched-robbery-leaving-columbia-article-1.2376002[/URL]

I absolutely agree with this though:

[QUOTE=Queens35;1895927]
After midnight, keep your ass indoors. I'm sure you heard the saying "Nothing good happens after midnight. "
[/QUOTE]I usually do all of my ATM and store runs during the day. Most of the time I am ordering in for dinner (just about every restaurant in Medellin delivers). I also usually have any chica coming over for the night arrive before midnight. If she is not one of my TLN chicas, I make sure to finish my biz before midnight.

As for drugs, weed (cripa) is tolerated there (in your private residence). It's about as abundant as air. Often times chicas will already have some on them and will ask if they can light up. If you want to score herb, it's just best that you have a chica that smokes it AND one you trust to just get it for you. Pay her back whatever it costs her to get it for you and maybe a propina for her troubles rather than you trying to score it yourself.

I'm not into Coke, so can't comment.

[QUOTE=Rodeo9112;1895447] I don't hang out with girls that "dress" like putas, and I keep my conversations, attire, and demeanor appropriate to my surroundings. While I may stand out as a gringo, I endeavor to ensure my date doesn't stand out as a working girl. Now, if folks assume a girl is a pro just because she's with a gringo, then those are discriminatory, prejudicial, and xenophobic issues that Colombian society needs to work on. Not the girl who has the rare opportunity to spend an evening above her strata and certainly not my problem.
[/QUOTE]If a pro sat down in a restaurant in your country, wouldn't you reognise her quite quicly as a pro, even a fairly well-dressed one? Even with one of your fellow countrymen? You don't notice the difference in a foreign country so easily as you're not used to the body language and culture. It's a common newbie fallacy in Brazil as well to think people 'can't tell' or are 'so open-minded and don't care. ' Right or wrong, people generally are discriminatory against pros.

[QUOTE=SavePros321;1895978]As for drugs, weed (cripa) is tolerated there (in your private residence). It's about as abundant as air. Often times chicas will already have some on them and will ask if they can light up. If you want to score herb, it's just best that you have a chica that smokes it AND one you trust to just get it for you. Pay her back whatever it costs her to get it for you and maybe a propina for her troubles rather than you trying to score it yourself.[/QUOTE]What he said. This most recent incident with the Dane was probably a deal gone bad, or an argument over who owed what to whom. That's why it's not a good idea for non-locals to get their party favors direct from the dealers. Better to develop a local friend or two who you could sorta trust to do the buys for you, even if it costs a bit more that way as you usually end up buying their weed or blow as well. The minute a dealer down there makes contact with a foreign client, he's already starting to think about the angles, what kind of money this guy has, what can I get / squeeze from him. It's just not smart.

[QUOTE=BoneRoller;1895855]I rarely post, but I must say this gives me pause. I'm due for my second tour in a couple of weeks, speak decent Spanish and generally focus on non-pros. I try to be conscious and aware, but that being said, by the look of it, it could easily be me laying there on the sidewalk. Any of you old timers want to give your top five safety tips specific to Medellin?[/QUOTE]Queens gave some great advice a few posts down. I'd like to comment on a couple points in particular.

First of all, #7 is spot on and it's something a lot of guys don't appreciate. For most of us, going out and spending, say, 300,000 pesos ($100) in a night is not a big deal. For most Colombians it is, and it will attract attention. The minimum salary in MDE is about 700,000 pesos / month and ALOT of Paisas make that and ALOT make even less.

Whether with a pro or a non-pro, be very hesitant about playing the big-spender. Most of us make a good living and we could easily afford to throw money around when on vacation. Chicas, taxis, restaurants, etc are all cheap compared to what we'd pay in the US or Europe. So why not let loose and splurge? Sooner or later that behavior will get you in trouble.

Re the police, I also agree. Compared to a lot of Latin American destinations, the MDE police are pretty straight. I've talked with a few over the years and they've always been friendly and helpful.

Re walking, I sort of disagree. During the day, I walk all over the place. Hell, I walked from Poblado to Centro one time just to do it. At night, I don't do it as much and I make sure to stay in heavily trafficked areas and be very aware of anyone getting close to me.

Drugs. While reefer is widely tolerated in MDE, the laws aren't as straight-forward as some like to think. If you have someone you know well get it for you, you're probably ok. But I'd air on the side of caution.

