Medellin Reports

[Mojo Bandit]

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

I have not stayed there but walked around there some -its some of the flatter part of Poblado so its very walkable. There are a lot of hostels and restaurants in that area. I ate a place called El Güero Taqueria on the northeast corner of Calle 12 and Carrera 43 e, it was decent tacos. There is another Mexican place that some BMs rave about in Manila called Chilaquiles Manila at Calle 12 # 43 D but Google maps says that one is temporarily closed. There is also an Argentinian steak house called Restaurante Malevo on Carrera 43 e just north of Calle 11 a. Never been there either but I rarely hit an Argentinian place that I do not like. Even that cruddy Requismos in Cartagena serves some decent grilled meat with chimi churi. And this place Restaurante Malevo seems to have some decent looking empanadas which I think are probably better than the Colombian ones.

Here is a guy giving a tour of Manila. Its very long but you can jump to like the 15 minute mark because he is walking to there from the Metro for that long. It will give an good feel for what the area looks like. This video is when they were still in partial lockdown so it not very lively there then. Its probably picking up a little now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-7yVUd4GT0&t=2457s

[Surfer500]

I haven't stayed there but I used to frequent several restaurants. Most of those haven't reopened yet. The neighborhood is popular with young foreigners. It looks like what the Colombians call a "traditional barrio" but its proximity to Parque Poblado and Parque Lleras attracts the young Euros, South Americans, and a smattering of US / Canada gringos. You will note the cost of rooms and apartments is much lower there than in the Poblado towers. As always, shop around, ask questions, and try to get as many photos as you can. Don't accept wide angle lens photos or photos taken at an odd angle because it is usually a sign the owner is hiding something.

The truth is that most photos of apartments for rental are taken with a wide angle lens to make things look much larger than they are. And in Manila there are not a lot of tall buildings to begin with. A bigger concern for people renting apartments which photos's don't reveal are how noisy the apartment is meaning is it directly over a street and whether there is AC which typically will be required on upper units with a lot of windows facing to the west. Asking questions about these things as you suggested is imperative.

[Surfer500]

All the feedbacks, reviews have been positive. But will keep the robbery and your oppinion active in my mind. I will have to figure it out. I felt so safe in laureles but wanted be in the poblado area to be exposed to something new. Maybe more taxi less walking in that area. Gringo trooper. I love off brand/generic prescripts. Its perfect for a cheapy charlie like myself lol..

Before the Pandemic, there were lot's of people out on the streets walking and eating at the restaurants. It's close to everything and a small barrio maybe 1/2 kilometer in width that taking a taxi within the barrio itself might not make sense, albeit coming from say Lleras with a Chica in tow it may make sense. You will understand what I'm saying when you arrive.

[Surfer500]

Ditto that. Santa Fe is the greatest street scene in the world. There are hundreds of chicks over more than 6 square blocks. I can not think of any other place in the world I would rather be on a Friday night.

What are you smoking Mr. E, Pattya hands down has not hundreds but thousands of chicks in less than 6 square blocks. Oh, never mind, I guess because the women are all sitting in bar stools alongside the roads it's not considered a street scene. Are you saying you would rather be in Bogota on a Friday night versus Pattya?

[Surfer500]

Someone posted that a COVID test would be necessary to leave Colombia, I believe it was Pollo Negro. Can someone clarify this? I understand that Panama is requiring this for entry into their Country, along with other Countries, but wasn't aware that this might be a requirement to fly back to the USA, at least right now. I asked COPA about this and they told me to transit thru Panama at the airport no COVID test was necessary.

So the question is, do you need a COVID test to take a departing flight from Colombia to the USA.

Yes or no, and if yes, where did you get this information.

[The Tall Man]

Sounds like a fun time! LOL.

Not!!

Thanks for the update TM.

Think I'll maintain myself in Brazil for the time being.

I love cruising Centro.

Been doing it since New Life was a 1 room brothel! LOL.

I was on full alert pre Covid, now with this report on gang attacks, no tourist police, etc, I'll give Medellin time to simmer down a bit and enjoy the garotas in Rio / SP.

Your welcome Balboa, I wish I could say it differently but it is what it is and yes I too hope that it will simmer down with time. I am already mixing up my routine a bit so I will spend more time on other venues (i.e. I just had 2 paisa civies over to my apartment this evening for music, food and drinks, just playing around and may invite one of the two over in the coming weeks for a one on one).

Now a reverse question for you, I visited Rio twice but this was exactly 20 years ago (HELP days) and my two wingmen here in Medellin frequent Brazil often and so over lunch this past week we got onto the subject of making a visit in December, one week in Rio and then one week in SP.

Questions: 1. Where are you at in Brazil? 2. A quick update on the P4 P scene there? 3. The current virus conditions? 4. Any serious safety concerns? 5. Cost of pussy there?

