Medellin Trip Report (Sept. 2016)

[Hector_Lavoe]

I spent four nights / three days in Medellin. My first time there and I loved it. A very short trip but I've been wanting to see what some call Colombia's "best" city for sometime now. It did not disappoint. No matter how hard I try I can never seem to make these trip reports shorter.

Pre-Trip Preparation:
1. Four Private Spanish practice/refresher sessions via Skype with a native speaker (total cost: $45)
2. Two Private Dance refresher classes (Salsa/Bachata & Reggaeton) (total cost: $200)
3. Read/Research on what to visit as a tourist and where to meet women

The City
To borrow from a travel guide, "Medellin packs a punch of a city twice its size." The city sits roughly 4,900 feet (or 1,500 meters) above sea level and it sits in a narrow valley surrounded by lush green picturesque mountains. The city has a clean and safe Metro, a near perfect climate, a stunning physical setting, a pulsating nightlife and of course beautiful women.  The airport is way outside of town and as you descend down the mountain toward the city center you are shrouded in green landscapes with glimpses of the city below.

Hard to make broad brush judgments in just three days but I found the people to be very friendly and the customer service was very good. I am just a Colombian virgin compared to a lot of the guys on this site but when you read the (troubled) history of Medellin and you see the city as it is today you can't help but be impressed. 

Here is a shot of the city from my hotel's rooftop:


The Women
Given my preference for darker skin I am partial to the women on the coast and in Cali. But I was truly blown away by the beauty of the women in Medellin. Plenty of variety there given that the city is a magnet drawing people/women from all over the country.    Los Angeles, Miami and Rio de Janeiro all have their fair share of beautiful women. From my very non-scientific personal observation, Medellin has them all beat on a per capita basis. Of course, my standards also drop a bit each year as I get older. JaJaJa.

Logistics
I ended up staying in El Poblado a few blocks west of Parque Lleras. My first time in Medellin so I figured I might as well stay there. Parque Lleras is definitely prepago central but once you learn the lay of the land you can avoid that scene. I spent most of my time away from Parque Lleras...in other parts of El Poblado, Laureles, Envigado, etc. 

The Rio Sur Mall in El Poblado has some nice clubs/bars including a live music venue called Kukaramakara. Great live music there (salsa mixed in with rock in espanol and traditional Colombian music). Also, plenty of local Colombianas you can dance with. Great musicians and singers. 

Exploring the City and Meeting Women
I rode the Metro, saw some museums, the Plaza Botero and rode the Metro Cable which connects the metro/city to the "comunas" (or slums) up in the hillsides. Did not have time to make it to Guatape outside the city. Hopefully next time.

I only met one lady via Colombian Cupid. Spent the rest of my time just meeting women moving around the city. The lady on Colombian Cupid was 29, college degree and lives alone in Envigado.  Nice area. She looked cute on her profile but she was not as cute in person. Definitely not bad though. I actually met up with her two times but at the end of the day I was just not feeling the chemistry. Not a must have for me but she was not into Salsa or what I'll call traditional Latin music (Cumbia, Bachata, etc.). Her thing is Electronica music.  Very nice lady though. 

She did give me the female's perspective of Cupid. She's been on the site for 4 months. I was the 3rd or 4th guy she has met from the site. I was the FIRST guy to not think she was a Prepago and to take the whole thing seriously. Her profile is very tasteful and classy. No half-naked photos or anything like that.

My time was very limited but I did meet women on the Metro, in malls, at sidewalk cafes and even in night clubs. Malls that I went to during the day include: Unicentro in Laureles, Los Molinos in Belen, Oviedo in El Poblado and Santa Fe in El Poblado.

Had a date in the Los Molinos Mall in Belen with a 33 year old dentist. I met her at a night club in Rio Sur in El Poblado. Cocktails can blind a guy and in the light of day I was just not that attracted to her. Though my cab driver thought she was "muy linda"...jajaja.

My biggest regret of the trip occurred when I was at the Los Molinos Mall waiting for my date with the dentist. I saw this stunning girl working the sales floor of this car dealership. I approached her and starting making small talk but she was there chatting with a friend who I think was visiting her. So I left without going for the number. Big mistake on my part. Will not let that happen again.

The friendliness of people in Medellin was apparent. On the metro I met these two 20 year old chicas. They asked me where I was from and where I was going? I told them I was heading out to check out the Metro Cable. They were heading in the same direction so they took me under their wing and made sure I got to where I was going. The cuter one of the two gave me her number and we planned to try to meet for a date on my last day but turned out she couldn't make it. No worries since I am not looking to get serious with a 20 year old.

