Medellin Reports

[Gbs123]

Isn't it cold and rainy right now in Colombia? Where do you look for the girls in such a weather?

[KeviKev68]

Finally started flagging people because of their luggage. Wonder if they are as diligent in Cartagena and Bogota. Funny, they crack dude's bag and he has the stereotypical Victoria Secrets, rubbers and baby oil lol

https://youtu.be/k_C_qotp294?si=uYejNnDPNiM8uxs0

On my last trip when I was leaving MDE the security guy saw all of the stamps in my Passport and was suspicious. He asked if I had luggage and I said yes. He took a phot of my passport and let me go.

[Orgasmico]

That was funny. Bogota has a lot more normal travelers and Cartagena has a lot more normal tourists. They know all the freaks go to Medellin.

True Bogota has more of a business clientele and more "normal" tourists. I think the outliers I see are dudes that have been listening to you guys telling people to fly to Bogota and get through immigration faster and then transfer to Medellin LOL.

Cartagena hmmm. A lot of riff riff and crazies go through there too but year, they probably get more normal folks and beach goers. Meddy has a bad rap.

[Orgasmico]

combined with his 'passport bro' look (t-shirt, shorts, baseball cap)

Seen dudes go through Medellin and Bogota security with durags on their head and pants sagging so I don't think immigration pays much attention or cares about attire of tourists.

[DiscoverFL]

Finally started flagging people because of their luggage. Wonder if they are as diligent in Cartagena and Bogota. Funny, they crack dude's bag and he has the stereotypical Victoria Secrets, rubbers and baby oil lol

I have a feeling the bondage equipment is what pushed him over the top, since it creates a perception of potential violence or rape. That combined with his 'passport bro' look (t-shirt, shorts, baseball cap), and his inability to have a credible story explaining all he brought or why, just put him over the top. Denying entry is more of a grey area. Likely we in the USA might also deny someone for the same reasons under the same circumstances (I mean pre-Trump, not the current more aggressive environment). If you are bringing a small store of 'whatever', have someone lined up you can message as the recipient and dress like a local. Not a sex tourist.

[Mr Enternational]

Finally started flagging people because of their luggage. Wonder if they are as diligent in Cartagena and Bogota. Funny, they crack dude's bag and he has the stereotypical Victoria Secrets, rubbers and baby oil lol

https://youtu.be/k_C_qotp294?si=uYejNnDPNiM8uxs0

That was funny. Bogota has a lot more normal travelers and Cartagena has a lot more normal tourists. They know all the freaks go to Medellin.

[Orgasmico]

Finally started flagging people because of their luggage. Wonder if they are as diligent in Cartagena and Bogota. Funny, they crack dude's bag and he has the stereotypical Victoria Secrets, rubbers and baby oil lol

https://youtu.be/k_C_qotp294?si=uYejNnDPNiM8uxs0

[DiscoverFL]

Interesting. Based on what I've seen in places, the conditions must have been pretty bad or maybe something else behind the scenes. I wonder how they deal with spots in the barrio populares and up in the mountains.

Short answer is they don't. The difference between a wealthy country or state and a poorer one. In a wealthy location (say California), they are able to get near 100% full enforcement. In a place with limited resources like Colombia, they focus first on high-traffic highly-impactful places (malls, tourist centers, business centers, etc.) and then fawn out from there as their resources best allow. Meaning that they are less likely to get to small, farther, lower impacting locations on the desired level of frequency (like a food stall in el Centro). As the government's economic situation improves, then they can hire more resources and improve enforcement. You see the same thing in any other country and even in the states (compare enforcement in Alabama to say Massachusetts). BTW, in Medellin there is a circular green sticker you will see in locations that shows last date of inspection.

[Orgasmico]

I live here in Colombia too. My "source" is my baby mama. She works in the industry. One day we were at a food court in Manizales having lunch with my daughter and her brother and several restaurants suddenly closed one of which was Frisby and that is what the kids wanted so there was of course some discussion and I asked her what was going on and she said it was inspections by the health dept. ,I forget the official title. She went on to tell me how strict they are.

