Luckily for me, and my wallet, I learned via Twitter that he’s playing a show in Medellin Saturday, September 11, 2010.

Indeed, I imagine the 10,000-seat Plaza de Toros La Macarena will be off the hook that night, which is exactly why I bought tickets. I’ll be there along with thousands of screaming girls and their boyfriends, brothers, husbands and dates.

Daddy Yankee is clearly the main draw, however a popular Puerto Rican American salsa singer, Victor Manuelle, is also on the bill. In true Colombian style, attendees will get some salsa mixed with their reggaeton. Other opening acts include Pipe Pelaez, Jutha y Small, and Golpe a Golpe.

Tickets are (still) available at 3 price levels:

• 55,000 pesos ($30) = general admission
• 95,000 pesos ($50) = preferred area (in the middle of the stadium)
• 150,000 pesos ($80) = VIP section (closest to the stage)

Tickets can be purchased online via Ticket Express, or in person at several shops and malls around Medellin.  When purchasing the tickets in person, be sure to bring cash unless you have a Colombian debit or credit card.

Doors open at 6pm, and the show starts at 8pm.

I’ll provide a wrap-up of the event next week, however to avoid any trouble with pickpockets, I’ll probably leave my camera and BlackBerry at home.

If I happen to run into Daddy Yankee himself, you’ll just have to trust me.

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

This week, the Medellin international jazz festival is in full swing.  Running from September 2-11, musicians from Italy, Cuba, the United States, Holland, and around Colombia are performing in 6 concerts for the city’s jazz aficionados.

The primary location for the headlining acts is El Club de Jazz del Parque Comercial El Tesoro, with other events taking place on Carrera 70 and in the convention center at Plaza Mayor.  (El Tesoro is a modern shopping mall in the Poblado neighborhood.)

Concert Schedule:

8pm, Thursday, September 2, 2010 – Carrera 70, between Calles 46 and 47 (free)

• Big Band Universidad EAFIT (Colombia)
• The Big Bones (Colombia)

8pm, Saturday, September 4, 2010 – Plaza Mayor (free)

• Ialsax Quartet (Italy)
• Green Monkey (Colombia)

9pm, Wednesday, September 8, 2010 – Club de Jazz Parque Comercial El Tesoro (free w/ticket)

• Holambia (Holland and Colombia)

9pm, Thursday, September 9, 2010 – Club de Jazz Parque Comercial El Tesoro (ticket required)

• Spanish Harlem Orquesta (USA)

9pm, Friday, September 10, 2010 – Club de Jazz Parque Comercial El Tesoro (ticket required)

• Chucho Valdes & Los Afrocuban Messengers (Cuba)

9pm, Saturday, September 11, 2010 – Club de Jazz Parque Comercial El Tesoro (ticket required)

• Poncho Sanchez y Su Orquesta (USA)

For additional information, including ticket prices:

• Facebook: Festival de Jazz Medellin 2010
• Call 316-0987
• E-mail medejazz@une.net.co

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

I discovered Silvestre Dangond while living in Medellin last year thanks to his super catchy song Me Gusta, Me Gusta.

This year, I’m enamored with Cantinero which I’ve been hearing in the bars.  Silvestre is a vallenato singer, and an easy way to distinguish this distinct style of Colombian music is to listen for the accordion.

Juancho de la Espriella is the accordionist playing with Silvestre in the song.

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Scenes from San Andres

While living here in Medellin I had decided that I would try to see as much of Colombia as possible, and so earlier this month, I set out to visit the small and relatively unknown island of San Andres, Colombia (located off of Nicaragua’s coast, just about 2.5 hours from Medellin by air). The island was an absolute paradise, and pretty inexpensive (if thinking in US $) which made the vacation one of the best I’ve ever taken.

I stayed at one of the Decameron hotels, Mar Azul, on the island (there were about 4 of them I believe) and I have nothing to complain about. The hotel grounds were wonderfully covered in local tropical flowers and bright greenery. The rooms were clean and air-conditioned, the food was great (we were able to use all of the Decameron hotel restaurants, not just our hotel’s), the drinks were strong, and the ocean views were breathtaking.

Although the hotel had tons to offer, I chose to step out and explore the island a bit more, and after seeing golf cart rental spots, I knew exactly how I’d get myself around. My family and I rented an 8 person golf cart (which only cost about $70 US for the entire day) and we drove around the entire island in one short afternoon making a few highly recommended pit stops along the way.

First we stopped on the beach in front of the Decameron San Diego hotel to snorkel along the coast. I was completely surprised by the amount of vibrantly colored fish living in the shallow and crowded waters. Then we stopped at the “hoyo soplador” (blowhole) which was located half way around the island. To my disappointment, an overly excited tour guide/ local (not sure which one of the two he really was) told me that the hole wouldn’t be blowing that day because the ocean had been relatively calm. I guess he saw the frown on my face and so he offered me a local drink called “Coco Loco” (crazy coconut) which immediately cheered me up and gave me quite the buzz!

Other day trips I took while visiting San Andres included boat rides out to two small keys… the Acuario (aquarium) and Johnny Key (visiting both cost about $10 USD). The Acuario was an amazingly tiny key about 3 minutes off of the shore where we were able to use our snorkels to swim around with the local fish and sting rays. Johnny Key was a bigger key, just about 10 minutes away from the Acuario, which had the whitest sand and bluest ocean water I had ever seen. Johnny Key also offered cabana rentals, fresh seafood and my local favorite Coco Loco.

Scuba diving in San Andres

On our family vacation we decided to save the very best part of our trip for last, scuba diving. I had never been diving before but I had always wanted to learn and San Andres made that happen for me and my family. Our scuba instructor drove us on the back of a pick-up truck to the lower end of the island, where most of the island’s coast is made up of rock walls.

We got into our scuba gear and jumped off of the side of a small rock into the bright blue Caribbean Sea. We were able to swim up to the coral reef and through an underground cave and I had the chance to see plants and fish that I had never even known existed. I would have stayed under there for hours, but after about one hour, my tank was out of air and I was forced to head back up.

San Andres is an amazing place with very friendly and laid-back locals, just as beautiful and rare as Medellin but with an ocean which makes it all the better!

_______

**As a quick end note, San Andres is still an up and coming vacation spot. The island locals and Colombia are working on making it better and better every day so if you’re looking for a Miami, Florida or Cancun, Mexico type vacation San Andres might not be the right vacation for you.

Written by Ana

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Evidently, Seth is kicking off his new position with a multi-month journey from Brazil to New York City, and he made sure to visit a few towns in southern Colombia. I remember being in Cartagena in early July while Seth was tweeting his way into Colombia. He’d already visited the bigger cities, such as Medellin and Cartagena, which is why he was more focused on some of the lesser known areas.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAvFcP2uNZY

______

Written by David Lee

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Scenes from La Cabalgata in Medellin

Every year around this time Medellin, the “City of Eternal Spring”, explodes into a colorful and vibrant week long celebration. La Feria de las Flores, the Flower Festival, honors the regions flower industry, one of the largest suppliers in the world. The festival, which has been alive for over five decades, delivers all sorts of entertainment to Paisas and tourists from around the world.

Last Saturday, the main streets along the Medellin River where shut down for the annual Cabalgata (which can best be translated into “the horse & drunk cowboy parade”). Thousands of horses, cowboys, and cowgirls (more than I had expected to see) poured into Medellin and set out for a day full of riding and partying.

A group of friends and I set up a tent along one of the main roads first thing Saturday morning and we waited for the parade to begin. We barbecued and drank tons of Aguardiente and ron (rum), and by the time the parade kicked off, we were well into our tailgate.