On my last day I had an early dinner at a sidewalk cafe along Parque Lleras. On my way out I said hello to these two Colombianas who were sitting at a table having drinks. Turns out they were two 20-something sisters visiting from Manizales. They invited me to sit down to join them for drinks. Both were real nice and I can see they have strong family ties. They both have a small tattoo on their inner forearm which reads in English: Together Forever.

The 22-year old sister gave me her number and gave me an open invite to visit her in Manizales. She has a fantastic figure (at least to my tastes). Works out five times a week and it shows. Was not so attracted to her face. At 22 years old she is too young for me to consider for marriage anyway. 

I also met a 26 year old nurse at the airport in Bogota. She is from Barranquilla but lives in Bogota. She told me she is planning to move to Canada in 2017.  I guess there is a nursing shortage in Canada? She is pretty cute and petite which I like but she just has no curves to entice me. We exchanged contact info. She had just come back from Medellin for a weekend of partying.

Summary:
Trip was too short to expect much. Knew that going in. Planning a longer trip later this year (to BQ). Medellin is a great city. I wish Maria and/or Jamie had an operation there. A guy with enough time can meet nice ladies there. All the photos in this post will be deleted in due course. 

[mambocowboy]

I spent four nights / three days in Medellin. My first time there and I loved it. A very short trip but I've been wanting to see what some call Colombia's "best" city for sometime now. It did not disappoint. No matter how hard I try I can never seem to make these trip reports shorter.

Pre-Trip Preparation:
1. Four Private Spanish practice/refresher sessions via Skype with a native speaker (total cost: $45)
2. Two Private Dance refresher classes (Salsa/Bachata & Reggaeton) (total cost: $200)
3. Read/Research on what to visit as a tourist and where to meet women

The City
To borrow from a travel guide, "Medellin packs a punch of a city twice its size." The city sits roughly 4,900 feet (or 1,500 meters) above sea level and it sits in a narrow valley surrounded by lush green picturesque mountains. The city has a clean and safe Metro, a near perfect climate, a stunning physical setting, a pulsating nightlife and of course beautiful women.  The airport is way outside of town and as you descend down the mountain toward the city center you are shrouded in green landscapes with glimpses of the city below.

Hard to make broad brush judgments in just three days but I found the people to be very friendly and the customer service was very good. I am just a Colombian virgin compared to a lot of the guys on this site but when you read the (troubled) history of Medellin and you see the city as it is today you can't help but be impressed. 

Here is a shot of the city from my hotel's rooftop:


The Women
Given my preference for darker skin I am partial to the women on the coast and in Cali. But I was truly blown away by the beauty of the women in Medellin. Plenty of variety there given that the city is a magnet drawing people/women from all over the country.    Los Angeles, Miami and Rio de Janeiro all have their fair share of beautiful women. From my very non-scientific personal observation, Medellin has them all beat on a per capita basis. Of course, my standards also drop a bit each year as I get older. JaJaJa.

Logistics
I ended up staying in El Poblado a few blocks west of Parque Lleras. My first time in Medellin so I figured I might as well stay there. Parque Lleras is definitely prepago central but once you learn the lay of the land you can avoid that scene. I spent most of my time away from Parque Lleras...in other parts of El Poblado, Laureles, Envigado, etc. 

The Rio Sur Mall in El Poblado has some nice clubs/bars including a live music venue called Kukaramakara. Great live music there (salsa mixed in with rock in espanol and traditional Colombian music). Also, plenty of local Colombianas you can dance with. Great musicians and singers. 

Exploring the City and Meeting Women
I rode the Metro, saw some museums, the Plaza Botero and rode the Metro Cable which connects the metro/city to the "comunas" (or slums) up in the hillsides. Did not have time to make it to Guatape outside the city. Hopefully next time.

I only met one lady via Colombian Cupid. Spent the rest of my time just meeting women moving around the city. The lady on Colombian Cupid was 29, college degree and lives alone in Envigado.  Nice area. She looked cute on her profile but she was not as cute in person. Definitely not bad though. I actually met up with her two times but at the end of the day I was just not feeling the chemistry. Not a must have for me but she was not into Salsa or what I'll call traditional Latin music (Cumbia, Bachata, etc.). Her thing is Electronica music.  Very nice lady though. 

