Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=Blakman;2489373]Hi guys,

Anyone got news on lleras park as far as clubs and bars open. Girls flocking there at night time for business. Also does Poblado or lleras park have casas in the area.[/QUOTE]I made a brief visit to Parque Lleras last Sunday afternoon out of curiosity. I had not ventured over there since February. Posters here are going to tell you. "bars are open", and technically that is true. There are a few still operating on the weekend. But, the place is devastated. On my walk-through, I surmised that at least 4 out 5 of the restaurants, charcuterias, and licoreras we all used to enjoy are closed. And looking like they will never re-open. It is in no way what you remember or have heard about.

I can't give a personal account, but I highly doubt the place is full of working girls on the week-end due to what I described above.

Even the beautiful Hotel Charlee is shuttered. Its a bit startling to see all of this to those of us with fond memories of nights out there through the past.

The managers hanging out in one restaurant told me they plan to re-open but have no time table.

Calle 10 and Provenza looked a bit less damaged. I ate in Jay-Way (pron. Yah-wheh) Mexican restaurant / bar on Calle 10. The food was good and priced right. I found it irritating though that they do no have menus. You've got to scan a QR panel to see the menu on a smartphone.

In spite of all this, I spotted porky, pink, loud gringos in more than 1 place.

There have never been casas (locally known as "Salas") in Poblado.

[QUOTE=Incrociatore;2489323]Hi guys,

The flight is on (for now), I reserved an apartment. I have to be tested for COVID. I got the kit yesterday. I have a question regarding the transport. I will arrive at the airport around midnight. I know there is a bus, but I don't know where it stops. I will stay in Laureles. I don't want to walk at 2 AM with my luggage around the city. Any advice or suggestion? I also don't want to pay 50 dollars for a taxi from the airport.[/QUOTE]I respect the advice of my fellow mongers but I double down on my advice and speak from direct experience. I lived on that street for more than 4 months, in Hotel Botero, an apartment, and I stayed at the Nutibara as well. The corner where the bus stops is safe because of the bus workers and the 24-hour caf there is well lit, and there are regular people inside. The owner shoos away the riff-raff. Sit down, grab a bite, and they will help you if you need it. You cross the street and you are at the Nutibara but you have to walk around the closest corner to get to the front entrance that time of night. The sidewalk will take you right to the front door. As long as you don't wander you will be fine. There are taxi cabs at the caf corner where the bus lets you off and if you are so inclined, you could pay the minimum taxi fare, I think it's 3000 (less than $1) to drive you around the building to the front door of the Nutibara. Don't head off in the wrong direction. At that time of night, toting luggage would make you a target for getting "rolled" by the Venezuelan hoods and trannies who control a few blocks over from the Nutibara.

By the time I left El Centro I could walk into the heart of the beast from Botero in the opposite direction of the Nutibara to visit two bisexual female Venezuelan roommates who were friends of mine. Everyone left me alone because I was known by then, and protected by the Venezuelan muscle. My point is maybe I am a little crazy and cavalier with my advice and you should take that into account. I've been to all 7 continents and mongored on six of them (there are no sex workers on Antarctica) and I never had a lick of trouble. Now that I think about it, maybe you should do the opposite of what I say, jjajajajaja I have been incredibly lucky, all my life.

The taxi from the airport is a lot cheaper than you stated but that price quote would probably not get you to your apartment in Laureles. You should have a clear understanding how much it will cost before you get in the taxi. Pencil and paper comes in handy. Write down the address and have the driver write the amount for the fare, and don't get in unless he does.

I have not been to Medellin since the beginning of the Covid crisis, and trouble areas can change. But the months I spent at Hotel Botero just before the crisis, I saw that immediate area around the bus stop and Nutibara getting safer, not worse. Your call.

Fotos are of the Venezuelan Roommates mentioned above, skinny Minnie and Choco-Thik. Their contrast of their asses was made to order and yet another too-good-to-be-true Medellin experience, jeje.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2489603]Shadow J said he had never been to Medellin and asked for a comparison. Combo only said Bogota was bigger, he did not say it was better.

