Medellin Reports

That bus continues to the Tesoro mall and stops pretty much anyplace you like on the way. From Tesoro it retraces its route back down to the Metro.

[QUOTE=Prolijo;2711329]Yes, you can take the bus up from the Metro station. In fact, when I did it, it even let out right in front of where I was staying at the Hotel Dix. I've also heard that it can be free with a Civica Card if you take it right after taking the Metro (though I'm not quite sure how that works as my card was empty when I did it and I just paid in coins). The drawback to that though is that it's an extra connection, which means an extra wait between the rail and the bus (the last time I did it, I ended up waiting 15-20 minutes and could just as well walked), plus it's not as direct. With the bus direct to/from El Centro, you only have to wait once and it takes you direct to the top of the hill at Parque Poblado with no need to change transport anywhere and I never had to wait more than 5-10 minutes for a bus plying the Cra 43a route.

As for the limitations of the Moovit app, yes I hear you. It's far from perfect though I still found it somewhat useful and FAR better than what's available for bus routes and schedules that you can find for buses in most of Central and South America, which in most areas is virtually non-existent (BTW, why do the few Latin American bus company websites that do exist typically just show pictures of their buses with no route, fare or schedule info?)

Another transportation app I used in Medellin was Cabify and that I found to be even less useful than Moovit. The best that can be said for that app is that you can charge taxi rides to your credit card, which can be very useful for when you first arrive at the airport and don't yet have local currency (though the 2 ATM's right before the airport exit can take care of that) and also the fare to or from the airport comes out a few dollars cheaper than regular taxis. However, everywhere else I tried Cabify the fare came out more (sometimes much more) than a regular taxi, plus it involved waiting a few minutes for it to arrive vs. just jumping in the nearest available cab.

I also tried the Metro app and if you thought Moovit was a pain to deal with then you shouldn't even bother with the Metro app.[/QUOTE]

I am heading to Medellin in a few days and have made it my new spot over the past year. Spent years in the hobby in Cuba, Venezuela, and Costa Rica. All were amazing in their day, but political changes brought about changes as a destination, especially for mongering. When does the new President take office? In asking this, I realize that changes may not happen immediately (but they could). For example, Cuba was THE place for years, until Castro shut it down literally overnight. Venezuela. Similar but with a change in leadership. You guys have more experience and a better feel for Columbia, since I am a relative newbie (7 times in 2 years). For those there now, have you seen any indication of immediate changes? What are your thoughts about the future. The question relates to those of us traveling to Columbia for mongering, not social, political, or anything else. This is not the forum for that. What I do know, is that a few days from there, I will be banging everything I can that my poor, old, tired, cynical, fat ass will permit. Gentlemen.

Happy hunting.

Snook.

Is Colombia screwed as a destination? Even if the socialist president bans prostitution (which he seems like a new age leftist so he probably won't) the economy is going to turn into Venezuela lite and make it too dangerous.

That's correct, you can use your Civica card on the calle 10 bus route from the Metro station but it is not a free transfer. I think the standard fare is 2,550. It's slightly less if you have a senior citizen (60 or older) Civica.

[QUOTE=Surfer500;2711320]The Metro card which is called a Civica only entitles you to ride the bus lines directly connected to the Metro Stations and not the City buses. Entrance to the Metro connected bus stations such as at the Industriales station have a turn-style entrance that reads the Civica card. If you ride the Metro and then the bus or vice versa it's included at no additional charge.

For those wanting to travel from Centro to Poblado, and avoid using the Metro, along with huffing and puffing up Calle 10, there is a bus within a block of Hotel Nutibarra that goes to Parque Poblado a few blocks down the hill from Parque Llears. I've taken it at times when the Metro is shut down and it goes along Avenida Oriental which turns into Avenue Poblado when it leaves Centro.[/QUOTE]

The new President assumes power August 7. The only change has been the reversal of suspensions of several mayors including Daniel Quintero of Medellin. They were suspended for breaking the law that prohibits them engaging in political campaigns for national candidates while in office. That is specific to the election; no policy changes will take place before August. Enjoy your visit.

[QUOTE=Snook;2711430]I am heading to Medellin in a few days and have made it my new spot over the past year. Spent years in the hobby in Cuba, Venezuela, and Costa Rica. All were amazing in their day, but political changes brought about changes as a destination, especially for mongering. When does the new President take office? In asking this, I realize that changes may not happen immediately (but they could). For example, Cuba was THE place for years, until Castro shut it down literally overnight. Venezuela. Similar but with a change in leadership. You guys have more experience and a better feel for Columbia, since I am a relative newbie (7 times in 2 years). For those there now, have you seen any indication of immediate changes? What are your thoughts about the future. The question relates to those of us traveling to Columbia for mongering, not social, political, or anything else. This is not the forum for that. What I do know, is that a few days from there, I will be banging everything I can that my poor, old, tired, cynical, fat ass will permit. Gentlemen.