She did give me the female's perspective of Cupid. She's been on the site for 4 months. I was the 3rd or 4th guy she has met from the site. I was the FIRST guy to not think she was a Prepago and to take the whole thing seriously. Her profile is very tasteful and classy. No half-naked photos or anything like that.

Here is her profile photo:


My time was very limited but I did meet women on the Metro, in malls, at sidewalk cafes and even in night clubs. Malls that I went to during the day include: Unicentro in Laureles, Los Molinos in Belen, Oviedo in El Poblado and Santa Fe in El Poblado.

Had a date in the Los Molinos Mall in Belen with a 33 year old dentist. I met her at a night club in Rio Sur in El Poblado. Cocktails can blind a guy and in the light of day I was just not that attracted to her. Though my cab driver thought she was "muy linda"...jajaja.

My biggest regret of the trip occurred when I was at the Los Molinos Mall waiting for my date with the dentist. I saw this stunning girl working the sales floor of this car dealership. I approached her and starting making small talk but she was there chatting with a friend who I think was visiting her. So I left without going for the number. Big mistake on my part. Will not let that happen again.

The friendliness of people in Medellin was apparent. On the metro I met these two 20 year old chicas. They asked me where I was from and where I was going? I told them I was heading out to check out the Metro Cable. They were heading in the same direction so they took me under their wing and made sure I got to where I was going. The cuter one of the two gave me her number and we planned to try to meet for a date on my last day but turned out she couldn't make it. No worries since I am not looking to get serious with a 20 year old.

This is a shot of her:
 

On my last day I had an early dinner at a sidewalk cafe along Parque Lleras. On my way out I said hello to these two Colombianas who were sitting at a table having drinks. Turns out they were two 20-something sisters visiting from Manizales. They invited me to sit down to join them for drinks. Both were real nice and I can see they have strong family ties. They both have a small tattoo on their inner forearm which reads in English: Together Forever.

The 22-year old sister gave me her number and gave me an open invite to visit her in Manizales. She has a fantastic figure (at least to my tastes). Works out five times a week and it shows. Was not so attracted to her face. At 22 years old she is too young for me to consider for marriage anyway.  Here is a shot of her:


I also met a 26 year old nurse at the airport in Bogota. She is from Barranquilla but lives in Bogota. She told me she is planning to move to Canada in 2017.  I guess there is a nursing shortage in Canada? She is pretty cute and petite which I like but she just has no curves to entice me. We exchanged contact info. She had just come back from Medellin for a weekend of partying.

Here is a shot of her:


Summary:
Trip was too short to expect much. Knew that going in. Planning a longer trip later this year (to BQ). Medellin is a great city. I wish Maria and/or Jamie had an operation there. A guy with enough time can meet nice ladies there. All the photos in this post will be deleted in due course.

Helluva trip report Hector. Thanks for sharing. I think if you give either Maria or Jaime's agencies a try in Barranquilla you may get the most bang for your buck...

[Hector_Lavoe]

I think if you give either Maria or Jaime's agencies a try in Barranquilla you may get the most bang for your buck...

Yep, that is the plan.

[Gavan]

Not a must have for me but she was not into Salsa or what I'll call traditional Latin music (Cumbia, Bachata, etc.). Her thing is Electronica music. 

What you call "traditional Latin music" is actually known as "música tropical" (tropical music) in Latin America: salsa, merengue, cumbia, bachata, vallenato, etc. They call it that because almost all of these genres come from the caribbean region.
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BAsica_tropical


Anyway nice report, thanks for sharing.

[Elexpatriado]

Good interesting report, thanks.

Hope the nurse likes Partying in -40C in Yellowknife, because thats where they send immigrant nurses without any Canadian experience.If she is really going there.


Good  that all those girls gave you their number, and good you had the balls to approach them and make small talk. The next step would be to make more connections and dates. You really weren't there long enough.


The Taxi drivers  and a lot of Colombians seem to like all the women..kind of like connoisseurs of women. We egringos are too picky..but then we dont knock em up and leave them as much.


In reality a barrio boy will screw anything..even ones we would find down rite ugly..but marry them or support the kids..forget.
Of course you go up in the estratos this attitude improves, but most upper estrato  Colombians may support their family, but will be after younger women, and either eave the wife, (And support the kids) or just have mosas on the side.


Anyway off the topic.sorry

[Elexpatriado]

Cumbia and Other Tropical music has the same steps as salsa.


I f you can dance Salsa, Merengue and Bachata, you pretty well cover all the bases. Vallenato is its own breed.


Regaton is just dry humping.

