Medellin Reports

It is definitely not a big tourist draw but let's be honest, it's only one street west of shops selling mini Botero sculptures and postcards. Commuters, shoppers, the SWs and their handlers, drug addicts and sellers, and a whole lot of uniformed and plainclothes police all co-exist peacefully for the most part. Something flares up every so often but mostly everybody tends to their business. It's not that unusual to see sandal wearing backpackers wandering around (but not lingering). All that being said, after 6 pm, when it gets dark, all bets are OFF. At night, the area belongs to the street people. If you are looking for trouble, that is the place to find it after dark.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2031886]That place is my backyard and yes the going price is 30 K including the room. Not a place for an obvious gringo with no Spanish speaking skills though.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Mike963;2031882]Hi all,

As I had mentioned earlier, about my plan to visit Medellin.

Looking to book a hotel in city, to avoid issues, as I speak only English!

Is Ibis a girl / guest friendly one?

Cheers.[/QUOTE]Not exactly guest friendly. If your bringing in Chicas that are obviously younger than you security will have you go to the front desk and copy their cedula. This is not a mongering hotel I stayed there for a few weeks and had one regular I brought in only so I just registered her in but never noticed any one else bringing young darlings in.

No Spanish skills either, suggest you stay elsewhere as your going to need assistance in Medellin.

Good Luck.

[QUOTE=Mike963;2031882]Hi all,

As I had mentioned earlier, about my plan to visit Medellin.

Looking to book a hotel in city, to avoid issues, as I speak only English!

Is Ibis a girl / guest friendly one?

Cheers.[/QUOTE]Not sure about hotels but I stayed at primaverazero hostel in pablado (5 minute walk to Parque Illeras), can't beat the location. Had a private room with bathroom for $25 a night, was very clean. No IDs or restrictions on chicas unless they stayed past 6 am then you had to pay like $10. I had about 3 chicas during my stay, no issue. Usually no one was at the desk as they have one person working this and another hostel that was 100 feet away.

I wanted to note Energy charged me 140 k an hour when I went there this week. This was a bit of a surprise as I thought their prices had gone up.

I write though as I'm curious what options there are for Saturday and Sunday during the day? Are any casas decent on Saturday? I have never found anything for Sundays, am curious what peoples suggestions are for pros or chasing non-pros.

I don't have great luck at malls, but do check a few out. I haven't made it out to El Tesoro, does anyone know if that one is any good?

Malls:

I'll get this out of the way quickly so I hopefully save you some time. Oviedo / Tesoro / SantaF / Carulla etc. If you've been to one you've been to them all as far as scoring dates is concerned. There are different stores and merchandises in the different malls, so if you are into shopping it's worth checking them all out.

Saturday / Sunday:

Saturday is the same as any weekday for casas - - except rush hour is a little earlier, more like 1 to 2 pm instead of 3 to 4 pm during the week. Sunday there are of course fewer places open. Those that are open will have fewer girls than during the week. The hours are more like 11 am Until 5 or 6 pm. Since most are open, I will mention a couple that are not: Energy & Aiffe.

New Life is probably the most popular Centro casa. It has Sunday hours. The Medellin list and Medellin map has phone numbers and hours that are pretty accurate, along with all the other information.

Have a good time.

[QUOTE=MrThomas;2032192]I wanted to note Energy charged me 140 k an hour when I went there this week. This was a bit of a surprise as I thought their prices had gone up.

I write though as I'm curious what options there are for Saturday and Sunday during the day? Are any casas decent on Saturday? I have never found anything for Sundays, am curious what peoples suggestions are for pros or chasing non-pros.

I don't have great luck at malls, but do check a few out. I haven't made it out to El Tesoro, does anyone know if that one is any good?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=MrThomas;2032192]I wanted to note Energy charged me 140 k an hour when I went there this week. This was a bit of a surprise as I thought their prices had gone up.

I write though as I'm curious what options there are for Saturday and Sunday during the day? Are any casas decent on Saturday? I have never found anything for Sundays, am curious what peoples suggestions are for pros or chasing non-pros.

I don't have great luck at malls, but do check a few out. I haven't made it out to El Tesoro, does anyone know if that one is any good?[/QUOTE]El Tesoro is a good mall. I was there on a Sunday, early afternoon and not a whole lot of people. Probably picks up a little later. J&see Felicia was almost empty when we sat down and was packed by the time we finished lunch.

