|
News From Colombia in English
San Andres 4-Day 5-Star Vacation Package
4 Days
Lose yourself in Caribbean beauty and mythology in the exquisite beaches of San Andres. Four days of private tours, tropical gastronomy, white beaches and the luxury of a 5-star hotel will make you want to stay forever. Read more...
From US$ 000
Bogota 4-Day 5-Star Vacation Package
4 Days
Bogota is a blend of historical monuments, museums and churches which are surrounded by the natural beauty of its hills and reserves. Read more...
From US$ 830
Cartagena 4-Day 5-Star Vacation Package
4 Days
This package will allow you to visit Cartagena, the most beautiful colonial city in South America. Read more...
From US$ 000
Coffee Triangle 4-Day 4-Star Vacation Package
4 Days
Witness the elaboration and rituals to get the best coffee in the world and enjoy the landscapes of the area of Pereira, in this Coffee Triangle Vacation Package. Read more...
From US$ 690
By NickAtNight on April 29, 2011Print
While visiting La 70 the other day, your trusty correspondent stumbled upon a bachelorette party. None of the girls had a camera or camera phone so I, ever the gentleman, volunteered my photographic services.
This is Tatiana, a 22 year old housewife who lives in the Manrique neighborhood of Medellin and is the cousin of the bride-to-be. (Manrique probably falls in the category of neighborhoods to avoid, but that’s a future article.) Normally bubbly and effusive, Tatiana would practically leap in front of the camera to have her photo taken but then would refuse to smile. After much coaxing (that is, many shots of aguardiente), I managed to wheedle the tiniest hint of a grin from her on camera. I had to promise to email her all her photos.
Colombia is filled with wonderful, friendly people like Tatiana and the rest of the bachelorette party. Like the travel advertisements say, the only danger in Colombia is not wanting to leave. Check out a fuller discussion of the La 70 neighborhood here.
| Username |
Bbrocs |
| Price |
000 Currency |
| Phone number |
917-668-0571 |
| Location |
Hoboken, NJ/Medellin colombia |
| Category |
Travel & Tourism |
| Date |
Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:01 am |
| Description |
We rent 2-5 bedroom apartments, here in Medellin Colombia. Unlike other rental companies your not alone here once we give you the keys. If we can be of service to help you enjoy your vacation we will help our clients with what ever they need. We care, yet we try not to smother, we back off until you contact us. All questions are usually handled and answered within 30 minutes. I try to offer what others never did for me when I was renting apartments. Our repeat clients come back time after time. Contact us with any questions.
www.pobladorentals.com
Barry B.-owner |
A very mellow crowd took to Medellin streets recently in a march supporting legalization of marijuana. The predominantly young protesters smoked openly and carried banners supporting their cause. While there was a large police presence, no arrests were reported.
Colombia, like many other countries, maintains a paradoxical law regarding marijuana that makes possession of small quantities legal while criminalizing the sale or cultivation of the plant. Despite the drug laws, law enforcement tends to turn a blind eye to the sale of marijuana. It is quite openly sold, for example, in Parque del Periodista in downtown Medellin. Parque Lleras and Parque Poblado in the Poblado neighborhood are also areas well known for sales of the herb where baretos, or joints, may be purchased for a dollar or two.
A similar law exists with respect to cocaine. While previously all possession of cocaine was illegal, in 1994 a law was passed legalizing possession of less than one gram, though its sale and distribution remained illegal. President Alvaro Uribe in the early 2000s made moves to amend the Colombian Constitution to again ban all possession of the drug, claiming it was inconsistent with Colombia’s relationship with the US and its war on drugs. The Constitution was, however, apparently never amended. Nevertheless, while possession of small quantities does not appear to be illegal at the national level, it is still possible that cities and other governmental units can criminalize the drug.
More photos of the rally may be found at www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com, which retains rights to the photo above.
By NickAtNight on May 6, 2011Print
Your trusty correspondent returned to Medellin’s La 70 neighborhood several nights ago in pursuit of a story and who should he come across but Melanie who appeared several weeks ago on ColombiaBeat. I told her I was searching for a club in the area that might appeal to foreigners and she, being a native, offered to show me around. Though I am fairly well acquainted with the area, who was I to turn down her friendly offer? In retrospect, this was strangely like the first time I met her, discussed in the link above, where she led me on a wild goose chase while I paid for all the drinks. History repeated itself.
We wandered from club to bar to club — there are many, many in La 70 — and Melanie seemed to have friends in virtually all of them. As the night wore on, my story idea seemed less and less important. At one point, we were walking on the sidewalk and an old lady with a bathroom scale approached us. She offered to weigh us for 500 pesos each, about 30 cents. Melanie, who is very short, was apparently unhappy with her result of 50 kilos (about 110 pounds) and began arguing with the old lady, even going so far as to insist that I not pay her because the scale was defective. I was quite happy with my result of 90 kilos and happily paid.
They say loose lips sink ships, and I think the drinks I had consumed sunk my ship that night. Based on my reading, I made the brilliant comment that I thought the scale might actually weigh light. Melanie shot me a withering look. Soon after, she said that she had to go home because she had to be at her job at a chicken restaurant early the next morning. I think we’ve seen the last of Melanie.
But don’t let my obtuseness and bad luck deter you. La 70 remains a fantastic neighborhood for nightlife in Medellin. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s inexpensive, safe, and the people you meet, even if you speak only a modicum of Spanish, are the friendliest anywhere I’ve been in the world. I’ll be returning in the near future and hopefully, this time, I’ll be able to pass on a few specific recommendations of the best bars and clubs in the area. Be sure and bookmark us and check back.
By NickAtNight on May 3, 2011Print
The barrio of Santo Domingo has a lot going for it. Nestled in the hills surrounding Medellin, it commands a fantastic view of the central city. It is easily accessible fromMedellin’s metro: take the train to Acevedo station and then transfer to a cable car to Santo Domingo station. The vistas from the cable car are spectacular as well. Unfortunately, Santo Domingo is also one of the poorest parts of Medellin and, while it is much safer than during the drug wars of the 1980s and 1990s, it is still not an entirely safe area after dark.
Marcela, pictured above, was one of the attendees of the bachelorette party that I came across a few days ago in La 70. She asked the time repeatedly over the course of the evening and I finally asked her why. She said she felt bad leaving her mother at home in Santo Domingo because “está caliente,” meaning “it’s hot.” I, being ever the idiot, responded, “What do you mean it’s hot? It’s up in the mountains. It’s cooler than here.”
Turns out, caliente can mean literally hot, but much like it’s English equivalent it is often used figuratively to mean heated, angry, or in this case, dangerous. Marcela related that her mother was watching her four children and that there had been rumors that rival drug gangs would be engaged in a turf war that evening. Marcela left early. I haven’t heard of any events in Santo Domingo so, luckily, it appears it was just rumor.
Still, this highlights something that most tourists and even foreigners residing in Colombia never come face to face with — in some of the poorer barrios, there remain drug gangs that fight for dominance over neighborhoods. I have never seen this and I am fairly well-traveled in the Medellin area but then again I seldom have cause to visit the poorest neighborhoods. I’ve been to Santo Domingo in the day and had absolutely no problems but I’m holding off on visiting Santo Domingo at night. I don’t want to find myself there when “está caliente.” So as for now, Santo Domingo nightlife remains terra incognita.
|