[QUOTE=Jan156;1895995]If a pro sat down in a restaurant in your country, wouldn't you reognise her quite quicly as a pro, even a fairly well-dressed one? Even with one of your fellow countrymen? You don't notice the difference in a foreign country so easily as you're not used to the body language and culture. It's a common newbie fallacy in Brazil as well to think people 'can't tell' or are 'so open-minded and don't care. ' Right or wrong, people generally are discriminatory against pros.[/QUOTE]No. At least not any pro who I would sit down to eat with. I've sat down with several in my country, without anyone noticing a thing. It all depends on the pro. No matter what country, there are lots of pros, who even their own families don't know what they do.

Even if she is giving off the prostitute signs, whatever those are, who cares? Is the restaurant going to refuse my money, because there's a pro at my table? They serve lawyers and politicians, they're in no position to judge. Are the other customers, who probably see pros on the street every day, going to make a scene because 1 of the people at a table, who is just eating and talking, is a pro? Probably not.

If someone wants to buy lunch for a local pro, good for them. If someone gets their delicate feelings hurt because they are sitting in an establishment with a Gringo and a pro, they'll either get over it or die offended.

Silly question guys. When the Col peso is up its good for the US dollar. When the peso is down its bad for the US dollar. Right?

I should be rooting for the peso to go up?

Can anyone recommend a place to rent for maybe 2-3 nights, that would have its own private pool or jacuzzi. Something to play in with the girls.

When col peso against dollar is DOWN, it will take LESS amount of dollar to buy pesos. This is good for the dollar-holding travelers in Colombia Like you and a few Colombians who earn dollars. When peso is up, it takes more dollars to buy pesos. This discourages American travelers and American firms buying from Colombians.

Ex.
3000 peso/$. Dollar is up, Peso is down.
1800 peso/$. Dollar is down, Peso is up.

[QUOTE=Dcfan77;1896156]Silly question guys. When the Col peso is up its good for the US dollar. When the peso is down its bad for the US dollar. Right?

I should be rooting for the peso to go up?[/QUOTE].

[QUOTE=Jan156;1895995]If a pro sat down in a restaurant in your country, wouldn't you reognise her quite quicly as a pro, even a fairly well-dressed one? Even with one of your fellow countrymen? You don't notice the difference in a foreign country so easily as you're not used to the body language and culture. It's a common newbie fallacy in Brazil as well to think people 'can't tell' or are 'so open-minded and don't care. ' Right or wrong, people generally are discriminatory against pros.[/QUOTE]In the US I date much younger women I usually meet in sites like Seeking Arrangement. When I'm out with a girl that has some racial similarities to me no one notices, could be my daughter I guess people think. Other month took out a fairly light skinned black girl. She was dressed as a 19 year old might be to go out on the town with her friends. Took her to a nice French Restaurant (cause I like it, not cause I was trying to impress her) and got all kind of dirty looks from other patrons.

[QUOTE=Rzrfl69;1896163]Can anyone recommend a place to rent for maybe 2-3 nights, that would have its own private pool or jacuzzi. Something to play in with the girls.[/QUOTE]Check [URL]airbnb.com[/URL]. I have seen a few ads for apartments that have hot tubs / jacuzzis.

Have fun in Medellin, and make Americans look great again.

[QUOTE=JjBee62;1896100]No. At least not any pro who I would sit down to eat with. I've sat down with several in my country, without anyone noticing a thing. It all depends on the pro. No matter what country, there are lots of pros, who even their own families don't know what they do.

Even if she is giving off the prostitute signs, whatever those are, who cares? Is the restaurant going to refuse my money, because there's a pro at my table? They serve lawyers and politicians, they're in no position to judge. Are the other customers, who probably see pros on the street every day, going to make a scene because 1 of the people at a table, who is just eating and talking, is a pro? Probably not.

If someone wants to buy lunch for a local pro, good for them. If someone gets their delicate feelings hurt because they are sitting in an establishment with a Gringo and a pro, they'll either get over it or die offended.[/QUOTE].

[QUOTE=Dcfan77;1896156]Silly question guys. When the Col peso is up its good for the US dollar. When the peso is down its bad for the US dollar. Right?

I should be rooting for the peso to go up?[/QUOTE]Depends on your purpose. If you are trying to sell things in Colombia then you want the peso up (buy more dollars with less pesos) so they can buy more of what you are selling or you can make more money. If you are just there to monger then you would want the peso down (buy more pesos with less dollars) against the dollar.