A number of different military groups led the parade dressed in full uniform. As they marched through the streets of Medellin, the crowd cheered them on and the men and women smiled and saluted. A sense of honor and pride for Colombia grew stronger and stronger among the crowd as these brave men and women continued leading the parade.

Most of the cowboys and cowgirls that followed were dressed in traditional Paisa gear… a poncho, a sombrero, boots, and a bottle of Aguardiente attached to their mouths. As the day progressed the parade slowly evolved into a city wide party where the cowboys/girls began offering onlookers free rides and liquor and the crowd began offering the mounted men and women arepas and chorizo.

The Cabalgata is definitely an event worth experiencing and it’s a true representation of what Medellin is all about… family, friends, good food, and a great time!

_________

This post was written by Ana Rodriguez.

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Jacob taking in the view from our balcony in Envigado.

Moving to Medellin was not a decision that I took lightly. Not only did I have to consider my life and how it would change but I also had to consider how the move would impact Jacob, my dog.

I had heard of dogs being quarantined for days, and even weeks, in airports around the world and I did NOT want my dog to have to suffer because of our move. Finding useful information (online or over the phone) about importing a dog into Colombia was one hard task but I managed to get everything together and I was able to bring him along for the ride.

This may seem like a bit much, but here’s everything I did in order to get my dog into Colombia…

1. Call the airline you’re traveling with and reserve a spot for your dog. (Yes, you are making reservations for your dog!)

Do this whether your dog will be traveling in the cabin with you or down below with the luggage. This should be done ASAP because airlines only allow a specific number of pets on each flight and the spots fill up quickly.

2. Check the USDA website for any new information regarding pet travel.

The specific page dealing with dogs traveling into Colombia was last updated in September of 1994 but the requirements have not changed. I followed the directions and I had no problems getting Jacob into the country.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/downloads/co_cn.pdf

Jacob all packed and ready to go!

3. Make an appointment with your dog’s veterinarian no more than 10 days prior to travel.

During this visit your veterinarian should fill out an International Health Certificate for your dog. Double check all of the information to be sure that everything has been filled out correctly. (My veterinarian wrote down that my dog was a Chihuahua but he’s a Miniature Pinscher… so proofread!) At this time the veterinarian might give your dog any other vaccinations that he/she might need in order to get into Colombia.

If you have an overly hyperactive dog, like I do, you might want to ask your veterinarian for some calming aids. My dog slept for hours on the airplane thanks to the calming aids!!!!

4. Send the International Health Certificate to the Veterinarian Services Area Office to get endorsed.

Each state has one of these offices and you can find your states by following this link:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/

Keep in mind that the health certificate should be endorsed in the state in which you are traveling from, not necessarily the state in which you live (I lived in New Jersey but I left from New York, so I got Jacob’s health certificate endorsed in NY). You will have to send a check/ money order with your dog’s health certificate in order for them to process your request. I think it costs about $35 USD. You might also want to include a pre-paid, over night, self addressed envelope so that the office sends the certificate back ASAP. You will only have about a week before traveling to send this paperwork out and get it back!

5. On the day of the trip:

• Bring the endorsed International Health Certificate (I also brought all of Jacob’s veterinary records and the original copy of his rabies shot)
• You will have to pay a fee to the airline for traveling with your dog whether he/she is traveling in the cabin or down below (Avianca charged me $100 USD)
• DON’T FORGET THE CALMING AIDS!!!!

Once you arrive in Colombia you will have to stop in at the DAS office before leaving the airport with your dog. They will make sure that all of your dog’s paperwork is in check and they will also charge you 50,000 COP (which I was not aware of).

Medellin is such a dog friendly place, so if you plan on visiting or moving consider bringing your dog with you. I’ve been to many side-walk restaurants to eat, parks, and shopping centers and they have always welcomed Jacob. I hope I didn’t miss any information here. Be sure to call your airline and the closest Colombian embassy for any new information!

______

This post was written by Ana Rodriguez.

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Paisas watch the historic fireworks display over Medellin. (Photo: alrroya.com)

I arrived in Medellin just in time for Colombia’s 200th anniversary. The Bicentenario, bicentennial, was celebrated just as we celebrate the independence of our country. Everyone shows their pride for Colombia by hanging yellow, blue, and red flags from their balconies, windows and cars. Colombian’s take a long weekend and spend time with friends and family. They bar-b-q and drink for four days straight. Then finally they end it off with a bang… FIREWORKS!

This year the country of Colombia went all out with its celebration and spent an estimated 1.5 million US dollars on their never before seen fireworks display. The fireworks took place on Monday, July 19th at 7pm. Unfortunately I, and thousands of others, wasn’t able to make it down to the Medellin River in order to see the show in person.

I left my apartment in Envigado at 5 pm but there were no taxi’s or buses driving down to the river due to crazy amounts of traffic. I then walked down to the Metro station and proceeded to wait on a line of about 300 people in order to buy my Metro ticket. About 30 minutes into this I was advised that the Metro was no longer running due to the large amounts of people already at the site of the fireworks.

I rushed back home and made it just in time to catch the fireworks display on TV. They turned out to be way better than I had anticipated and I can honestly say that they were just as amazing as the NYC 4th of July fireworks display.

Nice job Medellin… Happy 200th birthday Colombia!!!

_______

Written by Ana Rodriguez

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

View toward the San Diego neighborhood in Medellin.

A year and three days after leaving Medellin in 2009, I once again rode a shuttle bus from Jose Maria Cordova International Airport down into my favorite semi-tropical valley.  Unlike my first visit, I was arriving in the evening, so instead of being greeted by green mountains and blue skies, I saw twinkling city lights all around.

It was the eve of Colombia’s bicentennial Independence Day celebration, and I missed by a few hours, what appears to have been a breathtaking fireworks display.

As the bus winded its way down the mountain roads, we passed people who had driven up to scenic viewpoints to watch the pyrotechnics.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9BtzdAwllg

The Aries shuttle dropped us off at a taxi stand near the regional Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport.  The scene was chaotic, as tired passengers matched up with drivers anxious to earn some money.  I got in the first cab, and presented the driver with the Itagui address of my friend (and Go Backpacking contributor) Troy.  The driver seemed to think either I, or my destination, was too much trouble, and kicked me out.  A second taxi also declined my fare.  The third time was a charm.

Upon reaching Troy’s apartment, I took the cash out of my wallet and peeled off enough pesos to cover the fare, plus a friendly tip.  I must not have put my wallet back in my jean pocket, because by the time I got up to Troy’s place, and dropped my bags in his room, I realized I didn’t have my wallet anymore.

Ironically, I had placed the wad of pesos in my pocket, leaving only my E*Trade ATM card, health insurance card, and Virginia driver’s license, along with a business card in the actual wallet.  Realizing I’d dropped my wallet, I looked down on the street from the balcony and didn’t see anything; the taxi was long gone, and I didn’t have a record of its license.

I cursed, and beat myself up for such a silly mistake.  I’ve never (ever) lost a wallet before, and suddenly I was experiencing deja vu, as last year when I arrived in Medellin, I didn’t have my ATM card as it had been stolen in Barcelona a few weeks prior.

I met one of Troy’s roommates, Wilson, his dog Toby, and his friend from Cali who was also visiting.  After a beer or two, and Troy’s offer to lend me money until I could get a replacement card FedEx’d to me, my blood pressure began to decline, and I spent the rest of the night exchanging stories with my future roommate.

July 20th - Independence Day concert in Itagui.

The next day, being a national holiday, meant a lot of shops were closed, however I made my way to Santa Fe, Medellin’s newest, and largest, mall.  Inside, I eventually found my way to an internet shop where I was able to send an international fax to my bank, E*Trade, authorizing them to reissue my debit card (what a pain, right?).

On my way back to Troy’s apartment that afternoon, I stumbled across an outdoor concert in a nearby park to commemorate Independence Day.  A large crowd was hanging out, watching and listening, as the sun went down.

