Medellin Reports

[Mr Enternational]

Regardless of where people get tested, my advice is wait around and get a physical copy of the test result in your hands.

You are damn right about that. The only place that email system worked properly for me the first time was CVS in the USA. Brazil: never got an email so I had to go back to the pharmacy the next day. They had to adjust something in the computer. Dominican Republic: did not get the email so I went back down to the clinic. Had to complete some kind of verification in the system for the email to be sent. Colombia: Did not get an email but already had the paper copy so I took a picture of it in case I lost it. Did not worry about going back for an email. Overseas, don't leave the testing site without a paper copy and take a picture of it!

[Surfer500]

My flight was scheduled to leave at 2:20 pm and I got to the MDE airport at 10:40 am. I still needed a covid test to board my departing flight. There's a set of tents outside the airport on the lowest floor, the one with the new arrivals, on the far end--they'll be on your left-hand side as you're driving away. If you don't know the procedure, as I didn't, you enter the middle tent and wait in line until you fill out 2 forms with a nurse. The form they hand you is in English but the form the nurse fills out isn't, and none of them there spoke any, so I hope your Spanish is at least adequate. If you're an American you only need an antigen test to re-enter and the cost is 80,000 pesos.

When I arrived there were 8 people ahead of me and the lined moved SLOWWWW. Like 10 minutes per person slow. Finally another nurse started to take down information as well and the line sped up. I filled out the forms, gave them my email, showed them my passport, paid the fee, and once that was done you get sent to the tent to your right as you exit. Got a swab shoved up my nose, which sucked, and then I had to wait around for the results. They say they'll email you the results but I never got them. After around 40 minutes a nurse called my name and gave me a piece of paper with the results (negative). This was around a quarter past noon. Total time: about 1 hour and 25 minutes since arriving. So if you're like me and want to wait until the last minute you might want to arrive 3. 5 to 4 hours before your flight to account for possible crowds and slow lines.

God forbid if you tested positive at the airport. When I departed a few weeks ago I went to a private lab about three blocks from EAFIT and the Aquatala Metro Station and got tested. I showed up at 6:15 AM and had a next day flight and walked out with the test result in my hands 30 minutes later, albeit they initially wanted to E mail it to me which I refused to do. I had gone by this lab a few days before because I live nearby around 11 AM and the place was packed and I was told it would be at least a couple of hours to get tested when I arrived. Fortunately early in the morning it was pretty much empty. I personally wouldn't wait until the last minute to get tested, but that is just me. And speaking Spanish does help as they don't want to deal with physically printing up the results but after explaining to them I didn't have a printer and needed a paper copy in my hand they agreed, and I clarified this at the front desk before paying, but when I told the technician that I needed a paper copy, she had to go to the front desk to get approval to print it out for me. Test costed 80 K.

Regardless of where people get tested, my advice is wait around and get a physical copy of the test result in your hands. Yes, I have seen everybody showing up at the airport sharing their documentation with authorities, but what happens if your devices don't work for some reason. I'm old school but that's my advice, I always carry paper copies of all necessary travel documents with me, but do understand not everybody has access to a printer.

[ColombiaLover]

My experience was similar. Reminder: You DO NOT have to enter the airport to get the COVID test. I made that mistake and stood in line, only to have to go downstairs and out the door again for the test. And go through the line again after (although there really was no line the second time). Also, I paid 95 mil for the antigen test. Price posted on the side of the tent. This was Monday. It appears the price has gone up, because I had also heard it was 80 mil.

Observation: Gringos with no Spanish really slowed the testing process.

My flight was scheduled to leave at 2:20 pm and I got to the MDE airport at 10:40 am. I still needed a covid test to board my departing flight. There's a set of tents outside the airport on the lowest floor, the one with the new arrivals, on the far end--they'll be on your left-hand side as you're driving away. If you don't know the procedure, as I didn't, you enter the middle tent and wait in line until you fill out 2 forms with a nurse. The form they hand you is in English but the form the nurse fills out isn't, and none of them there spoke any, so I hope your Spanish is at least adequate. If you're an American you only need an antigen test to re-enter and the cost is 80,000 pesos.

When I arrived there were 8 people ahead of me and the lined moved SLOWWWW. Like 10 minutes per person slow. Finally another nurse started to take down information as well and the line sped up. I filled out the forms, gave them my email, showed them my passport, paid the fee, and once that was done you get sent to the tent to your right as you exit. Got a swab shoved up my nose, which sucked, and then I had to wait around for the results. They say they'll email you the results but I never got them. After around 40 minutes a nurse called my name and gave me a piece of paper with the results (negative). This was around a quarter past noon. Total time: about 1 hour and 25 minutes since arriving. So if you're like me and want to wait until the last minute you might want to arrive 3. 5 to 4 hours before your flight to account for possible crowds and slow lines.

