Medellin Reports

[QUOTE=ColombiaLover;2493965]I am traveling to Medellin on Wednesday. So I did not want to deal with the drama of having a COVID test that was sent out to a lab. Having to hope I get the results back in time. So I managed to find a CVS in Orlando (about 45 minutes away) that had the rapid molecular test. I called the COVID 19 hotline for CVS and they assumed me if is a PCR test, not an antigen test. So I went and got my test today and 15 minutes later I was told I was negative. However, when I looked at the results that were sent to me, it described a "MOLECULAR POCT" test. From my understanding, a PCR test is a molecular test. But since the results says "POCT" and not "PCR" I suspect that the test will not be accepted. So, I've made another appointment with CVS for the PCR test that goes to the lab and once again I'll be waiting to see if I get my results in time. Very frustrating. What I've found is that most of the folks who give these tests are not very knowledgeable (and the web pages do not always give you clear information). So you really have to pay attention. Ugh.[/QUOTE]You might get rejected. They don't know what a POCT is, and they aren't going to Google. Your test must be the PCR ones. And also it has to be not older than 96 hours. Also you don't want to explain what is a POCT, because probably you don't even know, and they don't care. Regulation says PCR, and PCR needs to be.

[QUOTE=Harry2;2493871]
How dangerous is Medellin? I've been in many many countries but S. America seems a different beast! Is it possible to walk around during the day, maybe visit a casa, and have a 99% chance of getting home safe?
[/QUOTE]It depends. Most locals they say they Stay safe because they don't wander around streets where there are druggies and cheap hoes. Stay in a safe neighborhood. If you visit massage parlor take the taxi walk from the taxi into the Establishment call taxi exit establishment and jump in the taxi. Research on YouTube as there is a worldwide phenomenon where Criminals slip substance into thee mongers drink. So just be aware and don't let anyone do that. Don't walk around with expensive cell phone. Just use an 80 euro android. For those concerned about the escorts, try to find some escorts that ccome from a bettter background and already have a little bit of money.Find an establishment with A reputation or get some recommendations of girls from friend.

[QUOTE=MojoBandit;2493986]Here are the official stats on robberies, a person is 3 times as likely to get robbed in El Centro as they are in Laureles or Poblado but that does not mean you are exempt in Laureles or Poblado it just means it is less likely to happen there. The most likely way is as described in this article and that has been described in posts here in this forum, It is by the passenger of a motorcycle. I think they actually have term for these guys in Colombia but I cannot remember what it is. Looking at just Laureles and Poblado the stats average out to be like 5 per day that means 15 per day in El centro on the average - so like Nounce said robbery can happen anywhere -
[URL]https://medellinguru.com/medellin-robbery/[/URL][/QUOTE]I read the article. But I also read this:

"Jeff is the founder and editor-in-chief of Medellin Guru. He first discovered Colombia back in 2006 and has traveled to all the major cities in Colombia. Jeff is fortunate to have lived over eight years in Medellín."

He has been robbed once in 8 years! I mean, statistically it's nothing really. A friend of mine in Turin has been robbed 3 times at the station by junkies using a syringe. 3 times in 2 years. Watching at the data the probability to get robbed in Laureles is really low. I'm sure it's much easier to get robbed en el centro at night. During the day there is so much police. I mean today I have seen at least 20 soldiers with automatic rifles.

And, look at him, he is a the perfect target. You can see he is a gringo from 1 km, and you know he will not do any resistance. Robberies happen all the time in all the big cities. You can't be safe in New York, London or Paris.

There were over 40 thousand robbery offences recorded by the Metropolitan Police in London in 2019/20, an increase of almost six thousand when compared with the previous year, and a peak for this type of offence in the provided time period. Did you read? 40 thousands. Yes, London is bit, but it's still much more than in Medellin with all the neighborhoods combined. In Laureles it happens not even 1. 5 times a day. Why it should be me? Most likely is going to be a monger from USA or Canada, with blue eyes, in his 60.

My point is: play smart. Leave the wallet at home, you don't need it. Leave the passport and any other ID at home. Keep your phone in the front pocket, and bring yourself the credit card only when you need it to get money from the ATM. Otherwise use Apple Pay or Google Pay, which here don't even know what is, but it works. Also, if you are going to el centro don't go with your phone, they are going to pickpocket you easily. Bring just the money for a fuck or two, and the taxi. If they rob you, you lose 30 dollars, which is not a big deal.

