Medellin Reports

Breaking news (good): Uber is back.

We've created a new business model to be able to operate in Colombia.

This new model, which is temporary, allows you to reach your destination by renting a car with driver. How? By accepting a contract via our application with a single click.

The new uber also offers you more transportation options.

Creamos un nuevo modelo de negocio para poder operar en Colombia.

Este nuevo modelo, que es temporal, te permite llegar a tu destino alquilando un carro con conductor. ¿seeómo? Aceptando un contrato a través de nuestra aplicacióand con un solo clic.

El nuevo Uber tambiéand te ofrece más opciones para poder moverte.

Just saw this article and thought I should share it.

[URL]https://colombiareports.com/amp/uber-returns-to-colombia-after-finding-loophole-to-evade-ban/[/URL]

[QUOTE=Bill;2425775]They will approach with what looks like CD jackets fanned out and will bend down while smiling and pushing them against your pocket with one hand while covering the other in your pocket. Often in pairs. Speaking english loudly or dressed unlike a local will get you singled out and the crowds of people milling about will watch everything. Good luck.[/QUOTE]Also the ones with fruit / drink menus.

[QUOTE=MojoBandit;2425682]From your description of wanting to be out interacting I have to say that Centro is the spot but the mongering there happens during the day from what I gather. And this is the edgier part of town.
http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?4002-Medellin-Map-and-List[/QUOTE]Having just spent the last five days in and around Botero Plaza and now in Santa Fe area of Bogota; I can definitely say they Medellin (no matter where you go likely) is kindergarten compared to doing time in a prison. Or something like that. Nice people in Medellin and nasty people in Bogota.

Example: beggars are nice in Medellin and angry if you don't contribute in Bogota. I had one girl follow me begging for money for three blocks. One guy snarled at me when I told him "no tango dinero".

I was in both Botero Plaza and last night Santa Fe past 10 pm. I wasn't worried about Botero at all, but Santa Fe puts goose bumps on the back of my neck.

Prey for me: I'm going back to Santa Fe tonight LOL. But for everyone worried about Botero Plaza. It's way over done.

[QUOTE=JjBee62;2425552]I'm curious. Did seeing your girl get robbed change your opinion on the safety of Medellin?[/QUOTE]I have some facts and thoughts to throw out regarding this topic, and am anticipating a total lambasting from you on it, but that's okay, I'm getting used to it, but just don't spank me to hard!

I'm not really sure where to begin except to say "you can get robbed when you least expect it". In reference to my Chicas robbing at gunpoint, it was in Poblado during a torrential downpour referred to as an "Aquacero" in Spanish. Having difficulty just trying to walk to avoid all the puddles, referred to as "charcos" in Spanish with are heads down, and boom a motorcycle pulls up, a guy puts a gun to my Chicas's head, and within five seconds he has her bag and is gone.

So would you ever expect to get robbed during a heavy rainfall event on a street in Poblado versus riding the Metro or walking the streets of El Centro? What happened to me was an eye opener and I wasn't even the target. Colombians all over town are targets as well, and I have heard some interesting tales, like thieves boarding a bus in Bello and taking everybody's stuff at gunpoint. I am sure other posters have some similar tales to tell.

I know lots of gringos that have had problems in El Centro and in Poblado as well, which are the two places I spend my time in, and the common denominator for them has been they are obvious gringos or foreigners. So what exactly is an obvious gringo or foreigner? Simply put, anyone that does not fit in whether it be the color of their skin, their hair, what their wearing, etc. So to make it simple, if your a foreigner you basically have a big "X" on your back identifying you as a target. If I were a thieve I would most definitely target a foreigner versus a local.

I am fortunate that the majority of the time I can pass as a Colombian looks wise when I keep my mouth shut, and have been told this by several Colombians. So when I am in El Centro I wear jeans, a t-shirt, and have a backpack, a burner phone, a Civica card for riding the Metro, a copy of my ID, and no more than 200 K cash on me. So I am never stressed about losing anything of value when I am down there. There have been other posters on this board who find it hard to believe that a gringo can pass as a Colombian, but there are, and I am not Hispanic. As an example, about three weeks ago I was walking on the backside of the Church along where all the bars are, and a foreigner was walking in front of me about thirty feet away. He got looks from everybody and two Chicas went up to him who were basically pawing him which he almost had to push away. When I walked by, nobody even looked at me. So I feel fortunate that I basically can move about under the radar in Medellin, however when I start speaking, the cat's out of the bag.

So your question was, has my opinion changed regarding safety in Medellin, and the answer is yes. You should never under estimate thieves, some of them are very cunning, and taking precautions to lower your exposure to them, and losing your valuables is to be taken very seriously. There have been lots of posts regarding this, and you cannot ever let your guard down here.