Thanks in advance!

The Tall Man.

[Surfer500]

I know the barrio because I went to a farmacia right there (it was cheap, but they had the worst off brand selection).

Just a heads up, this is where a forum member recently got robbed (see his previous posts for reference).

Personally, I don't like this area because I felt it was poorer and it felt shady, in my opinion.

This barrio actually has become gentrified over the past five years, and the property values had skyrocketed, with a lot of monies going into development before the Pandemic. However, I don't recall seeing any really "seedy" areas in the barrio though with the exception of some older buildings, and don't really consider it poor per se, but it is in Poblado, and technically speaking with some Strata 4 housing it is poor compared to the other barrios in Poblado. As far as getting robbed, that's normal, no different than in the Patio Bonito area, getting robbed is rampant all over Poblado, just not as publicized.

[The Tall Man]

I did not recommend you bus into El Centro to catch a taxi to Laureles at 2 AM. My point was that you could get safely to the Nutibara Hotel from the airport, by bus. If you are not going to do the Nutibara, then given what Tall Man posted, I think you should take a taxi directly from the airport. I have not been to Medellin since Covid and I would take Tall Man's "Chicken Little" post to heart. His info is more up-to-date and concerning about the current state in Medellin. I on the other hand am a crazy, sarcastic, attention whoring asshole who probably should have been dead or seriously injured at least half-a-dozen times. And that is just in the past week jajajaja. I'm kidding, but always consider your source. Good Luck. I'd rather be lucky than good, and I have been.

Thanks Osteoknot for the confidence in my post regards the safety issues, it is unfortunately true. (You too PN).

The original poster also needs to consider that the Hotel Botero has been shuttered closed for many months and so at night that street (Cr 53 a) is now even worse off as there are no lights coming from the hotel or people / hotel staff that are around.

The other consideration is that although buses do use the rear street of the Nutibara hotel (where the Hotel Botero / Cr 50 a dead ends into CL 53) but because of the reduced bus transports there have been much less activity especially at night so this area is dead albeit for the drugged out glue sniffing homeless drug addicts, whom you need to watch out for.

I was last driving my car on this exact street about one week ago at about 11 pm to 12 am and there were no buses parked hence no bus drivers and no activity. I would not even stop my car nor roll down the windows it is that sketchy of a place at night.

Be safe all!

The Tall Man.

[Blakman]

All the feedbacks, reviews have been positive. But will keep the robbery and your oppinion active in my mind. I will have to figure it out. I felt so safe in laureles but wanted be in the poblado area to be exposed to something new. Maybe more taxi less walking in that area. Gringo trooper. I love off brand/generic prescripts. Its perfect for a cheapy charlie like myself lol.

I know the barrio because I went to a farmacia right there (it was cheap, but they had the worst off brand selection).

Just a heads up, this is where a forum member recently got robbed (see his previous posts for reference).

Personally, I don't like this area because I felt it was poorer and it felt shady, in my opinion.

.

[Balboa]

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.

And yes I will still visit centro and play albeit with a renewed sense of awareness and a give a shit attitude for anyone and everyone that passes you, they are not your friends rather your a target so I have this mind set when I visit. If anyone invades my personal space, that being about a little more than an arms reach I will become mid evil on their ass. This is a message that I have been sending and handing out and will become, I should say has already become second nature.

Much love and respect to all!

The Tall Man.

Sounds like a fun time! LOL.

Not!!

Thanks for the update TM.

Think I'll maintain myself in Brazil for the time being.

I love cruising Centro.

Been doing it since New Life was a 1 room brothel! LOL.

I was on full alert pre Covid, now with this report on gang attacks, no tourist police, etc, I'll give Medellin time to simmer down a bit and enjoy the garotas in Rio / SP.

[Knowledge]

It's true the robberies and petty crimes are way up since the pandemic started. One incident from a few months back that really stands out was when the tourist police confiscated a knife from one of the street hustlers in Botero Plaza. The guy was unusually tall, close to 2 meters, but the kitchen knife the police took from the guy was so long I could not understand how he could carry it around hidden without cutting himself. Most of the girls carry personal protection (razor blades and small knives mostly). We've all read the accounts of guys getting robbed in and around the plaza. So you have to stay alert or stay away.

My greatest advice to anyone who comes here during these times, make sure you have an exit plan or some way to earn money while you are here. I would hate to have been here for an extended time and couldn't leave other than on a humanitarian flight. I would hate to come here and accidently contract covid and have to wait it out. I have adjusted well and I plan on leaving next month after my last dental appointment. I really had a great plan when I came this time and fortunately everything worked in my favor and I actually made a ton of money by working from Medellin. One perk from renting my apartment for a year is this, next year when I attempt to rent another apartment, I now have a rental history and I will be able to rent another apartment at the Colombian rate, the same guy who rented me this apartment will vouch for my lights, water, gas on my new apartment. So even with the pandemic, I found a way to make the best of the situation.