It felt good to be back.

_______

Written by David Lee

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

The title seemed like a crass joke on a country and people (ok, the women mostly) I’d grown to appreciate in 2009.  The last thing I thought I’d do is review it here once it was released.

I met the author, Roosh, last year when he moved to Medellin to complete his South American travel memoir, A Dead Bat in Paraguay.  He struck me as a normal, down to Earth guy, with an uncanny drive to understand the social dynamics of dating women, whether in the USA or Latin America.  Perhaps it comes from his background in microbiology, but he has a knack for breaking down social experiences into their minutiae, and then being able to relay them to guys in simple terms so that they can learn how to better interact with women.

Dating can be hard enough in one’s own country.  Moving to another country where you don’t yet speak the language, nor understand the customs or culture, and it can feel especially confusing. The frustration factor can be especially high in Colombia, where the women (at least in this guy’s opinion) are especially alluring.

Don’t let the title fool you.  Bang Colombia, at its core, is a practical, 54-page “how to” guide for foreign men to date Colombian women in the most traditional sense.  Before Roosh had asked me to review his new Colombian girl guide, I’d already downloaded and read it, given I just arrived in Cartagena and was curious.

Everyone visits or lives in Colombia for different reasons.  Many foreign men visit solely for the prostitution (especially prevalent in Cartagena where there tourism is highest).  And I’ve seen firsthand in Medellin how others are seeking a wife, and pay matchmaking services to visit the country and spend time with a group of women looking to marry a Western man.

Roosh’s eBook and advice are at the opposite end of the courtship spectrum, and that’s why I feel comfortable writing about it on my blog.  While women may find his eBook (or sense of humor) in bad taste, I think it can be a big help to the single guys (of all ages) who visit Colombia.

In addition to offering practical advice about travel to Colombia, and learning Spanish, he relays numerous observations about the unique behaviors of Colombian women.  I was able to identify with almost all of them based on my adventures last year, so I can confidently say his eBook will help any guy make sense of how to go from meeting women to asking them out on a date (with minimal knowledge of Spanish), and then where to take them out.  He also recommends several online dating sites.  City-specific information is provided for Bogota, Medellin, and Cali.

Bang Colombia is currently available in three formats:  paperback, Kindle, and PDF download.

_______

Written by David Lee

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

So why am I heading back there? Here’s my story…

I’ve been working as a Spanish teacher in Jersey since I graduated in January of 2009. My job is a dream, my colleagues have slowly become good friends and my students are hysterical. I pictured myself staying at H—— School until my retirement but then came the most painful school budget cuts that the state of New Jersey has ever seen. Unfortunately for me (and for my students), the Spanish program was cut in half and being a non-tenured teacher put me on the chopping block.

I was devastated… but not for long. I had always dreamed of living in Medellin because I wanted to surround myself with its amazing landscapes, friendly people, delicious foods, and crazy nightlife. In mid April, after weeks of uncertainty at work, I received the best advice from the wisest woman I know. My mother, born and raised in Envigado, consoled me with these words, “Cuando una puerta se cierra, se abren muchas”. (Let me translate this for all of my Spanish challenged friends out there; When one door closes, many others open up!)

With that I took a quick trip over the Hudson River to visit the Colombian Embassy. In less than 2 hours I received my Colombian citizenship, passport, and “cedula”. Ironically enough, it took my mother 15 years to get her American citizenship & passport. This was yet another clear sign for me pointing directly towards MEDELLIN!

So here I am today… I find myself with a one-way ticket to Jose Maria Córdoba airport in Medellin, Colombia. I’m ecstatic to be sharing my journey with Medellin Living and everyone out there who’s interested in traveling to the undiscovered beauty that is Medellin.

I’ll be writing about my day-to-day life as I transition from an American citizen to a Colombian citizen. I’ll also be writing about some volunteer work I plan on taking part in, finding a job as an English teacher, local rock bars and exciting opportunities in and around Medellin. Enjoy!

_______

Written by Ana Rodriguez

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

The living room in my current apartment.

My bedroom in my current apartment.

1. Do your research. Colombian cities are organized into barrios (neighborhoods) and even neighborhoods in close physical proximity can be very different from one another.  Walk around the areas you are interested in at various times of day – talk to locals, look around and take note of the general ambiance of the place.  If possible, talk to someone who has lived in the city for awhile to get a sense of the different areas.
2. Prioritize. From my apartment I can walk to the gym, grocery store, a cafe, the soccer stadium, public transportation, and many bars/restaurants.  I am a ten minute cab ride from the main restaurant/going out area in Cali.  However, I commute to work about 30-45 minutes one way five days a week. For me, this is the perfect balance, however for others the commute to school would be too much. Decide what’s important to you and go with it.
3. Know your stratus. In Colombia, services like gas, energy and water are charged based on usage and based on strata. This means that people in more popular areas of a city generally pay more than people in less desirable parts of town.  For example, in Cali, people living in the barrio of El Ingenio (Status 6) pay considerably more than people living in the barrio of San Fernando (Status 4).
4. Administration. Many apartments in Colombia have administration fees that you pay in addition to your rent. These fees are generally for building maintenance and to pay the salary of the door person (or people). An administration fee will cost you a bit more, but if security is a concern for you, then a place with a 24 hour door person is a good idea.
5. Put on your walking shoes. While some owners will advertise in local newspapers (like El Pais in Cali) and foreigners will advertise places like the Lonely Planet travel forum, the majority of apartments are rented by signs in the windows. The best way to find a place is to walk around a neighborhood you like, write down phone numbers, and call the owners to inquire further.  If you like what you hear about number of rooms, price range, etc., then arrange to meet up so they can show you the apartment. Most will arrange to meet you that day or the next. (Note of caution: Call on weekdays as not much business is conducted on the weekends in Colombia)
6. Know your budget. On average most teachers at my school are paying around $175 – $200 USD per month for decent apartments, however you can find places considerably cheaper or considerably more expensive depending on your taste. If you plan to renew your lease after a few months or a year, try negotiating a lower price with your landlord.
7. Balcony = essential. You didn’t move to Colombia so you could bundle up next to the fireplace on cold winter nights. This country is absolutely stunning and the climate is generally warm (even in Bogota it heats up during the day!).  Basically, in my opinion, this beauty is best viewed from the comfort of your own hammock. Finding an apartment with a great balcony is not rare, so go out there and get it!
8. Find a co-signer. You will need a Colombian to co-sign your lease and basically give his/her word that you will be a reasonable tenant. If you find a job here, then often times they will help you with the paperwork and be the co-signers. Without employment, find a trustworthy friend to back you up.
9. Habla en español. Many apartments or houses are rented by individuals as opposed to large real estate corporations, which means the likeliness of the owner speaking English is somewhat limited. Bring your dictionary or a friend if your language skills are not quite up to par yet. Regardless of where you are at in your Spanish skills, most Colombians will appreciate any attempt you make at speaking to them, so give it a try!
10. If at first you do not succeed, try, try again. Walking around trying to see apartments may be frustrating at first, because you will see a lot of places and the “perfect” one may not appear until the 5th or 10th or 20th place you see. However, there are many options and they will all have something unique to offer, so if at first you do not find the place of your dreams, try again the next day.

Happy hunting!

Enjoy the beauty that is Colombia!

_______

Written by Kristin Radermacher

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

If you arrive in Colombia as a tourist, and decide to stay longer, you can take Spanish classes and extend your stay for up to 12 months on a student Visa.  Here’s how to do it…

Note: The school that you enroll with must be eligible to apply for Visa’s. Mostly Universities are approved. You need to study a minimum of 10 hours/week.

