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Published: October 5th 2007
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(August 30, 2007 through September 9, 2007)
This time upon arriving to Medellin, I took the 'colectivo,' a mini-bus, which only costs 5,500 pesos. You can find the 'colectivo' once you step outside of the airport, and a blue sign with a bus is visible. Mostly business people were on board, only with two foreign couples, the ride was quiet and I had a chance to view the scenery that the road provides. The 'colectivo' drops the passengers off in front of Hotel Nutibara, right in the middle of downtown. The area is shady and full of people asking for money, but if you are smart about your surroundings, you will be fine. My sister picked me up here, and we went back home to head to bed early.
The weekend was spent relaxing. Taking in the sites of my sister's neighborhood. Simply sat outside, in the great weather of the city of eternal spring.
It was my last week in Medellin, and I spent it getting to know parts of the city that I had never known. On Tuesday, a friend of my mother's, Ibem, took me out shopping for clothes. Medellin is known to have not
only the best textiles in the country, but also one of the best fashions in all of Latin America. Before heading out we ate lunch; it was mondongo. It is a soup kown around the country, but specialized in Antioquia. The soup has potatoes, beef stomach and intestine, pork, yuca (cassava), tomatoes, onions, and depending on the cook, a series of spices that make it one of my favorite foods to eat. The soup is served with rice, banana, and avocado. All mixed into one bowl, the flavors that play in your mouth are making my mouth water just thinking and writing about it.
From there we headed to two malls, San Diego and Los Molinos. San Diego is located in the east of town, at the beginning of the Palmas highway, and Los Molinos is in the west side of town, in the neighborhood of Belen. I bought mostly shirts and jackets, as jeans weren't in the most of comfortable sizes or prices.
That night, along with her daughter and son, Ibem took me out near El Poblado, along the Palmas highway. This neighborhood of Medellin is probably the best well-off. It is located in the southeastern
part of the city. Las Palmas is a highway that begins at the base of the eastern mountains of Medellin, and makes its way along the mountainside all the way to the airport--making it one of many ways to get there. Along this specific highway, you can find several famous night clubs and high-priced restaurants. Fresia, her daughter, knew of a very good Argentinian restaurant, and we stayed there to enjoy the food, rum, company, and the night view of Medellin--some very good steaks if I may say so.
On Thursday, Ibem once again took me to sight see. This time we jumped on the bus from Belen, and headed to downtown, to shop in "El Hueco". Literally meaning 'the hole', "El Hueco" was once an area in Medellin that no one thought of going. Thanks to city planning, this area is now know as the best for cheap shopping, and people from all socio-economic classes can be found. This area is block after block after block of non stop shopping--from clothes to crafts, electronics to food, all can be found here. One can get lost all day finding something, and still wouldn't cover half the stores, since they
go in all directions. The area is wonderful, and the sights and sounds that are found here, are enough to entertain you, and the shopping aspect is an added bonus. To the south part of "El Hueco"is Parque de las Luces. This relatively new park replaced an old market, where many "gaminos" and pickpockets used hang around. Also located next to the Park of Lights is an architecturally interesting library. We mostly looked at artisan crafts, and left mid-afternoon happy with our purchases. Near the smaller airport located in the middle of the city, we went to a famous traditional restaurant, and I ate my last Bandeja Paisa in Medellin (as my family still cooks delicious typical food at home)--here called Bandeja Montanera because it was served bigger. That night Marcelo and I spent it drinking beer and playing billiards.
All Friday we took it easy. Simply enjoyed the day, and saw some more of the city. Fresia had wanted to take me to Mango's since I had arrived to Medellin; probably Medellin's most famous nightclub, which is self-acclaimed to have the best party of all of Latin America. I guess not the night that we went. The place
throws up every stereotype of what a Western, American saloon should be. The only difference is that they have performers all over the place, including little persons all throughout out. Marcelo, almost tripped over one of the little persons, as he didn't see him when he walked in. The waitresses are dressed in a cowgirl style, with skin-tight jeans and their shirts are about 3 sizes too small, which to many, is an enjoyable sight. The music varies throughout the night, and performers come onto the stage and get the crowd going. The beautiful women and attractive men that perform would get a large crowd going; but that night, the crowd was light, and the atmosphere was not as expected. The place has animal heads put all over the walls, and the bathroom sinks are horse heads. Definitely a place to check out; as I was told that some of the most beautiful women will be there, and the "duros" of Medellin will be found there. ("Duros" translates to "the hard ones", referring to individuals who have a lot of money and power that they like to push around.)
Saturday night was spent at my sister's house, before heading
Delicious Food
Here I am enjoying bunuelos, ojuelas, and natilla. out with a cousin and an aunt for a goodbye dinner and a few drinks. Feelings of happiness came over me as I said goodbye early Sunday morning. I had visited the country of my birth, and I saw exactly what I wanted to see. I was not intimidated by much of what is reported, and the way my mother worried. Like many who come to Colombia, travel for me was easy, even to towns all over. My studies will definitely lead me back here, and hopefully have a larger relation to those people who live there.
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