[Talon]

My flight was scheduled to leave at 2:20 pm and I got to the MDE airport at 10:40 am. I still needed a covid test to board my departing flight. There's a set of tents outside the airport on the lowest floor, the one with the new arrivals, on the far end--they'll be on your left-hand side as you're driving away. If you don't know the procedure, as I didn't, you enter the middle tent and wait in line until you fill out 2 forms with a nurse. The form they hand you is in English but the form the nurse fills out isn't, and none of them there spoke any, so I hope your Spanish is at least adequate. If you're an American you only need an antigen test to re-enter and the cost is 80,000 pesos.

When I arrived there were 8 people ahead of me and the lined moved SLOWWWW. Like 10 minutes per person slow. Finally another nurse started to take down information as well and the line sped up. I filled out the forms, gave them my email, showed them my passport, paid the fee, and once that was done you get sent to the tent to your right as you exit. Got a swab shoved up my nose, which sucked, and then I had to wait around for the results. They say they'll email you the results but I never got them. After around 40 minutes a nurse called my name and gave me a piece of paper with the results (negative). This was around a quarter past noon. Total time: about 1 hour and 25 minutes since arriving. So if you're like me and want to wait until the last minute you might want to arrive 3. 5 to 4 hours before your flight to account for possible crowds and slow lines.

[Talon]

I left Medellin the first week of April after the curfews started. While it sucked shopping for food, and there wasn't anyplace you could go to at night, I still was able to have chicas visit my apartment at night when most of the streets were deserted. One left after 10 pm but was still able to find someone on indriver and take her home safely. These were regulars I've had many times before though--you might have trouble convincing a stranger to make the same trip.

If you're a party animal or someone really into clubbing I'd probably avoid Colombia for the foreseeable future.

[JjBee62]

I have a few "rules" that I think would be helpful to a lot of visitors. We all know that "rules" may work for most but there are always people for whom they don't work. I. e. We are all different. So to quote a famous pirate. "They are more like guidelines."

1. You don't go out with a woman with a bigger ass than yours. It just won't work out.

Even if I get down to my 18 year old weight, that still leaves me with a 32 inch waist and probably 40 inches around the ass. Unless you've got a 29 inch waist, or you like really big butts, this is a pretty solid rule. If you don't believe it, try to put on the girl's panties.

2. 1 You don't fall in love with your hooker.

2. 2 You don't marry your hooker.

2. 3 You damn sure don't impregnate your hooker.

These 3 are really the same idea. Hookers are a temporary convenience. If you forget or ignore these rules you'll find out that hookers are better and cheaper than wives.

3. 1 You never send money to a girl you don't know.

3. 2 You never send money to a girl you DO know.

Send money if you want. However, accept that the money buys you nothing except for a request for more money.

4. If you are on vacation, you don't see 1 girl 10 times, you see 10 girls 1 time.

5. When a prepago tells you she wants to be your "novia" (girlfriend), remind her that novios (boyfriends) don't pay their novias and watch how fast she backs away from that idea.

6. Never arrange an overnight (toda la noche) or a trio with a girl you haven't seen before. It won't happen the way you picture it. If, after having seen her once (preferably twice). You'll be far better positioned to know if it will be as much fun as you would like.

7. If you want to find your friends on FaceBook for God sakes create a new account and don't use your real name, location, phone number or birthdate.

8. Never share information about a lady friend on the forum. Someone will tell her about it, and you will get burned. (Personal experience).

I don't have much to add to the rest. Number 7 is a good rule, I just don't follow it, as you know.

The last one I'd go further and say be very picky about who you share contact info with.

[GeneHickman]

Option 1) Go to EAFIT and pose as a student there as the Bancolombia branch there is where I opened my account, but I was a student there and don't recall if they asked for my student ID, but you could say your enrolled in the following week's classes and haven't been issued your ID yet, but if you speak Spanish you might have to fake it and speak in English.

Option 2) Try another bank besides BanColombia.

Option 3) Grease the skids, go to another branch of Bancolombia and / or another bank. Offer the person your dealing with an incentive to help you out.

Good luck!

Yeah it's actually more our own Federal Gubbermwnt at fault here. Most Latin American and Caribbean county banks are under the pump due to something called FATCA. It has onerous reporting requirements for any account owned by an American and its frankly something not worth it to them. So if you are a US citizen they hate having to open an account for you.
I think you said you were a Panamanian citizen. If so highly suggest using that ID if anything, and preferably some other non US form of identification if you are eligible. Our gov't is so concerned about their tax dollars that they use their control of the global financial system, manhandling everyone, using the swift transfer system, access to international banking etc to coerce smaller countries and banks.