Step One: Enroll with approved school.
Step Two: Complete forms and make all necessary photocopies.
Step Three: Get registration form notarized (signed by official).
Step Four: Take all documents and passport to Ministry of Immigration in Bogota or pay an Agency.
Step Five: Take all necessary documents to DAS within 15 days of obtaining Visa.

Forms You Need for Immigration:

- Official application for the Visa and why you want one.
- Copy of Passport and copy of tourist visa entry stamp page.
- 2x photos: Must be a white background and size 3×3.
- Certificate of administration from the school/University you will be studying at — this needs to be notarized at a notaria cinco -- see below.
- Certificate of authentication from the school — to show that school is registered to apply for Student Visas.
- Print out of your bank statement showing the amount you have to live on while in Colombia.

Visa costs: 80,000 COP

Take it to all to the Ministry or an agency.

NOTE: To get the Visa, you need to go to the Ministry of Immigration in BOGOTA.

You can do all the above from Medellin – it costs a little extra. There are some agencies that can do all the sending and Visa organizations for you. You supply all the necessary documents (photocopies ect) they check through it all, and send it off with your passport. It takes about 5 days.

2 Agencies in Medellin:

- TLICOLOMBIA: www.tlicolombia.com
Calle 16A Sur #48B,La Aquacatala, Medellin, Colombia. Ask for Natalie

Costs: 300,000 COP

- International Document Management: www.inter-col.com

Notaria Cinco

The Certificate of registration (from the university) must be notarized (ie. Signed by an official). You will need to find a Notaria Cinco. It is like a registry office for all official business (getting married, etc).

Upon showing your certificate and asking “para autenticar esto por favor,” your form will be stamped and dated, and then you sign and fingerprint it (with your index finger).

Costs:  2,800 COP

You then take it to the official to sign.

For DAS

After you receive your Visa, you have 15 days to find a DAS (Department of Security) to get your official ID card. Failure to do this within 15 days results in a massive fine.

Deposit 139,800 COP into the account in Banco De Bogota.
Empresarial Fondo Rotatorio D.A.S
Nro. 43491140-0

You will need to bring:

- Original deposit slip, and 2 photocopies.
- Application form.
- 2x photocopies of your passport.
- 2x photocopies of your Visa.
- 2x photocopies of your entry stamp.
- 3x passport photos with a blue background 3X4.
- 2x copies of the blood test results to show your blood type.
- Copy of acceptance of registration certificate from your university.

To Study at UPB in Medellin (Univeridad Pontificia Bolicariana)

Course name: Programa de Español para extranjeros ESPEX- Spanish Program for Foreigners.
At  UPB: Building 6, level 1-Centre for languages
Ask for Gustavo Jaramillo Cardona.
He’s the co-coordinator and has all the necessary forms you will need to fill out.

What you need for UBP Medellin:

- 2x Passport photocopies.
- 50% of the course amount you intend on studying for. For example, if you want a 6 month visa, you need to pay 3 months worth of the course fees. (Note: if you pay for more than 120 hours you get a 10% discount.)
- Copy of Travel Insurance Certificate.

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

A Little Background Information

The president of Colombia is elected by popular vote to a four year term.  Many past presidents have been elected from the traditional two parties, liberal and conservative.  However, Colombia does have an established multi-party system, so candidates from non-dominant parties also have a reasonable chance of being elected.  The first round of elections happened yesterday, May 30, with 12 different candidates on the ballot.  Since no one candidate received more than 50% of the vote, there will be a runoff election with the two leading candidates, Santos and Mockus on Sunday, June 20.

Current Political Environment

Well known as a tough conservative and a rare US ally in Latin America, current president Alvaro Uribe will leave after eight years (2002 -2010) as the Colombian president.  He remains well loved by his people for his strong attitude towards the guerrilla and illegal drug trafficking.  In fact, until about six months ago, many expected Uribe to run for a third term.  However, after the Colombian court refected Uribe’s referendum to change to Colombian constitution in favor of a third term, he gracefully withdrew from the race.

Leading Candidates

The front runners in this election could not be more different from one another in their past experiences, their parties, or their vision for Colombia’s future.  While both could be positive influences in Colombia’s future, only one will truly be chosen to lead the country into a post-Uribe era.

Juan Manuel Santos

Official campaign photo for Santos.

With the slogan “Para seguir avanzando, Santos Presidente”  (To continue moving forward, Santos for president), the ex-defense minister to the Uribe administraction hopes to continue the legacy of El Partido de U (The Unity Party).  According to his Colombia Reports profile, “Juan Manuel Santos is a Colombian politician, journalist and economist, who comes from one of Colombia’s most influential family dynasties. He is the great-nephew of former Colombian President Eduardo Santos, who was the owner of newspaper El Tiempo, and grandson of journalist Eduardo Santos. He is also the cousin of current Vice President Francisco Santos.”  Santos is the obvious choice for Colombians who support Uribe and want to see his agenda followed fairly closely.  Followers can read updates from the candidate on Twitter @UneteaSantos

Antanas Mockus

Mockus campaigns at a rally with supports in the classic green of his campaign.

Amidst the well recognized symbols of sunflowers and pencils, is Antanas Mockus, with his slogan “Con educacion, todo se puede” (With education, everything is possible).  As the candidate for the Partido Verde (Green Party) Mockus has been called “the Colombian Obama” for a number of reasons, including his “underdog” status (as described here), his “anti-politician” nature, his “outsider” status as someone who typically avoids the typically corrupt political scene of Latin America, and also his use of social media (Facebook and Twitter @AntanasMockus) to connect with voters.  He believes that ideas win votes. As his Colombia Reports profile states, Mockus is known throughout Colombia for his unconventional tactics as Bogota’s two term mayor.  Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease during the campaign, Mockus has run a strong and determined campaign.

My friend Stephanie and me (left) at a Mockus rally in Cali, Colombia.

I had the opportunity to attend a Mockus rally here in Cali.  For me, the excitement and enthusiasm radiating from the supporters at the rally really emphasized for me the spirit of Colombia and the pride people have in their country. Hooray democracy! For a full account of the rally, read my own blog post on the event.

First Round Results (As reported by elecciones.com.co)

Juan Manuel Santos – 46.56%
Antanas Mockus – 21.49%
German Vargas Lleras – 10.13%
Gustavo Petro – 9.16%
Noemi Sanin – 6.14%
Rafael Pardo – 4.38%

Santos shows his supporters he is all smiles after receiving a shockingly high percentage of initial votes in Sunday's first round election.

Yesterday as the results came in, it became clear that Juan Manuel Santos won the first round with about 47% of the popular vote.  Today, the two candidates will meet with their teams as they aim to make the most of the next 20 days in yet another race to the finish.  While anything can certainly happen, many are commenting that Mockus’ percentage is too far behind Santos’ for him to catch up.  However, only time will tell us the fate of Colombia’s future…

A cartoon from Colombia Reports depicts "The End of Sunflower Season" as Santos crushes the well known symbol of his opponent Mockus.

Further Reading

For more information by people who know way more about politics than I do, please investigate one of these reliable sources. Happy reading

• El Tiempo, Juan Manuel Santo se ruene a esta hora con el presidente Uribe en la Casa de Nariño (Español)
• Washington Times, Colombian Presidential Vote Set for June Runoff (English)
• CBS, Colombia Runoff: Ex Defense Minister vs. Mockus (English)
• Boston Globe, FARC foe will Face Runoff in Colombia (English)
• New York Times, Ex-defense Chief Leads Colombia (English)

_______

Written by Kristin Radermacher

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Carlos Gardel Sign in Buenos Aires. Picture by jglsong. Licenced under Creative Commons

One of the nice things about having traveled through most South American countries, and getting to spend big chunks of time in each one is that you start noticing and recognizing similarities between them. In the 18 months since I left Europe I’ve spent the most time in Argentina and Colombia, two countries that culturally are not that close. Colombia has a much more “latin”, Andean feel whereas Argentina, or Buenos Aires at the very least has a very (Southern) European vibe going on.