Interesting. Based on what I've seen in places, the conditions must have been pretty bad or maybe something else behind the scenes. I wonder how they deal with spots in the barrio populares and up in the mountains.

[Manizales911]

Interesting. What is your source? I live in Colombia so I'd like to know more about this if you can share where you got this information. Also, if you have information about restaurants that have been closed due to a failed inspection.

On an unrelated topic, I've lived in Medellin for about 8 years now and have experienced numerous tremors and have never seen anyone walk around inspecting buildings or asking questions so I'm always interested when someone suggests that there are inspections of things.

I live here in Colombia too. My "source" is my baby mama. She works in the industry. One day we were at a food court in Manizales having lunch with my daughter and her brother and several restaurants suddenly closed one of which was Frisby and that is what the kids wanted so there was of course some discussion and I asked her what was going on and she said it was inspections by the health dept. ,I forget the official title. She went on to tell me how strict they are.

[DiscoverFL]

Interesting. What is your source? I live in Colombia so I'd like to know more about this if you can share where you got this information. Also, if you have information about restaurants that have been closed due to a failed inspection.

We are going way off topic. But Google "Resolucion 2674 de 2013", issued by the Ministry of Health, and enforced by INVIMA and local health secretariats such as Medellin's Secretaria de Salud. Medellin itself runs a program called "Establecimientos Seguros y Abiertos al Publico" that you can also google.

[Orgasmico]

Colombia actually has strict rules, inspections and enforcement

Interesting. What is your source? I live in Colombia so I'd like to know more about this if you can share where you got this information. Also, if you have information about restaurants that have been closed due to a failed inspection.

On an unrelated topic, I've lived in Medellin for about 8 years now and have experienced numerous tremors and have never seen anyone walk around inspecting buildings or asking questions so I'm always interested when someone suggests that there are inspections of things.

[Mr Enternational]

So what bothers me so much about seeing roaches dead or alive on food for display, is I can't help but imagine what things look like in the kitchen out of public view.

Yeah well welcome to earth. Just imagine the deer that are shitting on that lettuce when it is out in the field growing. Sounds like you were neither a boy scout or in the military or have been to Asia where they eat bugs for snacks.

[Manizales911]

So what bothers me so much about seeing roaches dead or alive on food for display, is I can't help but imagine what things look like in the kitchen out of public view.

I'm guessing they don't have any Health Dept doing strict random inspections or an FDA inspecting the food supply.

I once stayed at an Airbnb in Bogota above a bakery / resto and it was full of roaches like I've never seen in my life, I asked bldg manager how often they spray.

He said we don't bother the bakery is full of them its just a waste of money. I left.

If restaurants in Centro don't have any rules or regulations (or at least not any real enforcement) I doubt its any different in Poblado or anywhere else.

I seriously doubt most locals would've been upset by what I saw.

That's a very big problem, that tells me it isn't "safe" to eat anywhere here.

Does anyone know of a powdered food supplement I can bring to use as a food substitute for a few weeks at a time?

Only serious replies please.

Colombia actually has strict rules, inspections and enforcement, so does the state of Florida yet dozens of restaurants get shut down daily in Florida. It's a fact that almost every restaurant in the world has roaches regardless of their hygiene. I was in the restaurant supply business at one time and the stories I could tell about some of the high end restaurants in Connecticut.

[Black Page]

I tend to think Bogota has better restaurants and the food on the coast has more flavor, but in general I don't think most people travel to Colombia for the food. If one is having unprotected sex with crack heads in El Centro, the food in Medellin probably isn't your biggest health risk.

If you are in El Centro, you will probably see roaches along with a lot of other things you probably won't see on a reg in more upscale parts of the city. Cabs are inexpensive enough where you can get out of the roach infested areas and at least eat in decent venues around the city.

You might have to pay more to eat non local food at more upscale places, but to me it is worth it. Also, try to stay away from chains that receive everything in plastic bags and just heat up food prepared in some distribution center. Lastly, enjoy the things that are native to Colombia like the fruits, especially things like avocados and dragon fruit and the fresh bread and good coffee.

I applaude your post! Standing ovation from me. Kudos. So much truth in 3 paragraphs.