[QUOTE=Incrociatore;2493944]If you have nothing with you, you have nothing. They can search you. You give them what you have. 50k for example, without any resistance, you show your pockets are empty and it's over. If you go there with your phone and 1 million, then they will pretend your phone and 1 million, but if you have 20 k for the taxi, they will take what you have. Or you think they are gone to cut in half and search if you have some money in your belly? Yesterday I didn't have my phone with me, and I was there with almost no cash. I was there in the dark, from 6 to 8:30. No one touched me. I tell you more, I was feeling more secure than in the afternoon, because less people, greater distance, I was much more in control. One guy approached me, he followed me for a 10/20 seconds, till I said him to fuck off. I never let him closer than 2 meters from me. I doubt the junkies of el centro have guns. Cartel has guns, not the junkies in el centro. If they had one, they would have sold to buy drugs. The risk to get robbed is real, but who gives a fuck if they still me 50000 COP, I don't really mind. You all speak about Medellin like you can't go out after 6, which is bullshit.[/QUOTE]LOL. You can go out after 6, and that's not what he's talking about. You won't necessarily get a chance to show them your pockets or have a discussion about what you have or don't have. That can be anywhere. And people get robbed and killed for nothing some of the time. It isn't the junkies you have to worry about, it's the criminals. And there are lots, and lots of guns too.

I saw a map once of the street gangs, and the higher level gangs that control the street gangs. For Medellin. There were hundreds of street level gangs, and a number of higher level organizations they may have to answer to. They don't generally want wars. That gets too much attention, as in the past with Escobar, etc. But one offs are not a problem. You don't want to be one of those. You tell someone to f off. Maybe they understand you maybe they don't. But they get the picture. But you do that to the wrong one. You're dead. They don't have any problem at all with that.

In a city where you can hire a hit man for much less than $100 US it's not all safe and secure.

Went down to el centro tonight. First went to Barra Executiva not packed. A good ratio of girls to guys maybe 15 girls and 20 or so guys. The girls were mostly 6's and 7's and not really shaped the right way for me. Too much ass on most of these girls. There was 1 girl who had a great bottle shaped body. She wore white jeans and a floral top which bared her midriff. She must have noticed me staring at her. As she passed by me she caressed my arm and then took position not far behind and to the left of me. I turned around and asked motioned for her to approach. She said her name was claudia. Unfortunately as she got closer, I got a better look at her face which revealed that she was much older than I originally thought. I would guess she was mid 30's at least. But her body still looked good. I asked her how old she was, and she replied how old do you want me to be. In my head, I thought to myself. About 15 years younger than you are. I laughed at her response and asked her how much it was to go upstairs. She quoted me 120 k. A little steep for for her and for any of the girls really.

I saw 3 obvious gringos there besides myself. 2 Black americans and 1 White guy. So foreigners are flowing back in!

I left after about 25 minutes as the dancing just wasn't doing it for me and none of the girls interested me. Walked about 150 yards over to Conejitas Grill Show. The place was packed. I couldn't even find an empty table although the waiter assured me there was a place to sit. I just took a read of the place before leaving. There must have been max 10 girls and at least 50 guys and more guys coming in. Not a good ratio. The quality of the girls was noticibly better than Barra Executiva though. I saw some mid 7's. No one stunning but some that I would do. I only spent a couple minutes there. I'll have to come back on a less busy night.

[QUOTE=Frank11;2494007]It depends. Most locals they say they Stay safe because they don't wander around streets where there are druggies and cheap hoes. Stay in a safe neighborhood. If you visit massage parlor take the taxi walk from the taxi into the Establishment call taxi exit establishment and jump in the taxi. Research on YouTube as there is a worldwide phenomenon where Criminals slip substance into thee mongers drink. So just be aware and don't let anyone do that. Don't walk around with expensive cell phone. Just use an 80 euro android. For those concerned about the escorts, try to find some escorts that ccome from a bettter background and already have a little bit of money.Find an establishment with A reputation or get some recommendations of girls from friend.[/QUOTE]My 80 Euro Android wasn't even working. It has been a pain, a waste of money and time to configure. I'm not using anymore. I just leave my expensive phone at home when I go to el centro because I don't need it. And when you get used to the neighborhood you can leave the phone at home all the time. Just be careful and always on alert, but go where you want, that's my advice.