Medellin however, does have one very direct link to Argentina and this is Carlos Gardel. If you’re not South American, nor have you spent any length of time in Buenos Aires, then you may be forgiven in not knowing who this is.

Simply put, Carlos Gardel is Tango.

Born in the late 1880s (controversy still rages about whether he was born in Argentina, Uruguay or France)  he grew up in the Absato barrio of Buenos Aires and came to prominence in the early 1920s with his rich baritone interpretations of the tango-canción. Throughout the 20s and 30s Gardel was, to put it simply, a superstar. He toured all over South America, New York, Paris, Barcelona, selling thousands of records and appearing in several early Hollywood movies.

Tragically, however this all came to an end in 1935 when he died in a plane crash in Medellin. Popular there at the time, his death cemented the link between the Paisa people and the boy from Abasto, a link that still lives on to this day. Medellin has a few places where you can enjoy the silky smooth sounds of Gardel and even has a Tango Festival. This page, written by two tango fanatics, gives more details of the places to visit in the Tango scene.

So, when the Salsa and Vallenato all get a bit much, slip on your high heels (the ladies too!), head down to your local milonga and pay tribute to the King, Carlos Gardel.

Tango in Black. Picture by zabara_tango. Licenced under Creative Commons.

Written by Jonathan Evans.

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Arrecifes Beach, Tayrona

Having National Park status since the 1970′s has protected Tayrona (the name comes from the local indigenous tribes who believed the area to be sacred) and here you’ll find none of the high-rise developments that are beginning to scar other areas of Colombia’s coastal regions.

Entrance to the park costs 34,000 COP for non-nationals and 12,000 COP for locals; from the main entrance a minibus will take you (for another 2,000 COP) to Canaveral where there is a campsite and some expensive eco-lodgings.

Boulders, Arrecifes Beach, Tayrona

At this point, you find yourself in a jungle, surrounded by green on all sides, but not a beach in sight. For this, you have two options – hire a horse to take you and your stuff the 4km to the shore, or you put on your backpack, do your laces up, take a swig of water and walk.

It’s not a hard walk, but it can be a bit strenuous with a full load, and so it’s with great joy that you arrive at Arrecifes, the first beach you’ll come to.

If, at this point, you are expecting white sands, palm-fringed beaches and a crystal clear Caribbean, Arrecifes will be a disappointment. The first sign you see warns you not to swim unless you wish to join the 200 people known to have drowned there; The Blue Lagoon this is not.

What it is, however, is one of the wildest and most beautiful beaches I’ve seen. The sand is white and the backdrop is pure jungle and mountains rising high above.  The sea is littered with enormous house-sized boulders buffed glass-smooth over thousands of years by the water.

Once you pass Arrecifes (although you can stay there, either camping or in a hammock) the scenery becomes a little more as you were led to expect.

A 20-minute walk along the beach, scrambling over boulders, brings you to La Piscina, a long narrow beach protected from the worst of the waves by an offshore reef where it’s safe to swim and snorkel. Another 20 minutes of walking, and you come to Cabo San Juan where there is a large campsite, restaurant and room for plenty of hammocks.

San Juan has two protected beaches of its own, on either side of a spit of land.  Beyond are two more, both larger, longer and wilder – the last one being a nudist beach and given its remoteness, you can return to Mother Nature and are unlikely to be disturbed by anyone save the occasional sand crab scuttling into its burrow.

La Piscina, Tayrona

For some more practical information, see the Surviving Tayrona post on my blog.

_______

Written by Jonathan Evans

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Approaching EOH Airport

The first time I went to Medellin I took the bus from Pereira. Although bus travel is the cheapest and most available form of travel across Colombia, I was ready to get out and hike home after a few hours on the bus because I was so sick. After almost seven hours of altitude and motion-induced vomiting, I knew I was going to have to find another way home.

Luckily, Colombia has a number of low-cost airlines, and many have flights from Medellin. Although I love Avianca, Colombia’s main airline, it tends to be expensive unless there is a sale or discount on a certain period of travel. (I’ve flown round-trip to Bogota for less than $100 on Avianca, but sometimes those flights are around $300!)

For domestic travel in Colombia, I love Aires. The first time I flew with them was after that bus trip to Medellin. My flight to Pereira from Medellin lasted 30 minutes, was only $60, and allowed me to spend an extra day enjoying my favorite Colombian city. I’ve been addicted ever since. Aires offers incredibly affordable flights (I recently flew round-trip to Medellin and paid $118 for two people) and flies into places that aren’t always served by other major airlines.

Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport

The best part about flying with Aires, however, is the Olaya Herrera Airport.

Although not all domestic flights leave from the Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport (airport code EOH), if you find one that does, definitely consider it first. It was recently remodeled for the South American Games, and it looks better than it has in years.

More importantly, it is a convenient, 5 minute, 5,000 peso taxi ride from the Poblado Metro Station and it is also located next to the South Bus Terminal. In comparison, the international airport in Medellin, Jose Maria Cordova, is actually in Rionegro. It takes at least 30 minutes to get to the airport, and a taxi to or from the Rionegro airport starts at 50,000 pesos (around $25) from Poblado. It’s a huge price difference; if you are flying round-trip it could save you $40 easily!

Aires, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Satena, and EasyFly all offer flights to and from EOH. Destinations from Medellin include Cali, Pereira, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, and of course, Bogota. Bogota’s domestic and international terminals are virtually next to each other, and from Bogota it’s easy to get an international or domestic flight to somewhere more exotic, like Leticia.

To find cheap flights, check airline websites and use EOH for your flight code if you want to fly in or out of Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport.

_______

Written by Melody Stratton

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Man on Horse, Medellin

A local boy, born in Medellin in 1932 Botero has been producing paintings and sculptures in his distinctive style for the last 50 years. Much of his work takes classically recognized genres, such as the portrait and still life, and “fatifies” them. Other pictures deal with more contemporary issues such as the shooting of Pablo Escobar or his portrait of FARC boss Tirofijo, but all of them using the same unmistakable style.

Museo Botero, Bogota

A lot of the time however, Botero just seems to have fun. The sculptures in Botero Plaza are a great example of this – the cat and the man on a horse being my favorites, but see also his Mona Lisa. The Museo de Antioquia on the same square as the sculptures has a great permanent exhibition as does the Museo Botero in Bogota (which is free) – both are great places to spend a few hours in the company of Colombia’s biggest (in every sense of the word) artist.

Mona Lisa, Museo Botero, Bogota

_______

Written by Jonathan Evans

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Walking across the tarmac at Medellin's international airport.

As a follow-up to Kristen’s earlier post about transportation in Colombia, I thought I would share some helpful tips about flying within the country. Many visitors to Colombia are surprised by how check-in and security work at Colombian airports. The process is simple, but is quite different from flying in the U.S.A. Here are a few tips about what to expect.

First of all, no matter where you are flying in Colombia, it is always a good idea to arrive at least 2 hours early before a domestic flight and 3 hours early for an international flight. If you are flying domestically and you have a Colombian ID, you will not need your passport. If you do not have a Colombian ID, you will definitely need a passport.

Once you arrive at the airport, you may have to wait to check-in, especially for international flights, because airlines only allow check-in at certain times. Arrive early anyway—a line often forms near the check-in desk before it opens, and you definitely want to be one of the first people in line. After check-in, you may need to pay an airport tax if you are flying internationally. Be prepared to pay it in cash.