[PolloNegro]

My greatest advice to anyone who comes here during these times, make sure you have an exit plan or some way to earn money while you are here. I would hate to have been here for an extended time and couldn't leave other than on a humanitarian flight. I would hate to come here and accidently contract covid and have to wait it out. I have adjusted well and I plan on leaving next month after my last dental appointment. I really had a great plan when I came this time and fortunately everything worked in my favor and I actually made a ton of money by working from Medellin. One perk from renting my apartment for a year is this, next year when I attempt to rent another apartment, I now have a rental history and I will be able to rent another apartment at the Colombian rate, the same guy who rented me this apartment will vouch for my lights, water, gas on my new apartment. So even with the pandemic, I found a way to make the best of the situation.

Centro, the place I love and know like the back of my hand. If any of you want a stern warning, take notice to the post from Tall Man. I absolutely love centro, but I rarely travel to centro anymore. The robberies are at an all time high, Tall Man is not lying. But everyone has to take their own risks. I am able to handle myself with the best of the grimy people, grew up in the slums, but truth is, I do not want to be injured or killed in Centro over $30-20,000 pesos maximum. I have stated many times that crime rate is at an all time high in Centro, but its your life your risk, have at it. I will drop a link to a fight that occurred on Sept 30th in the park with the infamous Mimi. Like Tall Man said, the tourist police are no longer front and center like they used to be and there is no longer a green tent to locate them that was once in front of the Museum De Antioquia. My honest opinion is this, there are not many gringos here and that is less opportunity for the tourist police to rip off gringos, so they just allow the Colombians and Vennies to go at each other like wild savages. The smart gringos are staying away from Centro, so most of the robberies are occurring amongst the locals.

I have friends who are coming down this week, and I can tell you this, they had to set up a PCR covid exam to come to Medellin, I then helped them to setup PCR Exam for them to take before they leave to go back to the airport in Rio Negro, so even on a 7 day trip, they had to have there schedules set to have exams taken to coincide with their flight schedule. I have also set up a date to have my covid exam taken before I leave the country to head back home. So I really don't see how it would be possible to do the 3 day weekends that I was so famous for anymore unless the same day that you arrive you are tested again and have your results in hand on the next two days to board the plane back to the US. I can tell you this, the exam here is about $310,000 pesos and they deliver the results in a 24-48 hour turn around time. The girls are still here, the risks are just a little bit higher, I mostly go out for food and stay in my own lane. You can definitely learn a lot when you are stuck anywhere for 8 months. Check out the video below and it will show 2 girls fighting and not one tourist police in sight for over 3-5 minutes. Everyone be safe! Pollo Negro is out!!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=...&v=Rxxw6jASqO8

[Black Page]

If I have to wait too long for the bus, then I'll negotiate a price for the taxi.

And I missed to spot this other pearl of yours. You come fresh to Medellin at midnight, and you figure yourself negotiating a price with taxi drivers at the airport? In Spanish or English? At the curb, or you wonder to walk out to get a cheaper price? FYI: The fare is fixed flat: 75 k. And also in city, taxis are metered.

[Gringo Trooper]

The Manila barrio is located to the left of Calle 10 as your going up the hill from the Poblado Metro station opposite EXITO.

I know the barrio because I went to a farmacia right there (it was cheap, but they had the worst off brand selection).

Just a heads up, this is where a forum member recently got robbed (see his previous posts for reference).

Personally, I don't like this area because I felt it was poorer and it felt shady, in my opinion.

[SpiderRider]

The thought of trying to be a Cheap Charlie in the early hours of the morning amazes me. Who ever started this post about how to get from the Airport to Laureles via buses after midnight probably shouldn't be venturing to Medellin.

It's a no brainer, get in a cab at the Airport directly to Laureles. I can only imagine a first time visitor, a gringo, with no Spanish speaking skills attempting this. He will be lucky to have any of his belongings left after arriving in El Centro.

San Diego bus, taxis, shared white taxis, private SUV transports, over the years I've used them all. But, I don't understand the penny-pinching endangerment angle upon arrival. Did you travel all this way to have a good time or fret about money from day 1? There are a number of friendly females who will warmly greet you in the airport as you pass through baggage pick-up. Then, take you directly to your accommodations, or stop to eat/drink with you, in their car, and get your visit started with a "bang" . If you've been away for a while, or if you're new, this is absolutely the best way to arrive. I kinda doubt they want to go into the depths of the el centro night with you though.
Arrive safely, minimal hassle, and satisfied. Pinch pesos the next day.