What you call "traditional Latin music" is actually known as "música tropical" (tropical music) in Latin America: salsa, merengue, cumbia, bachata, vallenato, etc. They call it that because almost all of these genres come from the caribbean region.
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BAsica_tropical


Anyway nice report, thanks for sharing.

[Gavan]

Cumbia and Other Tropical music has the same steps as salsa.


I f you can dance Salsa, Merengue and Bachata, you pretty well cover all the bases. Vallenato is its own breed.


Regaton is just dry humping.

Hm, maybe they have certain similarities but they are definitely not the same. Even salsa itself has several different styles.

Although I must say I have never taken dancing classes so I am no expert. I just know the basics of these dances which is enough most of the time.

The music definitely has lots of differences. Bachata is really slow for example, while merengue is very fast. Cumbia (my favorite genre) can be fast or slow depending on the sub-genre and the country where it is made.


Reggaeton can be danced in lots of different ways. The dirty version of the reggaeton "dance" is called "perreo" (as you say "dry humping" or "grinding"). But most people just improvise when dancing to it and it isn't always dirty.

Most reggaeton videos use dance moves similar to hip hop or Jamaican dancehall (since reggaeton is basically a combination of these genres).

[Dan Las Vegas]

Great trip report Hector! I'm glad you liked Medellin, it really gets a bad rap on this board, but is still my favorite city in Colombia. Looking forward to reading your next trip report!


Dan LV

[Gato4Astrid]

Pre-Trip Preparation:
2. Two Private Dance refresher classes (Salsa/Bachata & Reggaeton) (total cost: $200)

1 hour each??   If so, that's daylight robbery lol


In Buenos Aires, they have private Tango classes for $25 per 1 - 1 1/2 hours

[Cherub]

Excellent trip report.....congratulations on your journey. I haven´t been in Medellin for a few years, but I remember the vibe was very good. I´m with you though, I prefer the darker tones of the ladies from the north coast and Cali, more exotic and lovely to touch.

[robert angel]

Yea, have to get down there and see Medilin, as well as some of the coastal cities, are on the list. Traveling with the wife, a good pair of wrap around eyeglasses are definitely in order!
But besides the cities and the people there, there's quite a bit of natural beauty-- 'eco tourism' if you will, to take in.

I don't know why and it's not just the Olympics, but Brazil's not that high on the list as it was, but would like to see parts of Peru and Ecuador too.

[Elexpatriado]

1 hour each? ?   If so, that's daylight robbery lol


In Buenos Aires, they have private Tango classes for $25 per 1 - 1 1/2 hours

I pay 240 mil pesos for 12 hours of lessons What does that work out to?


$8 an hour.


I remember in Canada I was paying $50 CDN ($40 an hour) to some gringa who spent time in Cuba wand Married and divorced a Cubano that married her for the visa (sounds familiar?)

[Hector_Lavoe]

Great trip report Hector! I'm glad you liked Medellin, it really gets a bad rap on this board, but is still my favorite city in Colombia. Looking forward to reading your next trip report!
Dan LV

I agree. The bad rap Medellin gets on the board does not measure up to what I saw in my admittedly short trip. Definitely my favorite Colombian city thus far. If I were to move to Colombia and could pick any city in which to live I would pick Medellin.

[Hector_Lavoe]

Cumbia and Other Tropical music has the same steps as salsa.

Gavan is right, they are not the same steps. I've been dancing salsa, bachata, etc. off and on since 2009 (including group and private lessons). They share certain similarities (4/4 time) but they are definitely not the same.

Hm, maybe they have certain similarities but they are definitely not the same. Even salsa itself has several different styles.

[Hector_Lavoe]

The Taxi drivers  and a lot of Colombians seem to like all the women..kind of like connoisseurs of women. We egringos are too picky...

Yeah, I basically agree. If you saw my Taxi driver you'd know the guy probably thinks Melissa McCarthy is hot. JaJa.

[Hector_Lavoe]

1 hour each??   If so, that's daylight robbery lol

In Buenos Aires, they have private Tango classes for $25 per 1 - 1 1/2 hours

The "private" lessons I took were in Los Angeles, not Colombia. Nothing is cheap here except the sunshine.

[Gavan]

I don't know why and it's not just the Olympics, but Brazil's not that high on the list as it was, but would like to see parts of Peru and Ecuador too.

What parts of Peru would you like to visit?

[robert angel]

What parts of Peru would you like to visit?