A long line will form even before the check-in desk opens. (MDE Airport)

The most important difference between flying in Colombia and the States is when you are allowed to go through security. In the United States and Europe, we usually go through security immediately after we check in for a flight. After security there are restaurants and food vendors, and we may wait for two hours (or more if the flight is delayed) after we pass through security. This is not how it works in Colombia.

Instead, after you have checked in you will have to wait until your flight is allowed to enter the “waiting room.” Watch electronic boards, listen to announcements, and ask the staff to find out when your flight is allowed to enter the waiting room. (It is usually 1 hour to 30 minutes before, but may be earlier if it is an international flight.)

Some small airlines use propeller planes, which can fly closer to the mountains and offer great views.

You go through security when you enter the waiting room. You will not be allowed to go through security before your flight is allowed to enter the waiting room. Most airports do not have food available in the waiting rooms, but there are always bathrooms. When it is time to board your flight, someone will make an announcement in the waiting room and will then lead you to the plane. Don’t be surprised if you are lead across the tarmac—only a few airports in Colombia have walkways connecting the plane to the gate.

Finally, if you are flying within Colombia, make sure you keep the stickers for your luggage. Baggage claims are secure in Colombia, and only people who have just disembarked from a flight will be allowed to enter. You will need to show your baggage sticker (which you receive at the check-in gate) to take your luggage out of the airport.

In addition, if you are flying into Colombia from an international destination, a customs officer may search your bags. After you have shown your luggage sticker and someone has checked your bags (if necessary) you are free to go. If someone is waiting for you, it will be just after baggage claim.

Happy flying!

_________

Written by Melody Stratton

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Front row seat on the bus from Barranquilla to Cartagena

One thing which can’t be avoided when traveling round Colombia is the Colombian bus. Before coming here I had done the majority of my bus travel in Argentina where the buses are truly the cream of the crop and the humble backpacker is spoiled for quality and choice. Colombia (like most of South America to be fair) does not have this quality, so as I was sitting on a bus from Cali to Bogota at 3am this morning, unable to sleep, I came up with the following ideas which could hopefully make things go a little more smoothly.

1. Choose the right company

The moment you walk into most Colombian bus terminals with your backpack on, you are mobbed by a veritable horde of men shouting potential destinations at you. There is a great temptation to go with the first voice you hear shouting out the place you’re are traveling to and buy from him (or the booth he takes you to). Don’t do this.

The best company in Colombia is called Bolivariano and where possible, I recommend buying tickets from them (and only them) directly. This is based on many conversations with Colombians who all travel Bolivariano, for 3 main reasons. Firstly they have a modern bus fleet, secondly they only stop to pick up and drop off in terminals, not on the side of the road, and lastly each bus has 2 drivers who swap every 4 hours.

The downside of Bolivariano is that they are not cheap; I’m not sure if they are the most expensive but they can cost a lot. In addition, they don’t operate on the Caribbean Coast, so any trip to Santa Marta or Cartagena cannot be done with them. Alternatives for that area are Brasilia or Bucaramanga-based Copetran.

2. Wrap up warm

Colombian buses are COLD. Whatever the outside temperature, the air-con inside the bus will be set at approximately -15C. Always, take a long sleeve top, (or for a night trip) blanket or sleeping bag if you have them. You won’t look stupid, all the locals do it.

3. Food and drink

You won’t get fed on a bus in Colombia. On a daytime journey you’ll stop once at an expensive and usually poor quality restaurant where you can eat something warm or buy junk from a kiosk. Neither are particularly satisfying, so bring food & drink, stuff you like!

4. Choose your spot

Here’s a tip for night buses – don’t sit too near the front if you can help it. I learned this the hard way last night. Once the film has finished (which will probably have either Vin Diesel or Jason Statham in it), all may be quiet in the body of the bus, but the drivers will be up front grooving to the latest in Colombian beats. And you’ll be able to hear it too!

On the other hand, I’ve heard of people avoiding the back because of the proximity to the toilets.  Personally, this has never been a problem for me, but whatever works for you.

5. Be safe

Security is obviously an important subject, especially in Colombia, and it never hurts to be too cautious. I would recommend never putting anything of value in your backpack that goes in the hold, never put your hand luggage in the overhead rack (especially at night), and take your hand luggage with you at food stops. Apart from that, the usual common sense tips apply, as always when traveling.

6. Enjoy the ride

Despite being too tall to comfortably sit in a seat for 9 hours, the bad food stops, the insane drivers, ridiculous overtaking maneuvers, the non-stop vallenato music and the freezing temperatures, after 20 or so journeys in Colombia I still don’t dread it.  I simply love sitting by the window watching the world go by. To me, this is traveling. At every moment you a getting a glimpse of Colombian life and it’s fascinating. Where else would you get to see 2 men and 2 (dead) pigs on a motorbike?

When talking about the overall bus experience, people often say to me, “Oh, you should look at flights, they’re not much more expensive than the bus!” I always tell them that I’d never thought of that and that I’ll look into it next time, but in fact, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I just love watching the world go by too much to do anything different.

_______

Written by Jonathan Evans

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Melody in Jardin Botanico

Two years ago, I was offered a job working with Colombian students who were going to participate in an English immersion program at my university. I was just beginning my graduate studies in TESOL and was happy to accept the job, but I was extremely curious about these Colombian students.

First of all, I wasn’t entirely sure where Colombia was (somewhere in South America? Maybe in the jungle?) and all I could remember ever hearing about Colombia were news reports about drugs and Plan Colombia and cartels and paramilitaries and Pablo Escobar and… well, nothing that made me want to jump on a plane and check it out, if you know what I mean.

That summer made me reconsider and reevaluate all of my preconceptions about Colombia. The students (between ages  9 and 14) that I worked with were clever and funny. They spoke English and played soccer and tried to talk me into taking them to Taco Bell every day. They certainly didn’t act like children who had been brought up in the middle of conflict and drug violence. They had iPods and laptops and cameras that were nicer than mine. In fact, within ten minutes of meeting them I realized that I knew absolutely nothing about the real Colombia.

I’ve lived in Colombia now since January of this year, and before that I was here for a lovely 6 week stint as a volunteer teacher last summer. I may not be Colombian or speak the language perfectly (yet), but I definitely know where the country is, how to cook an arepa, and why jugo de lulo is the best thing you’ve never heard of in Colombia.

Swinging in Salento, a small town in the coffee region.

I’m going to help contribute to Medellin Living by writing about traveling opportunities in (and near) Colombia, and I’ll also be writing helpful tips regarding living in Colombia, such as how to laundry at an affordable price.

While I don’t currently live in Medellin, I do live in Pereira, which is also in the “Paisa” region of Colombia. As Pereira is just a quick 35 minute plane ride away from Medellin, I love to visit and will be happy to share my adventures with you.

Hasta luego!

p.s. If you’re interested in hearing a more personal account of my time in Colombia and Pereira, please check out my blog at www.barelyamerican.blogspot.com.

_________

Written by Melody Stratton

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Buses

• For most Colombians, buses are the primary means to travel between cities.  Buses are safe, cost-efficient and sometimes can even be taken overnight to save you money on a hotel. Depending on how far you are going and the terrain, you may be in a small buseta, or for longer journeys, a large coach bus.  Unless you are traveling during a busy time like Christmas or Semana Santa (Holy Week) tickets can always be bought the day of travel right at the bus station. At this time you can usually see the bus you will be riding in, so if that is important to you, feel free to ask for a view!
• One thing to keep in mind is that the bus terminal can be a bit intimidating and sometimes a welcome spot for crime,  just because there are so many people coming and going.  Make sure to watch your things closely and try to have a plan in place when you arrive at the station.  Most terminals in Colombia, including Bogota, Cali, and Medellin have websites where you can plan out your trip in advance, so that you know which bus company window to go to and about how much the ticket will cost.
• If silence (or sleep) is essential to you when traveling on the bus, I definitely recommend an ipod or earplugs for the journey.  There is always the possibility of noisy children around you, and also, most Colombian bus drivers will play movies dubbed in Spanish at extremely high volume.