If you are after Santa Fe then you would be right in that aspect. While I love that place, I hate the Bogota weather. It is not customary to take chicks back to your room. You just fuck them at the rooms they are in front of or at the clubs they are working at. Unless you are taking them long time. I have never gotten one long time, but of all the ones I have asked about it, I have been able to settle on 100,000 with them for LT. (Of course they start higher, but I have never been one to take the first price I am given.) But if it was a club girl then you would have to wait until she finished work at 2am or whatever.[/QUOTE]Yup. Bogota is a much larger city and as such has way more offerings for our hobby. It has way more high-end clubs, and way more low-end options also. But Medellin for most foreigners is a much more pleasant city to visit. The weather is a big part of that. But also, the people are more friendly, and the city is easier to get around.

I agree with Mr. E. I go on vacation for balmy weather as well as pussy.

[QUOTE=Blakman;2489373]Hi guys,

Anyone got news on lleras park as far as clubs and bars open. Girls flocking there at night time for business. Also does Poblado or lleras park have casas in the area.[/QUOTE]This guy is in Medellin and he made this video not this past Saturday but a week ago Saturday, he does a pretty good walk around.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xml_N2N0wvs[/URL]

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

Scares me a little that some are not wearing masks. I won't be too far from the park. This trip will certainly have its reservations

[QUOTE=MojoBandit;2489710]This guy is in Medellin and he made this video not this past Saturday but a week ago Saturday, he does a pretty good walk around.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xml_N2N0wvs[/URL][/QUOTE].

[QUOTE=Kulibali;2489586]It's doable, anyone can download a a test result template from the internet and change the wording through photoshop. Upload it to the migracion app, the officials are not looking for the authenticity of the Test result.[/QUOTE]Sure, good luck to find one, especially in Europe.

From what several people that are on the ground in Medellin are saying, the ground game (bars, parks and clubs) is still recovering and will be for some time yet. Does anyone know how the online game is doing? (SA, Tinder or FB). Is that something that is a option for someone that's planning to go to Medellin in the near future? Or is it just a waste? Any advise from people that are in the scene right now is always appreciated.

[QUOTE=BlackPage;2489562]FIrst, I doubt you could get a "kit" for a PCR test at home. Second, a taxi from MDE airport to city is 75 k, which is 20 USD.[/QUOTE]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.

[QUOTE=Blakman;2489711]Anyone stayed in this area before. How is it? Feedback welcome.[/QUOTE]The Manila barrio is located to the left of Calle 10 as your going up the hill from the Poblado Metro station opposite EXITO. And prior to the Pandemic, there were several good restaraunts there. As far as accomodations, there are a few hotels, and I'm sure there are apartments reasonably priced for rental there. The location is excellent as far as walking access to LLeras no more than ten minutes up the hill and ten minutes down the hill to the Metro Station. If your looking for a place to stay, besides the Manila barrio, there are the Astorga and Patio Bonito barrios directly to the right side of the EXITO on the right side of Calle 10 going up the hill. The Astorga barrio is located directly below Parque Poblabo and Avenda Poblado, and is where all the young Colombians (not tourists) hang on the weekends versus Lleras. These three barrios are excellent locations, and are often times over looked as places to stay, all within easy walking access to the night life district around Lleras, the Metro, and hundreds of places to eat and party.