[Surfer500]

I tried and failed, but not giving up. I went to Bancolombia in Puerta del Norte, waited about an HR, they give you a ticket and there's a waiting area inside. At least they have air conditioning, I was surprised! Lady said I needed a seedula de extranjero, tried to talk my way out. She asked her supervisor / manager, still a No. Oh well, I'll ask my real estate lawyer if he knows anyone in bank to help out. Just like anywhere in the world, connection is key.

On side note, lots of hot bank employees. Even with masks, I couldn't help but stare at their bodies!

Option 1) Go to EAFIT and pose as a student there as the Bancolombia branch there is where I opened my account, but I was a student there and don't recall if they asked for my student ID, but you could say your enrolled in the following week's classes and haven't been issued your ID yet, but if you speak Spanish you might have to fake it and speak in English.

Option 2) Try another bank besides BanColombia.

Option 3) Grease the skids, go to another branch of Bancolombia and / or another bank. Offer the person your dealing with an incentive to help you out.

Good luck!

[Cbear13]

What are some other good areas in Medellin. I will be there in June. And need a good Airbnb. Normally I stay in Parque LLeras.

[Kafka]

It's Colombia. Right now there is a decree I believe until May 7th on the national level. But they're decrees on the local level as well everything is in the state of flux. The people I have talked to who lived there said that they feel things will be more relaxed next month but there are no guarantees..... But but until May 7th I don't think there's much of a chance things are really going to relax too much. Sorry I can't tell you more

I have no idea what this means, are you saying that they, the Government are shutting down the whole country or Medellin for all of May as in a total lockdown. Can you please be more clear, I've read it a few times and I still can't figure it out?

[JohnnyO]

There's some sort of big soccer tournament going on at the beginning of June they'll shut down for all of May. They have refused to cancel that tournament under any circumstances.

I have no idea what this means, are you saying that they, the Government are shutting down the whole country or Medellin for all of May as in a total lockdown. Can you please be more clear, I've read it a few times and I still can't figure it out?

[ColombiaLover]

I just got back from a week in MDE. I lived through toque and also the lock-down on the weekend. I had virtually no issues getting chicas to come over day and night to see me. That said, all of them were repeats. Prepagos from FB and non-pros. Two of them spent the night so they would not have to take a cab home in the middle of the night.

My apartment was in Laureles. When I could go out before 8 pm, I did not go out much other than to get money and some drinks. Once the lock-down started on Thursday night, I did not go out at all. The neighborhood was so peaceful and the weather was great. Luckily the apartment has two floors, the top being a larger terraza with a great jacuzzi. So hanging out inside (with and without chicas) was fine. If I had a smaller place or no jacuzzi, I probably would have felt differently.

Things were crazy on Monday when I left. Street full of people and traffic. Everything looking normal, since everyone had been holed up for 3 days.

I went to the airport at noon for a 3:45 pm Flight. I got my COVID test at the airport. It was a little slow, but they did not have that many people waiting, so not bad. The most time spent was filling out paperwork, especially since the gringos before me spoke no Spanish and did not understand what was being asked of them. The line outside the airport door was super long when I arrived for my test. They had only one entrance. But it went relatively fast. By the time I finished my COVID test, the lines at the door were gone and the line at COPA was minimal.

Next time I'll get my COVID test at a clinic, like I did before.

Overall, had a good time. Thanks to my chicas and Rappi.

[JjBee62]

I tried and failed, but not giving up. I went to Bancolombia in Puerta del Norte, waited about an HR, they give you a ticket and there's a waiting area inside. At least they have air conditioning, I was surprised! Lady said I needed a seedula de extranjero, tried to talk my way out. She asked her supervisor / manager, still a No. Oh well, I'll ask my real estate lawyer if he knows anyone in bank to help out. Just like anywhere in the world, connection is key.

On side note, lots of hot bank employees. Even with masks, I couldn't help but stare at their bodies!

Go to EAFIT. You might need to tell them you're going to see about Spanish classes. Go to the Bancolombia branch there. They have been known to allow people to open an account with only a passport.

[Kafka]

It's propaganda they're going to excuse the statistics anyway they want.

Quarantine this weekend. People have said the ICU is full so it is likely that the weekend quarantines and curfews during the week will be around for awhile.

[Kafka]

There's some sort of big soccer tournament going on at the beginning of June they'll shut down for all of May. They have refused to cancel that tournament under any circumstances.

Quarantine this weekend. People have said the ICU is qfull so it is likely that the weekend quarantines and curfews during the week will be around for awhile.