Planes

• Planes are certainly the fastest way to travel, and if you have limited time this is definitely the way to go!  Sometimes you can even find super cheap one-way deals, so if time is a concern, you could even consider riding the bus for one leg of your journey and flying for the other. This is a great way to see some countryside without spending hours upon hours in a bus. I recently did this on a journey from Cali to Pasto and it worked out perfectly! I saw lots of the countryside on the way there, but after the nine hour bus ride, I was more than happy to have a two hour flight home.
• For a long time the Colombian airline Avianca held a monopoly on air travel.  However, now both Aero Republica and newcomer Aires are expanding their routes around the country and a very healthy competition is taking place.  Avianca is still the best bet if you are interested in all the amenities of a large airline, such as good service, larger planes, more routes, and a more user-friendly website. However, that being said, since I am a teacher on a teacher’s salary, the majority of my domestic flights have all been with Aires.  They always have the best prices and with the exception of some minor delays, I have not had any issues with my flights.


National routes on Aires.

• One difficult thing about flights in Colombia is that finding the cheapest flight requires some patience. I have found some success using the website Despegar.com. Basically this site is sort of the Expedia of Latin America, as it allows you to compare the times and prices of various airlines in one convenient location.
• A word of advice on flying from Colombia to the United States… These flights can often put a dent in your budget, however there are options! All three of the above mentioned airlines fly to the United States, so they are worth exploring, rather than using an American based airline. Furthermore, Aires has just opened direct routes from Cali and Bogota to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  When I fly home for a visit this summer I have opted to take the direct flight from Cali to Fort Lauderdale, and then I bought a domestic flight from Fort Lauderdale to Minnesota. According to what Expedia and other websites quoted me, this will end up saving me about $200 in the long run, so if you have the time and patience to fly two separate airlines, it is definitely worth exploring.
• For more information on finding cheap airfare around the country, I recommend following Aires, Avianca, and Aero Republica on Twitter, as they all usually send out tweets with ongoing or upcoming deals and news.

____________

Written by Kristin Radermacher

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Fast forward to November 2008 and I boarded a plane in Geneva which took me to Argentina, and apart from a couple of months, I’ve been in South America ever since. I’ve travelled most of South America, at least most of what you could call the backpacker trail, spent a few months doing voluntary work in Buenos Aires, and this past January I arrived in Colombia.

I’d heard a lot about Colombia – even before leaving Geneva, 2 Colombians I worked with told me not to go, at least not alone. Once I got to South America however, I started hearing much more, and only good things. I knew it had to be on the list. I’m travelling with my girlfriend who I met in Argentina, but who is originally from Cali, so it’s been wonderful to be able to see Colombia through the eyes of a local and discover things for myself at the same time.

Thanks to Dave, and through my posts here over the next few weeks, I hope to share with you some of the amazing places I have seen in this great country, but also write about the general context of the country so that hopefully you can get a better understanding of what makes Colombia tick and how to make the most of your time here.

My name is Jonathan Evans, I have my own blog where you can follow my past (and future) adventures and I’m also on Twitter. I look forward to your comments and hope you enjoy what I have to say!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Welcome to my morning commute in Cali. Although, let’s be honest, from what I have observed, this could just as easily describe any Latin American city.  To the inexperienced or oblivious spectator, the road seems nothing short of mass chaos.  Then you look closer. You see the organization amongst the streaming lines of yellow taxis; you start to understand the situation.

They replace fist fights and road rage with excessive horn honking, which while annoying, is actually pretty harmless overall. The street performers, newspaper salespeople and street vendors always seem to keep just out of the way of traffic. The bus drivers are extremely vigilant as they are constantly on the look out for pedestrians, motorcyclists and other vehicles.

The transportation situation on the road is actually pretty well designed for easy travel within cities. Here are some of the basics to consider for transportation in Colombian cities.

A typical Colombian taxi

Taxis

• Every city in Colombia has a taxi service, usually several in larger cities.  Taxis here are the traditional yellow color and the company number is also usually printed along the side of the car. Most follow a single digit pattern, so they are easy to remember. (For example one taxi company is Cali is “the fours”, phone number 444-4444)
• While you can certainly hail a taxi from the street, calling is definitely preferable and much safer.  Most restaurants, bars, shopping malls, and grocery stores have a secure taxi location or are more than happy to call you a taxi if you ask for one. In my experience, hailing a cab is usually safer if you are in a group and there is not another option.
• The minimum for a taxi ride here in Cali is $3,600 pesos or about $2 USD. As in other places, the taxi driver will usually charge a bit extra late at night, on Sunday or on a holiday. Taxis definitely are not the cheapest way to travel, so find a friend to split it with!
• Drivers have definitely tried to scam me by taking a longer route (thus making the ride cost more) or by assuming I do not know enough Spanish to argue about a fare.  However, in eight months I have been irritated by less than five drivers, which is a great success rate, so overall this is a great form of transportation.
• Taxis are definitely the safest travel option if you are going to an obscure location or traveling late at night.
• My best advice: Write down the address of your destination – this will probably save your butt when your driver doesn’t understand your Spanish, doesn’t recognize the address, or he/she needs to find an alternate route.

Personal Vehicles

• My roommate recently purchased a car in Cali in order to allow her more freedom for transportation and travel. While a personal vehicle is definitely convenient, I would never consider this option here in Colombia…even renting a car seems like a hassle.
• All licenses, permits and repairs must be dealt with in Spanish, my second language, and a language for which I do not have an extensive knowledge of “car vocabulary.”
• Pot holes run rampant in Colombia and roads are not fixed with nearly the accuracy of other countries, so navigation around the city can sometimes be difficult.
• Most roads connecting Colombian cities are single lane, and thus any road trip is filled with the stress of being stuck between slow moving buses and faster than lightning motorcycles.
• My best advice: Stick to public transportation.

Bogota's TransMileno bus

Public Transportation

• The three major cities in Colombia (Bogota, Cali, Medellin) have mass transit systems similar to those in Europe and the United States.
• Bogota’s system is called the TranMileno and is essentially a system of bright red buses disguised as a subway. Buses have their own lanes to keep them traffic free, and self-contained stations keep connections on and off the buses fast, easy and safe. A one-way ticket on the TransMileno is $1,600 pesos or $0.75 USD.  Individual trips can be bought or you can put a larger sum of money on a disposable card so as not to have to wait in line to pay each time. Hardest thing about the TransMilenio? The routes! Maybe its just because I have never lived in a big city, but it definitely took me a few trial and errors to figure out. My best advice: The single digit buses stop at every station, while many of the double digit routes only stop at select stops and operate more as express buses. I later discovered you can actually plan your route online, so they may avoid future issues in my Bogota adventures.


Main MIO line in Cali - T31.

• Cali has the MIO, which is almost an exact replica of the TransMileno system. Projecting the slogan, “El Mio es Tuyo” (The MIO is yours), this fancy air-conditioned bus network is getting better everyday. In December 2009, ten new routes were added and the buses can now take you to virtually every part of this elongated city. The principal routes run the length of Calle 5 (La Quinta) and then circle about El Centro, the downtown area. Express buses have the same route number as their standard counterparts, but are labeled with an E followed by the route number. (Definitely easier than Bogota’s system! Score one for Cali.) Ticket prices are also $1,500 pesos for one-way.


Overlooking Medellin from the MetroCable.