How much do you offer on Facebook, and usually, based on the level, how much do they accept?

Badoo didn't work at all. Few matches and girls most interested in something real than sex. The only real interesting contact I had it's not in Medellin. Waste of time. In Facebook, in a couple of hours I connected with 15 girls. I added a lot of girls, so I suppose by tomorrow I might have 50 contacts. Many are hot girls, some really hot. I started from a plastic surgeon page, then once I got friend with an hot chica, I added her girlfriends. I contacted one for test (not hot and in her 30), offered 50 for 2 hours and she asked for 100, oral natural. It looks way too much. I got a deal with a girl I met en el centro which I fucked today: 140 for the entire day. I would define this girl 7.5.

Usually what do you offer for 8, 9, 10 levels?

I wouldn't ask for a 7, because you can find a 7 en el centro. You need to search very well, do a test drive, and eventually make the offer.

[QUOTE=Zeos1;2494025] You won't necessarily get a chance to show them your pockets or have a discussion about what you have or don't have.[/QUOTE]It's amazing how many people assume that robberies must come down that way, face to face with some kind of discussion. They might just whip his ass, rifle his pockets, pull off his shoes and his socks, and if nothing, kick him in the head for good measure as they have to go find another victim. Some people should have their passports detained for their own protection.

Laureles is casa and private apartment heavens. Being a cheapy charlie and into fitness I chose to walk rather than take a cab. Never once felt threaten. From la 70 to la 80 into LOS colores, estadio area. By the way remember those locations. Guess what, often I wore shorts, a hat, white shoes LOL. Members don't recommend LOL. I did not walk around at night time though. Then I suggest a cab cause its so damn cheap. Centro is not my cup of tea. But really its just an ordinary busy central business district. Whats noticeable is the grimey and disgusting prostitutes mixed up with the harden hookers forced into prostituting or there because of drugs and desperation. Walking there occasionally in day time is not bad but I don't see it as a go to spot. I am actually shocked by guys who glow about the area. Having said this I do want to check out the strip clubs in centro just to say I experienced it. Medellin is cupcake city to me. Sweet and safe

[QUOTE=Frank11;2494007]It depends. Most locals they say they Stay safe because they don't wander around streets where there are druggies and cheap hoes. Stay in a safe neighborhood. If you visit massage parlor take the taxi walk from the taxi into the Establishment call taxi exit establishment and jump in the taxi. Research on YouTube as there is a worldwide phenomenon where Criminals slip substance into thee mongers drink. So just be aware and don't let anyone do that. Don't walk around with expensive cell phone. Just use an 80 euro android. For those concerned about the escorts, try to find some escorts that ccome from a bettter background and already have a little bit of money.Find an establishment with A reputation or get some recommendations of girls from friend.[/QUOTE].

[QUOTE=ColombiaLover;2493965]I am traveling to Medellin on Wednesday. So I did not want to deal with the drama of having a COVID test that was sent out to a lab. Having to hope I get the results back in time. So I managed to find a CVS in Orlando (about 45 minutes away) that had the rapid molecular test. I called the COVID 19 hotline for CVS and they assumed me if is a PCR test, not an antigen test. So I went and got my test today and 15 minutes later I was told I was negative. However, when I looked at the results that were sent to me, it described a "MOLECULAR POCT" test. From my understanding, a PCR test is a molecular test. But since the results says "POCT" and not "PCR" I suspect that the test will not be accepted. So, I've made another appointment with CVS for the PCR test that goes to the lab and once again I'll be waiting to see if I get my results in time. Very frustrating. What I've found is that most of the folks who give these tests are not very knowledgeable (and the web pages do not always give you clear information). So you really have to pay attention. Ugh.[/QUOTE]I have been to Colombia many times. Always as easy as pie to do the trip.

Now you have to jump thru hoops to go there plus endue stress to hope your test gets to you on time and the form is correct. The cost of this test is almost as much as the airfare RT from Miami.

After that places you used to go to are closed or cut in half.

I jumped thru hoops when I was drafted into the army. I jumped thru hoops when I was employed. I jumped thru hoops to get a divorce. No mas. I can wait till things get back to normal. I think a drug to beat this virus is close by.