Should've said earlier----great trip report. We don't get many of them anymore. I think someone here sees another 'Joe' actually doing it, means he's more likely to think of actually doing it himself than by merely clicking  thru sites and images on google.

Really haven't done my homework or figured the prices and logistics on traveling to and around Peru, but Cuzco, taking the train to and fro Machu Pichu and later on flying to the Amazon/rainforest area look attractive, but being far apart, that'd probably require at least a week to do it halfway right, I guess. After that and a day recovering from travel and altitude changes, Miraflores for 4 or 5 days would probably be welcome, if I'm not bug bitten and sick from something or the other. Sort of a country--city mix.

But I'm the first to admit I really don't know diddly about the trip. That's part of the charm----it's not Orlando, FL, that's for sure.

[Gavan]

Should've said earlier----great trip report. We don't get many of them anymore. I think someone here sees another 'Joe' actually doing it, means he's more likely to think of actually doing it himself than by merely clicking  thru sites and images on google.

Really haven't done my homework or figured the prices and logistics on traveling to and around Peru, but Cuzco, taking the train to and fro Machu Pichu and later on flying to the Amazon/rainforest area look attractive, but being far apart, that'd probably require at least a week to do it halfway right, I guess. After that and a day recovering from travel and altitude changes, Miraflores for 4 or 5 days would probably be welcome, if I'm not bug bitten and sick from something or the other. Sort of a country--city mix.

But I'm the first to admit I really don't know diddly about the trip. That's part of the charm----it's not Orlando, FL, that's for sure.

Ok cool.l. Yeah of course you can't go to Peru without visiting Cuzco and Machu Picchu.

The most popular destination in the amazon is Iquitos.You can only reach it by plane from Lima. I have never been there myself but it looks interesting.

Yeah, you should definitely check out Lima as well, at least for a couple of days. You can find some amazing, world class restaurants there.

[Gato4Astrid]

What parts of Peru would you like to visit?

As for me, if it weren't for women, I would like to visit (country in the Western Coast):


Peru - Machu Picchu, Cuzco & Lake Titicaca
Bolivia - Salar de Uyundi
Ecuador - Galapagos Islands
Chile - Easter Island,  San Pedro de Atacama, Torres del Paine

[creeper1]

Fair play to you for approaching women in real life (probably likely to be better than those online)


It's something I struggle with myself.


 Too self conscious and when you throw in the fact that I am doing it in another language that I am only beginner-intermediate in.


Well I chicken out most of the time.

[Elexpatriado]

I NEVER said Bachata..its different.I said Salsa and Cumbia. Salsa is 123..456 or Caleña 1234..4578 with the extra Little tap thrown in on 4 and 8..Cumbia is the same as simple Salsa..at least thats how I and all my partners have danced it..Bacahata is,1234, with the inside or back leg doingthe tap with the hip swerve on 4

Gavan is right, they are not the same steps. I've been dancing salsa, bachata, etc. off and on since 2009 (including group and private lessons). They share certain similarities (4/4 time) but they are definitely not the same.

[Gavan]

As for me, if it weren't for women, I would like to visit (country in the Western Coast):


Peru - Machu Picchu, Cuzco & Lake Titicaca

Yeah those are the most popular tourist destinations in Peru. However, my personal favorite part of Peru is "el Norte" (the north): Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, Máncora. I like the culture in the north more (a bit more mixed/mestizo than the indigenous culture of southern Peru).

[Gavan]

I NEVER said Bachata..its different.I said Salsa and Cumbia. Salsa is 123..456 or Caleña 1234..4578 with the extra Little tap thrown in on 4 and 8..Cumbia is the same as simple Salsa..at least thats how I and all my partners have danced it..Bacahata is,1234, with the inside or back leg doingthe tap with the hip swerve on 4

Probably depends on the style of Salsa. It would make sense that Colombian Salsa would have at least some influence from Cumbia since it is a Colombian dance.


I am pretty sure that Cumbia also has several different variations depending on the country though. Cumbia is actually much more popular than Salsa in a lot of countries of Latin America including Mexico, Peru, Chile and even Argentina. I hear it is actually more popular outside of Colombia now, since Colombians mostly prefer Salsa, Vallenato and Reggaeton.

[fathertime]

Hi Hector,


Thanks for the superb trip report. It seems you would benefit greatly from having an extended stay in Colombia...like 3 weeks or more.  Too bad work life often gets in the way like that!  You seem to be doing many of the right things, so when the right lady does appear, you will be ready in many respects.


Fathertime!