[QUOTE=Osteoknot;2489701]I respect the advice of my fellow mongers but I double down on my advice and speak from direct experience. I lived on that street for more than 4 months, in Hotel Botero, an apartment, and I stayed at the Nutibara as well. The corner where the bus stops is safe because of the bus workers and the 24-hour caf there is well lit, and there are regular people inside. The owner shoos away the riff-raff. Sit down, grab a bite, and they will help you if you need it. You cross the street and you are at the Nutibara but you have to walk around the closest corner to get to the front entrance that time of night. The sidewalk will take you right to the front door. As long as you don't wander you will be fine. There are taxi cabs at the caf corner where the bus lets you off and if you are so inclined, you could pay the minimum taxi fare, I think it's 3000 (less than $1) to drive you around the building to the front door of the Nutibara. Don't head off in the wrong direction. At that time of night, toting luggage would make you a target for getting "rolled" by the Venezuelan hoods and trannies who control a few blocks over from the Nutibara.

By the time I left El Centro I could walk into the heart of the beast from Botero in the opposite direction of the Nutibara to visit two bisexual female Venezuelan roommates who were friends of mine. Everyone left me alone because I was known by then, and protected by the Venezuelan muscle. My point is maybe I am a little crazy and cavalier with my advice and you should take that into account. I've been to all 7 continents and mongored on six of them (there are no sex workers on Antarctica) and I never had a lick of trouble. Now that I think about it, maybe you should do the opposite of what I say, jjajajajaja I have been incredibly lucky, all my life.

The taxi from the airport is a lot cheaper than you stated but that price quote would probably not get you to your apartment in Laureles. You should have a clear understanding how much it will cost before you get in the taxi. Pencil and paper comes in handy. Write down the address and have the driver write the amount for the fare, and don't get in unless he does.

I have not been to Medellin since the beginning of the Covid crisis, and trouble areas can change. But the months I spent at Hotel Botero just before the crisis, I saw that immediate area around the bus stop and Nutibara getting safer, not worse. Your call.

Fotos are of the Venezuelan Roommates mentioned above, skinny Minnie and Choco-Thik. Their contrast of their asses was made to order and yet another too-good-to-be-true Medellin experience, jeje.[/QUOTE]At midnight, my experience is the majority of taxis and Uber would not even come to the bus stop. That should tell you something. There maybe one worker left in the cafe and they are not there to protect passages. I also think most shops in that area will not interfere with a crime. It will be an unpleasant and perhaps scary experience even if you know it is safe. You are experienced so it is fine for you but it is not a good advice to a newbie. Besides the bus may not be running.

There are two types of taxis at the airport. The cheaper one is shared taxi that works like bus. That is not what other members suggested.

Had two trips booked for November to Medellin. Spirit Airlines contacted me today to inform me that both flights had been cancelled. I am assuming they are cutting back on flights due to low demand. I rebooked my one trip with spirit and used the voucher. I also now have to travel to a different city for my return flight which is a pain in the ass. I cancelled my other trip and just received the refund. Just giving people a heads up if your choosing airlines. I am not a fan of Spirit.

[QUOTE=Osteoknot;2489701]I respect the advice of my fellow mongers but I double down on my advice and speak from direct experience. I lived on that street for more than 4 months, in Hotel Botero, an apartment, and I stayed at the Nutibara as well. The corner where the bus stops is safe because of the bus workers and the 24-hour caf there is well lit, and there are regular people inside. The owner shoos away the riff-raff. Sit down, grab a bite, and they will help you if you need it. You cross the street and you are at the Nutibara but you have to walk around the closest corner to get to the front entrance that time of night. The sidewalk will take you right to the front door. As long as you don't wander you will be fine. There are taxi cabs at the caf corner where the bus lets you off and if you are so inclined, you could pay the minimum taxi fare, I think it's 3000 (less than $1) to drive you around the building to the front door of the Nutibara. Don't head off in the wrong direction. At that time of night, toting luggage would make you a target for getting "rolled" by the Venezuelan hoods and trannies who control a few blocks over from the Nutibara.

By the time I left El Centro I could walk into the heart of the beast from Botero in the opposite direction of the Nutibara to visit two bisexual female Venezuelan roommates who were friends of mine. Everyone left me alone because I was known by then, and protected by the Venezuelan muscle. My point is maybe I am a little crazy and cavalier with my advice and you should take that into account. I've been to all 7 continents and mongored on six of them (there are no sex workers on Antarctica) and I never had a lick of trouble. Now that I think about it, maybe you should do the opposite of what I say, jjajajajaja I have been incredibly lucky, all my life.