[QUOTE=Bill;2425775]They will approach with what looks like CD jackets fanned out and will bend down while smiling and pushing them against your pocket with one hand while covering the other in your pocket.[/QUOTE]Who would let someone get that close to them?

[QUOTE=LoverBoy1024;2425896]Example: beggars are nice in Medellin and angry if you don't contribute in Bogota. I had one girl follow me begging for money for three blocks. One guy snarled at me when I told him "no tango dinero".[/QUOTE]None of his damn business what you had or didn't have. Shake your head and wag your finger at him before he even gets up on you.

[QUOTE=LoverBoy1024;2425896] I wasn't worried about Botero at all, but Santa Fe puts goose bumps on the back of my neck.

Prey for me: I'm going back to Santa Fe tonight LOL. But for everyone worried about Botero Plaza. It's way over done.[/QUOTE]What about Santa Fe put goosebumps on your neck? All I ever see is bars and clubs and people on the sidewalks or walking down the streets. Nothing to be alarmed about at all. And the only people that will really talk to you is the guys trying to get you inside of the bars where they work.

I will say that before I was shocked when it was reported that people fell for Mickey Mouse scams and the like. Now I must admit that I am beginning to understand. Right now I am traveling with my girlfriend in Brazil who is from a small town here. She has to ride the bus all night to even get to the closest city that has an airport.

I am from the street, and everyday she does something and I am like what the fuck? This has made me understand that maybe some people are too trusting and really just don't know any better.

The GPS sent us down a dirt road and to a raggedy ass bridge that was built with fallen trees. We are in a big ass SUV and she tells me to go ahead and cross it. I say are you fucking crazy. Some guy comes along and she asks him how to get to the city we are going to. He says to cross over that bridge. She says he said to go that way. I said are you high? I am not listening to him, the same way I am not listening to you. The last thing I needed was for this rental car to end up in a river ditch in the middle of nowhere. I turned around and went to look for some pavement.

The other night we were somewhere taking selfies and a guy walks by asking if we wanted him to take the pictures for us. She said yes. I am thinking Hell No, but I just told the dude no thanks. Again, the last thing I was going to do was hand my phone over to a complete stranger just to see them run off with it.

Last night we were in a city and walked from the hotel to a restaurant for dinner and back. On the way back we passed a guy at one corner sitting down. I looked at her and saw she had her wallet and cell phone in her hand. I snatched it from her and said are you crazy? You should never be walking in the street like that holding shit for someone to come snatch from you and run.

Then today I was going to pass a landmark that she told me last night she wanted to take a picture of. I gave her my phone but she is more so taking a picture of the mirror of the car. So I pull over in front of the thing and get out to take the picture myself. I left her in the car with it running. Soon after, she gets out of the car too with it still running. I yelled at her. Where I am from it is first nature not to do shit like that.

Then in the various cities that we have been to people come up asking stuff, whether it is sellers, beggars, timeshare people. I do not give them the time of day and wave them off when I see them walking my way. She wants to listen to what people have to say. I told her there is no sense in me wasting their time and mine. If a stranger comes up to you then the only thing it could possibly be about is you giving them money. So why would I even want to entertain it?

Before I always thought how could people fall for this shit? But now I see it is not hard at all. Stop being so trusting of strangers. Don't let them get up on you and if possible, don't even give them the time of day. Operating like this, Medellin (especially downtown) and Santa Fe and other places will be no problem for you.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2425915]I will say that before I was shocked when it was reported that people fell for Mickey Mouse scams and the like. Now I must admit that I am beginning to understand. Right now I am traveling with my girlfriend in Brazil who is from a small town here. She has to ride the bus all night to even get to the closest city that has an airport.

I am from the street, and everyday she does something and I am like what the fuck? This has made me understand that maybe some people are too trusting and really just don't know any better.

The GPS sent us down a dirt road and to a raggedy ass bridge that was built with fallen trees. We are in a big ass SUV and she tells me to go ahead and cross it. I say are you fucking crazy. Some guy comes along and she asks him how to get to the city we are going to. He says to cross over that bridge. She says he said to go that way. Well I am not listening to him, the same way I am not listening to you. The last thing I needed was for this rental car to end up in a river ditch in the middle of nowhere. I turned around and went to look for some pavement.

The other night we were somewhere taking selfies and a guy walks by asking if we wanted him to take the pictures for us. She said yes. I am thinking Hell No, but I just told the dude no thanks. Again, the last thing I was going to do was hand my phone over to a complete stranger just to see them run off with it.