Happy hunting.

Snook.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Snook;2711430]...Mongering and the election...[/QUOTE]It's been discussed. Look up posts from Sunday and Monday, and here.

[URL]http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/forum/showthread.php?3946-Stupid-shit-in-Medellin[/URL]

[QUOTE=Orion4;2711312]I haven't really seen this talked about, but what attire do you guys usually use for going out (e. G, to the club, restaurants, etc)?...[/QUOTE]It has been discussed but it goes in cycle. Jeans will be fine. Just wear what you feel comfortable. Skinny jeans is popular in El Poblado but not so much in El Centro.

[QUOTE=Nounce;2711443]It has been discussed but it goes in cycle. Jeans will be fine. Just wear what you feel comfortable. Skinny jeans is popular in El Poblado but not so much in El Centro.[/QUOTE]Oh what's popular in El Centro? More formal attire?

[QUOTE=JjBee62;2711416]I've seen the error in that approach.

A boutique hotel I spent a few days in over Christmas 2017, while my roommate's entire family was visiting from Bogota, had signs in the lobby and pictures of the signs on Booking and other hotel sites. You couldn't check in without seeing the signs and "No guests or visitors" was posted in the rules. I had to wait 10 minutes to talk to reception while a gringo begged and pleaded to get them to allow his obvious working girl visitor come in. He didn't succeed.

The upscale jacuzzi loft I rented last month only stated that guests under 18 weren't allowed. The place was obviously set up for fucking. After I booked, the confirmation email stated "no prostitution", but I figured, provided a bit of discretion was used, it wouldn't be a problem. I was correct and I wasn't the only one breaking the rule.

However, as a general rule, I avoid "no sex tourism" places and I keep things quiet and discreet. That way everyone is happy.[/QUOTE]"Hiding in plain sight" is not a good mongering strategy.

[QUOTE=FlAdventurer;2711403]At check in at the Medellin Marriott, the registration you sign has a paragraph that clearly states that there is a $200 charge for bringing girls to your room, [/QUOTE]I'm not into girls but what about women?

[QUOTE=JjBee62;2711404]Usually jeans, a nice pair of sneakers and either a nice t-shirt or occasionally a polo. I'll also usually bring a light jacket or hoodie in case of rain, although I'll skip the jacket for strip clubs, since I'm usually not going to be hopping from club to club.

By nice t-shirt I usually mean one of the dry wick types. They're comfortable and dressy enough for anyplace I've been in Medellin.[/QUOTE]Do you think a dress shirt and chinos would be too formal for most clubs and restaurants in Medellin?

[QUOTE=Orion4;2711312]I haven't really seen this talked about, but what attire do you guys usually use for going out (e. G, to the club, restaurants, etc)?
[/QUOTE]Hawaii shirts, psychedelic shorts and flip flops. And bring a bassball cap to blend in when you go clubbing in Manrique.

[QUOTE=JustTK;2711579]Hawaii shirts, psychedelic shorts and flip flops. And bring a bassball cap to blend in when you go clubbing in Manrique.[/QUOTE]Are baseball caps out of place in medellin? Heard about the aversion towards shorts and flip flops in Colombia (unless you're in Cartagena), but haven't heard anything about caps.

Googling from back here in Hometown USA, I gather that Colombia, like most of the planet, is experiencing escalating inflation--in Colombia's case, a 21 year high of nearly 10% on an annualized basis. (See [URL]https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-06/colombian-inflation-jumps-more-than-expected-to-21-year-high[/URL]#text=The%20 annual%20 inflation%20 rate%20 rose,%25%20 to%204%25%20 target%20 range.).

I'm curious whether any of you guys on the ground in Medellin have noticed some ratcheting up in the basic costs of our hobby: entry charges at the strip clubs, casa base rates, a beer at Barra Executiva? Perhaps as a BM service, ISG should look into creating a Mongering Price Index (the cost of a standardized package of services: (1 HR. CFS, DFK, BBBJ--weighted proportionately by market share among SWs, brothels, clubs, on-line providers).

[QUOTE=JustTK;2711579]Hawaii shirts, psychedelic shorts and flip flops. And bring a bassball cap to blend in when you go clubbing in Manrique.[/QUOTE]I am sure you could have come up with something better than that.