I apologize for not being able to provide "live" reports from Colombia as I originally intended and promised. However, I would encourage everyone to focus on the women while in Colombia and give your reports upon your return.
I thought I would be able to provide you with new and exciting information on Medellin, but instead it will be fairly limited. I spent most of my time in Medellin at Sandra's house and enjoyed the simple things in life like sitting on the concrete steps in front of her house and talking while having a beer.
A few exceptions would be a Saturday that we spent in Tutucan, a recreational park in Rionegro. Rionegro is where Medellin's airport is located and is about a 45 minute drive outside of the city. Tutucan has swimming pools, sports facilities, a lake, restaurants and a large plaza surrounded by the facades of a typical town in Antioquia with live entertainment. This was a great place to spend the day with Sandra and her baby daughter. I especially enjoyed the many opportunities to sample traditional foods and watch a hilarious play in Spanish. We took the bus from Medellin to Tutucan and back again.
Another very special place that we went to was Montevivo in St. Helena, again about 45 minutes outside of Medellin. Many Paisas come out to Montevivo on the weekends to do "canopy." Essentially to glide through steep cables high above the forest floors. However, we came to Montevivo to rent one of three isolated wood cabins. This was Sandra's idea and it was appealing to me too. It was a very peaceful place in the midst of a pine forest. The cabin was very rustic, but comfortable. Sandra was very cold inside the cabin, but she kept the cold at bay by constantly feeding the fireplace with fresh timber. The cabin had a small kitchen, a dining room, living room and bathroom. Upstairs was a cozy loft with three beds. I paid for the optional meals which were served at the enchanting main house. Apparently, Carlos Vives likes this place too and has visited on several occasions.
Another place that is well known in Medellin is Mangos. Sandra's mom agreed to babysit Isabella so that Sandra and I could spend our last night together at Mangos. This Texas inspired disco is very innovative, entertaining and fun. The 12K cover charge and 70K half bottle of brandy was well worth it. We sat at the bar, right next to a raised dance floor because we didn't want to order a full bottle of brandy for just the two of us. Trust me, even if you do order that full bottle, the bar is the place you want to be. This place had clowns, stripping midgets, belly dancers, salsa dancers, Chipendales-like guys for the ladies...CRAZY! Better yet, you have a continous parade of the most gorgeous women in Medellin. We had a great time and going out dancing was the perfect way to spend our last night together.
I stayed at the Hotel Porton Medellin (two blocks from Oviedo shoppin mall) in El Poblado for four nights at a significant discount because my reservation was made through Sandra's business account. This hotel is outstanding, but I'm not sure I would be willing to pay the regular 300K/nt. rate. I also stayed a couple of nights at Botero Plaza Hotel (Carrera 50A 53-45, Tel: (57)(4)511 21 55) in the downtown area. If you can handle a modest, no frills, but clean and safe hotel, you may want to consider this one. It is in the heart of downtown, in back of Hotel Nutibara. I was told that after 8 PM you would want to leave and return to this hotel in a taxi only. Still, at 70K/nt.(local calls included) it is a great value. I got a room on the 14th floor and the view was spectacular.
Medellin never ceases to amaze me. The new metro-cable is incredible and well worth the experience. After visiting Colombia 5 times, there is no doubt in my mind that Medellin is the city I would feel most comfortable returning to time and time again.