Last night we were in a city and walked from the hotel to a restaurant for dinner and back. On the way back we passed a guy at one corner sitting down. I looked at her and saw she had her wallet and cell phone in her hand. I snatched it from her and said are you crazy? You should never be walking in the street like that holding shit for someone to come snatch from you and run.

Then today I was going to pass a landmark that she told me last night she wanted to take a picture of. I gave her my phone but she is more so taking a picture of the mirror of the car. So I pull over in front of the thing and get out to take the picture myself. I left her in the car with it running. Soon after, she gets out of the car too with it still running. I yelled at her. Where I am from it is first nature not to do shit like that.

Then in the various cities that we have been to people come up asking stuff, whether it is sellers, beggars, timeshare people. I do not give them the time of day and wave them off when I see them walking my way. She wants to listen to what people have to say. I told her there is no sense in me wasting their time and mine. If a stranger comes up to you then the only thing it could possibly be about is you giving them money. So why would I even want to entertain it?

Before I always thought how could people fall for this shit? But now I see it is not hard at all. Stop being so trusting of strangers. Don't let them get up on you and if possible, don't even give them the time of day. Operating like this, Medellin (especially downtown) and Santa Fe and other places will be no problem for you.[/QUOTE]Not just country bumpkins. Reminds me of traveling to Hong Kong and China with my American wife. She did shit like that and I had to constantly warn her and she would get pissed at me. Said I was paranoid. Her behavior stressed me out where ever we went out and she didn't like me "badgering" her. I put her on an earlier flight home! I wasn't going to let her ruin my vacation.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2425904]What about Santa Fe put goosebumps on your neck? All I ever see is bars and clubs and people on the sidewalks or walking down the streets. Nothing to be alarmed about at all. And the only people that will really talk to you is the guys trying to get you inside of the bars where they work.[/QUOTE]I was struck by the aggressiveness of people in Bogota. Reminds me more of Jamaica in the 80's. I had a few attempted robberies there. Couple of guys on a dark beach following me. A guy trying to grab my car key out of the ignition. A guy trying to snatch my wallet and when I didn't let go came back waiving a knife. I get the same feeling about Bogota.

[QUOTE=Knowledge;2425850]Breaking news (good): Uber is back.

We've created a new business model to be able to operate in Colombia.

This new model, which is temporary, allows you to reach your destination by renting a car with driver. How? By accepting a contract via our application with a single click.

The new uber also offers you more transportation options.

Creamos un nuevo modelo de negocio para poder operar en Colombia.

Este nuevo modelo, que es temporal, te permite llegar a tu destino alquilando un carro con conductor. seemo? Aceptando un contrato a travs de nuestra aplicaciand con un solo clic.

El nuevo Uber tambiand te ofrece ms opciones para poder moverte.[/QUOTE]I'm not sure why we need Uber when there is didi, its faster, cheaper and more reliable. I have been using Uber around the world for almost 8 years now, I know the product well. In my opinion didi is superior in every way.

[QUOTE=Fassima;2425840]Is there a metro estacion near Parque lleras? For my research the nearest one is Estacion Poblado but looks a little far away. Is there another much closer to get in 5 min on foot?[/QUOTE]No, there is not. You must either walk down Heart Attack Hill, or up it. Or take a cab.

[QUOTE=JjBee62;2425553]I'm still hitting her up when I get back.[/QUOTE]Great minds think alike.

[QUOTE=Fassima;2425840]Is there a metro estacion near Parque lleras? For my research the nearest one is Estacion Poblado but looks a little far away. Is there another much closer to get in 5 min on foot?[/QUOTE]It's a very cheap taxi ride from Poblado station to Park Lleras.

[QUOTE=MojoBandit;2425888]Just saw this article and thought I should share it.

[URL]https://colombiareports.com/amp/uber-returns-to-colombia-after-finding-loophole-to-evade-ban/[/URL][/QUOTE]Just got an email today. They are back up, but there is a new process where you have to sign some sort of contract after settling a route etc. I think it's a workaround. Like you are prepaying them.

[QUOTE=GeneHickman;2425970]Just got an email today. They are back up, but there is a new process where you have to sign some sort of contract after settling a route etc. I think it's a workaround. Like you are prepaying them.[/QUOTE]I used Uber today, from the airport to Poblado. There was no contract. It appeared to work just as it does in the States.

Just want to mention, I tried using Didi. The rates were much cheaper, at least in the route I was asking for. (Airport to my AirBnB near Lleras.) But it was taking a long time finding a driver.

For that route, taxi is about $80 mil, Uber $58 mil and Didi $30 mil when I priced it at about 3:30 PM.