[QUOTE=Incrociatore;2493944]If you have nothing with you, you have nothing. They can search you. You give them what you have. 50k for example, without any resistance, you show your pockets are empty and it's over..............[/QUOTE]I have known of victims (not in Colombia) who had nothing on them but were stabbed by the robber in a fit of pique because they did not have anything to take. I will not take any chances.

[QUOTE=ColombiaLover;2493965]I am traveling to Medellin on Wednesday. So I did not want to deal with the drama of having a COVID test that was sent out to a lab. Having to hope I get the results back in time. So I managed to find a CVS in Orlando (about 45 minutes away) that had the rapid molecular test. I called the COVID 19 hotline for CVS and they assumed me if is a PCR test, not an antigen test. So I went and got my test today and 15 minutes later I was told I was negative. However, when I looked at the results that were sent to me, it described a "MOLECULAR POCT" test. From my understanding, a PCR test is a molecular test. But since the results says "POCT" and not "PCR" I suspect that the test will not be accepted. So, I've made another appointment with CVS for the PCR test that goes to the lab and once again I'll be waiting to see if I get my results in time. Very frustrating. What I've found is that most of the folks who give these tests are not very knowledgeable (and the web pages do not always give you clear information). So you really have to pay attention. Ugh.[/QUOTE]There is a place in Orlando called [URL]Covidtestingllc.com[/URL]. They do 24-hour PCR tests. There are no appointments. I got the test about 8:45 am and received the results at 11 pm that night. If you have insurance, the cost is $35. All the information is on their website. I got there an hour before they opened, and was the fourth vehicle in line. Actually, they have six testing lanes, and I was first in the fourth lane. They are very efficient, I highly recommend. I also got a test at an urgent care place in Orlando, but was not sure I would get the results in time because they send the test to a lab. I received the results in two days. An additional note, neither result stated the word "Negative"; both stated "Not detected". I traveled from Orlando to Medellin last Friday, so I know the test results they provide are what is needed.

Don't forget to fill out the questionnaire on the Colombia Health Minister site the day before you travel. I forgot about it until I was in Panama. Hastily, I filled it out a little over an hour before I arrived in Medellin, and it was accepted.

[QUOTE=FunLuvr;2493864]I just tried using my Schwab card at Banco Pichincha and it reported transaction not allowed. So far, it has not taken money from my account. I will try a couple of other banks later today and report whether success / failure.[/QUOTE]Following up, I went to a Scotiabank Colpatria and withdrew 900 mil with my Schwab card without a problem. Their initial screen only lists 20 mil, so you have to select "Other amount", then you get more options. They charge no ATM fees.

[QUOTE=Frank11;2494007]It depends. Most locals they say they Stay safe because they don't wander around streets where there are druggies and cheap hoes. Stay in a safe neighborhood. If you visit massage parlor take the taxi walk from the taxi into the Establishment call taxi exit establishment and jump in the taxi. Research on YouTube as there is a worldwide phenomenon where Criminals slip substance into thee mongers drink. So just be aware and don't let anyone do that. Don't walk around with expensive cell phone. Just use an 80 euro android. For those concerned about the escorts, try to find some escorts that ccome from a bettter background and already have a little bit of money.Find an establishment with A reputation or get some recommendations of girls from friend.[/QUOTE]Your advice sounds very generic, almost applicable to anywhere in the world, yet not totally applicable to Colombia, and Euro's aren't used in Colombia.

Blakman,

It's great you are getting out and about without incident, but stay woke.

[QUOTE=Blakman;2494101]Laureles is casa and private apartment heavens. Being a cheapy charlie and into fitness I chose to walk rather than take a cab. Never once felt threaten. From la 70 to la 80 into LOS colores, estadio area. By the way remember those locations. Guess what, often I wore shorts, a hat, white shoes LOL. Members don't recommend LOL. I did not walk around at night time though. Then I suggest a cab cause its so damn cheap. Centro is not my cup of tea. But really its just an ordinary busy central business district. Whats noticeable is the grimey and disgusting prostitutes mixed up with the harden hookers forced into prostituting or there because of drugs and desperation. Walking there occasionally in day time is not bad but I don't see it as a go to spot. I am actually shocked by guys who glow about the area. Having said this I do want to check out the strip clubs in centro just to say I experienced it. Medellin is cupcake city to me. Sweet and safe[/QUOTE]