Medellin, Colombia!

Medellin!

From Cartagena I hoped on the standard, low budget bus, in high hopes that it would turn out to be a 5 star bus. As always, I’m wrong. Since this was my first South American bus I gave myself a pat on the back and said it would be all right. What I should have remembered is how cold these buses get from start to finish. Legend says that blast the A/C on full blast to keep the passengers from sweating; thus preserving the seats longer. This legend is a fact in my mind b/c you come on the bus like you finishing a day at high school and going with the snowboard club to Mt. Hood. Most of the time I bring my sleeping bag on board but this time was merely my flannel, pants and my newly bought poncho that I wrapped around my face so I could breath in hot air. You look around and all of the locals have puffy coats on, the sombreros and gloves on. Might I add, outside is 95 degrees and blistering hot, while I’m curled up in a fetal position trying to stay alive.

This went on for a short 10 hours, winding up and through the hills of Colombia. All of which I couldn’t see because it was dark and I went into some cold shock coma. Regardless, I survived.

Feeling all local with my cool Colombian sombrero and poncho wrapped around my neck like scarf, I walked off the bus. I grabbed my gear and asked some people which hostel they were staying at. An English bloc mentioned “pit stop”. Let’s go! Instant friends we grabbed a taxi and before we knew it, we arrived at our new hostel.

Pit Stop was an instant party hostel, all of which was very necessary for Medellin. This city has a serious party reputation and I needed to test it out. While my friend Chris was unloading his gear, I sat down at the pool and met some Chilean guys. A group of girls were next to us speaking English and each time the guys would comment on their conversation in Spanish. I thought this was funny and started to talk with them in Spanish, look at the girls, and then start laughing. This broke the ice with both parties. The Chilean guys mentioned going to see where Paublo Escabar died and me and Chris (English friend) jumped in their group and we took off within 5 minutes.

We hailed down 2 taxis and explained (they did) to the driver what we were looking for: under the radar, taxi tour of the previous world drug lord in Medellin. Vamos, and we took off like a rat out of hell. First stop was this old run down building that looked like it had been exploded by a bomb. We all got out, took some pictures of this wall, all of which looked like nothing. The driver said this was where there operation was…well one of the headquarters. We get back into the car and zip in and out of traffic until we pull up to another run down house. In front of this house was a graffiti tag that said “hate”. We got out, once again took some photos and then asked what we were doing here. The driver told us this was where Pablo got shot.

Overall, all pictures that to anyone else look like a wall.

We chatted with the Chilean guys and they were trying to go shopping so Chris and me got dropped off at the train station and we heading over to this gondola that brought you up to the top of the city and into this national park.

Before I go any further I must describe this city since I haven’t given any visual so far:

Driving from the top of the mountains the bus slowly descended down a “S” like road all the way into this canyon where Medellin was. All around us is green grass, trees, and farmland. Since the mountains were so rigid and steep, the farmer’s plant there crop similar to Asians and rice paddies. The agriculture is planted into sections and ladder like features so when it rains, each plant gets nurtured with water.

We finally arrive into Medellin, still mountains surrounding us but instead of trees its houses. I mean every square piece of land is dispersed with old poverty shacks. Smack down in the middle are large skyscrapers and beautiful medieval churches mixed with modern sky trains and buses moving all around. This is why Colombia is on the rise to tourism. Just a masterpiece of beauty all over.

Back to the gondola...Chris and I jumped off the sky train and linked up with this ski gondola. Up and away we went. This time, no snow below but all shack houses. You get to see every bit of each house while the gondola slowly creeps up this massive concrete landscape. This ride went for about 45 minutes and 3 separate gondola stops. By the time we thought we got to the top you could see the entire city. It was truly an amazing site. Now, the gondola was going flat and through the jungle forest. Bike trails were everywhere and Mother Nature had taking over.

Finally we stop. Its cold, very green and filled with trees that surround the northwest back at home. The streets were paved and you just walk and find random nature trials to explore. The air was fresh and really felt like I was back home and nowhere near South America. It almost freaked me out a bit and we headed back to reality.

Down we went back into the city of Medellin. Now were looking in from the top and still can’t belief this scenery. If you didn’t know any better you would think it was mud and dirt in the distant hills, but they are all houses.

We got off the gondola and headed to the train station. Walking down the steps I noticed two friends of mine from the sailboat trip randomly! We start chatting and they ask us if we want to go to a bullfight tomorrow! Yes!

Get back to the hostel and told the guys to stop by because there was a big BBQ/party happening there tonight. That night was my first into to Medellin and how much they love to party. We pre-partied at the hostel until around midnight and then headed out. The city was covered with people and drinking in the streets, parks, corners, you name it. We all picked a spot at this park square and started to hang out. Later on headed out to some bars. All of which, these are stories you have to ask me in person, but it may or may not include rain, lots of people and a necessity for my drivers license.

Next day!

The previous night was notorious.

Woke up, ate some food and by this time it was ready to go to the bullfight. Chris and me rallied up a few new friends at the hostel to join us and we headed to “Exito” food to meet up with my friends from the sailboat trip. We hope in some taxis and drove off to this random bullfight event that I’ve been trying to see or curious to see for a while. We arrive at this stadium, typical ticket scalpers everywhere and some high-class people coming in. Women were dressed in nice tall cowboy boots and all cultured up while the men whore their hats and carried their sangria (wine) pouch around their arms. For us, we were trying to buy tickets for cheap. Two or three scalpers were battling against each other for our money and then we finally realized we could go to the ticket office and just buy tickets for cheaper. Haha, very strange ordeal.

Finally, we get in and the sponsor for the event was yogurt. So, we got free yogurt to watch bulls fight to there death. Again, strange. Again. We walk upstairs to this gladiator stadium where people are yelling “Olay” and then whispering to be quite as the dude waves his flag at the bull. We sat down, eating our yogurt and chanting when we needed to. The first 10 minutes was very boring, then all of a sudden the guy throws a sword into the bulls neck, then spears him 10 minutes later. All in all the bull had like 10 spears and swords in his body. The bull kept fighting and chasing the guy for revenge. The bullfighter finally smashed this sword into his neck and the bull just sat down and gave up. Huffing and puffing the fighter came over to it, waved to the crowd and then slit its next. Blood shot out like a fountain and the bull’s body just kicked out and crooked. Then they tied up the bull and drug him out of the stadium. Very savage and we were all holding our breaths. This happened within a minute so none of us were prepared for this massacre. It got down and we were yelling with concern and anxiety. 

This was the first fight and the event had two more hours left. Long story short, we watched two more and couldn’t handle it anymore and left.

We got back to the hostel and made a giant hostel dinner with my new friends and began to party again (cause its Medellin right?)

Ask me again because this night was also notorious and full of some random stories. Maybe there were balloons, run down buildings and Colombian women, oh and my friend Stefan showed up and joined the group for the adventure.

Overall, Medellin is one beautiful place and stories beyond stories happened here. Most of which need conversations in person but this is a great glimpse of Colombian lifestyle. These people are amazing and are on the rise to showing the world what they offer. Easily, one of my favorite counties on this trip.