Maybe it was a library card. What does it matter? If the guy doesn't have wants or warrants, the police procedure is to file a report of the contact and let him move on. That seems to be what happened. I don't personally notice anything very out of the ordinary about what was described in the post. As per usual on these boards, it smells a little exaggerated (Medellin police don't typically do ID checks on people without cause). Anyone who spends time in Centro has seen a thief chased down and roughed up by a crowd before the police move in and check his ID and pat him down. I can't ever remember seeing them randomly rousts people, especially foreigners.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2031735]So you said you have a local ID you presented to the police. If it was a Colombian Cedula it would of been linked to your Passport or you would of never been able to obtain the Cedula. If it wasn't a Colombian Cedula, what type of ID did you show the police?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=MrThomas;2032192]I wanted to note Energy charged me 140 k an hour when I went there this week. This was a bit of a surprise as I thought their prices had gone up.[/QUOTE]I visited Engeria twice in April of last year, just a few days apart. I also noticed a difference of about 30 k for an between my two visits, my morning visit being cheaper than my visit near closing time, a few evenings earlier. I don't know if it was the time of day or just the difference in the two mamasans.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2031735]So you said you have a local ID you presented to the police. If it was a Colombian Cedula it would of been linked to your Passport or you would of never been able to obtain the Cedula. If it wasn't a Colombian Cedula, what type of ID did you show the police?[/QUOTE]Oh it was just my local ID from my state I ment, 'Not as in I am a local with a local co ID
I was like I was walking on the street, there was a group of police there, doing sort of a "traffic stop" style stop except it's.

Pedestrians. I have nothing to hide and they would randomly look at and stop passer bys on the sidewalk. It's ok, I understand and when I talk to my friends who are local here, it happeneds to them as well. They just need to log activity if they stopped someone.

[QUOTE=BlueChange;2032428]Oh it was just my local ID from my state I ment, 'Not as in I am a local with a local co ID
I was like I was walking on the street, there was a group of police there, doing sort of a "traffic stop" style stop except it's.

Pedestrians. I have nothing to hide and they would randomly look at and stop passer bys on the sidewalk. It's ok, I understand and when I talk to my friends who are local here, it happeneds to them as well. They just need to log activity if they stopped someone.[/QUOTE]Happened to me before in Medellin. Perfectly normal. I even got asked to donate to their retirement fund hahahaha. They are looking for drugs and bribes. Just cooperate and don't show any fear. You will be fine.

[QUOTE=YippieKayay;2032521]Happened to me before in Medellin. Perfectly normal. I even got asked to donate to their retirement fund hahahaha. They are looking for drugs and bribes. Just cooperate and don't show any fear. You will be fine.[/QUOTE]Yeah its just after all these years this was the first time and it was in a string of weird events to happen here to me. It's all good.

Given that personal quantities of marijuana (20 grams), cocaine (1 gram), and even Quaaludes (for those who are old enough to remember them, or maybe old enough to not remember them, since they basically erase all memory) are legal, what drugs are the cops looking for? Heroin? Does Colombia have a heroin problem?

[QUOTE=BlueChange;2032428]Oh it was just my local ID from my state I ment, 'Not as in I am a loca with a local co ID
I was like I was walking on the street, there was a group of police there, doing sort of a "traffic stop" style stop except it's.

Pedestrians. I have nothing to hide and they would randomly look at and stop passer bys on the sidewalk. It's ok, I understand and when I talk to my friends who are local here, it happeneds to them as well. They just need to log activity if they stopped someone.[/QUOTE]It's best to always carry a photocopy on your Passport along with a photocopy of your latest entry Stamp with you.

Restaurants in the Centro area that I recommend. 2 of them on the Junin walking street.

Botaniko bistro cafe bar (literally right next door to New Life).

Calle 56 #43 - 43.

Hours:

Mon. Thu 11:30 am - 10:00 pm.

Fri. Sat 11:30 am - 11:00 pm.

Hacienda (great traditional Colombian dishes).

Carrera 49, 52-98 Paseo Junin.

Sun 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm.

Mon. Fri 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Sat 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm.

[URL]http://www.restaurantehacienda.com/[/URL]

Salon Versalles (great breakfast / lunch).

Carrera 49 # 53-39 Paseo Junin.

Sun 8:00 am - 6:00 pm.

Mon. Sat 7:00 am - 9:00 pm.

Lili A La Carta.

Calle 54 #38-29.

Parque de Boston.

Mon. Sat 11:00 am - 10:00 pm.

[QUOTE=Dickhead;2032552]Given that personal quantities of marijuana (20 grams), cocaine (1 gram), and even Quaaludes (for those who are old enough to remember them, or maybe old enough to not remember them, since they basically erase all memory) are legal, what drugs are the cops looking for? Heroin? Does Colombia have a heroin problem?[/QUOTE]The cops are looking for money. If you don't have drugs they'll even ask for 5 mil pesos. It happened to me back in November. I also had a cop look at my cellphone and tell me it can't be mine. Just stupid shit.