The taxi from the airport is a lot cheaper than you stated but that price quote would probably not get you to your apartment in Laureles. You should have a clear understanding how much it will cost before you get in the taxi. Pencil and paper comes in handy. Write down the address and have the driver write the amount for the fare, and don't get in unless he does.

I have not been to Medellin since the beginning of the Covid crisis, and trouble areas can change. But the months I spent at Hotel Botero just before the crisis, I saw that immediate area around the bus stop and Nutibara getting safer, not worse. Your call.[/QUOTE]Thank you, this is the most constructive post I read. I took note. Once at the airport I will get some money from the ATM, then I will then check the bus timetable, and if there is a bus soon I will take it, and then I will take a taxi from the bus stop to reach my apartment. If I have to wait too long for the bus, then I'll negotiate a price for the taxi. The day after, first thing in the morning, I will buy a SIM card, and I will put into the cheap Android phone I bought.

[QUOTE=TheTallMan;2489647]I don't want to sound like Chicken Little with this warning but rather out of a sense of duty to let all my comrades know to be safe, aware and understand the new risks with visiting centro and the surrounding areas.

God only knows how much time I have spent in Plaza Botero both in the daytime and also many nights (in the clubs) in the past mainly 3 plus years, especially before the China virus then again with the quarantine finished re-started my visits to numerous times each week so it is a place that I like to frequent to "round-out" my mongering activities here in Medellin. I have met a lot of good chicas and have enjoyed much fun over this time.

Just in the past 2 weeks the desperation, if I can use that words to describe the situation, has become completely apparent by the number of robberies and muggings that I have personally witnessed with my own eyes, usually a few each hour and in broad daylight with people all around. I don't understand why they have removed the Tourist Police tent that use to sit in the front of the museum and which everyone could clearly see at least a presence of the police or why you do not see any Tourist Police making rounds like before the China virus, did the mayor de-fund this?.[/QUOTE]This is a bit chilling to say the least which I am not looking forward to witnessing upon my return within a few weeks. Prior to the Pandemic, the sight of gringos was music to the ears of the hookers hoping for a client, and yes robberies were always occurring, but not even close to what you've described. The way you've described this, it's as though someone is bleeding in the Ocean and the Sharks are circling. I remember something literally identical to what you have described in Tijuana which you might recall. I think it was about 10 years ago there were a lot of cops getting taken out in Zona Norte the red light district there, and the cops stopped patrolling the area. Than what happened gangs of guys would take people out on the sidewalk by doing a choke-hold. And it wasn't just gringos but Mexicans getting hit as well. I remember witnessing an older Mexican getting robbed right in front of a barbershop and the guys didn't even run away as there were no police and nobody did anything. When I would be there I wouldn't even walk on the sidewalk, but stayed in the street to avoid getting taken out. The gangs would walk on the sidewalk and would literally glare / dare me to walk on the sidewalk to rob me.

Your advice to go with others is warranted, and for those contemplating going alone, if your an obvious gringo with limited experience in El Centro, not a good idea to venture there as you have pointed out and hopefully others will take your advice as the knives are for real and you will be easy prey.

[QUOTE=Nounce;2489732]At midnight, my experience is the majority of taxis and Uber would not even come to the bus stop. That should tell you something. There maybe one worker left in the cafe and they are not there to protect passages. I also think most shops in that area will not interfere with a crime. It will be an unpleasant and perhaps scary experience even if you know it is safe. You are experienced so it is fine for you but it is not a good advice to a newbie. Besides the bus may not be running.

There are two types of taxis at the airport. The cheaper one is shared taxi that works like bus. That is not what other members suggested.[/QUOTE]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'm sure I can get a taxi in Medellin ANY time, night and day. 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.