• Medellin features the fancy Metro, which Holly wrote about in August 2009. At the time of my visit ticket prices were $1,400 but I believe they also have student and senior citizen discount prices. Opened in 1995, the Metro in Medellin is the only rail line in Colombia. Trains run on ground level for the most part, except in the city center near Botero Plaza, the Jardin Botanical and the University where tracks are elevated. The Metro features a special division called the MetroCable which branches from the main line of the Metro and runs a continuous string of cable cars along the mountainside.  The MetroCable provides stunning views of the city and also ensures access from the poorer hillside neighborhoods to the central downtown area.

As someone who loves to get around a city and explore, I have been pleasantly surprised by the extensive and reasonably priced systems in place here. Travel is definitely affordable in Colombian cities – check back next time when I talk about travel from city to city!

__________

Written by Kristin Radermacher

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Later that weekend, I was browsing the New York Times Global Edition, when I came across this article. Author Simon Romero wrote a stunning piece about a woman in Cali who provides a home for some 800 animals rescued largely from drug traffickers and paramilitary warlords.  Operating from her home in Villa Lorena, located just up a small road in the slum-ish neighborhood of Floralia, Ana Julia Torres has been caring for animals like these for over 16 years. (For all the details, check out the whole article, and watch the accompanying video.)

By the time I finished the article I was near tears, which surprised me.  I have been living in Colombia for almost eight months now, and have come to terms with many of the issues here that still need to be improved.  On top of that, I am not really an animal lover. I didn’t have a pet as a child, so even domestic animals sort of creep me out. Why did I feel so affected by this article?

Then it hit me. I live in the city where this is happening, and I had no idea. Not even the slightest clue that this was happening. Yes, I live here, but will I ever feel like I truly know Colombia? Will I ever truly understand the culture, the politics, the government, the history. There is so much to learn! Will I always be just another tourist, no matter how long I call this place my home?

There is this part of me that knows that I work here, I get paid in Colombian pesos, have a Colombian ID card, pay bills here, and even go to the dentist here. Essentially, I do almost all the basic things that other residents of Cali, Colombia do.

Then again, I don’t vote here, and I never will. I will probably always speak Spanish with a gringa accent. I don’t usually respond to the question “How are you?” with “Fine, thanks to God.” I have strawberry blond hair, pale skin, and I do not feel a strong allegiance to any one particular national soccer team.  I spend my free time traveling around other parts of Colombia.

In so many ways I will always be a Minnesota girl with an adventurous spirit, which is great…there is just always this part of me that wants to dig deeper, to expand my knowledge base, to enrich my experience in as many ways as possible.

Fellow travelers, what do you think? Are we only ever residents of our home country? How long do you live in a place before you can call it home? Can you ever really understand a culture that you only experience as a tourist?

_______

Written by Kristin Radermacher

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

With Allison, my first visitor in Colombia!, as we overlook Cali. (December 2009)

In May 2009 I graduated from university with a degree in Math Education and Spanish.  Two months later, I moved to Colombia.  No, not Colombia, South Carolina.  No, not Columbia University in New York.  (And yes, that Columbia has a “u” in it!) Colombia, as in the country…you know, the one in South America?  Yes, the one known for drug cartels in the 90′s…

After the natural barrage of questions from friends and family, I left Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 28th, 2009 with a final destination of Cali, Colombia in order to teach 8th grade math at an international school. In some ways I knew exactly what I was getting into, because I had previously traveled internationally, I talked with current teachers at my future school, and I researched a lot about Colombia before leaving.  In other ways, I had no idea what this two-year job contract in a foreign (at the time) country was all about.

Here I am seven months into teaching, seven months into living abroad and seven months into discovering the wonders of Colombia, and I realize that at the very essence of this job/this move I had a dream to do something unique, something different, something challenging, and something just for me.  I just could not envision myself living, working, studying in the same place for the rest of my life; I needed adventure; I needed passion; I needed Colombia.

One of many favorite places in Colombia so far > Ciudad Perdida, near Santa Marta, Colombia. (January 2010)

In the days, weeks and months to come I hope to provide interesting, informative and useful content to Medellin Living through discussion about working/teaching/living abroad, the city of Cali, Colombian culture, and other travel opportunities within Colombia.  Within seven months I have already built a large base of content to share, and new topics arise every day.

Of course, what is most important to me are your suggestions as readers, so please leave a comment or find me on Twitter  (@k_rads) with any questions or suggestions for future posts.

Until next time, thanks for hosting me here at Medellin Living and a big thanks to Dave for allowing me to give this a shot!

Cheers!

Kristin

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

So, basically, the two things this country lives on have been taken away for the weekend.  I’m not too concerned about it because a weekend relaxing is really nice.

I wonder if they are opening it it all up tonight after the votes are in?  If they do I’m sure there will be a party tonight!  I think during the 48 hours of prohibition I should have tried to live out my dream of being a flapper in a speakeasy.

If you’re looking to travel to Colombia for the party in the future, just make sure it’s not an election weekend.

Next weekend is officially my last weekend here.  I’m starting to get really sad about leaving and really excited about my future home.  I hope more people decide to not just visit, but live in, Medellin for awhile.  It’s been one of the best times of my life!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

I can say with 100% certainty that Medellin is a safe city.  I am from a small town in Idaho, and I feel safe here in Medellin.  So, I’m not even comparing it to other big cities.

Here are some of the most insightful or common questions I have gotten since I’ve been here.

Can I walk the streets at night? Absolutely!  As long as someone in your group knows where you’re going.

Alone? Only if you know the neighborhood and are comfortable there.

Are the buses safe? Yes.  You will run into people playing music, selling things, or just begging.  None of them care if you give them money or not.

Is the metro safe? Absolutely!  If there’s any sort of problem there are guards at every station and they respond very quickly to the alarms.

Are the taxis safe? Yes.  I’ve even gotten into the habit of hailing them off the street most of the time.  They all use meters, and the drivers are really fun to talk to.

Will I get robbed? It’s definitely possible.  It’s never happened to me.

Will I get hurt/assaulted/ect.? Again, possible, but only if someone is drunk or high, and you pissed them off.

Will I get kidnapped? No.  Not in the city.

Will I be a target if I’m wearing nice clothes or business attire? If you are in the main parts of the city, no way.  The majority of the people here care about their looks and nice clothing and business attire are extremely normal if not expected.  In the smaller neighborhoods you may stand out.  In fact, in the main parts of the city dressing in shorts and a t shirt may make you more of a target.

Will people try to rip me off because I’m a gringo? Maybe.  I don’t think it’s ever happened to me.  Most things have prices clearly marked, but haggling is common here.

Are drugs (especially cocaine) easy to find? No, it’s not just out on the street, but if you’re really looking for it you can find it.  Just remember, there are new drug laws, and you can no longer posses  any street drugs in any amount…none!

If you have any more questions, please ask!  If I know, I will be happy to answer it!

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

I will never find a place like Medellin.  Its unbelievable beauty and infrastructure just makes it a place that is so easy to call home.  I have thoroughly enjoyed settling down here, and if only I had easier access to my family here, I never would have been pulled away.

With my move in three weeks, there will once again be an opportunity for new contributors to this site.  Some of Dave’s requirements can be found below, but remember that not all of them are mandatory (or may have changed completely).  So, if you are interested, please contact Dave and he can let you know how you can contribute to the site.  He may also have a few things to add about this in the next day or so.

http://medellinliving.com/travel-blog/contributors-wanted/

I’m also looking forward to reflecting on all things Medellin in the weeks I have left.  You can expect posts that may be a little more thoughtful than previous posts.  Enjoy!

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

A little more interesting, however, are the sounds.  I have come to love the sounds of the typical day in my neighborhood.  There are the cars and buses that drive by, some of which are ridiculously loud.  There’s often a baby crying, and it seems like there is the sound of a child laughing, whining, yelling, or just playing in each moment of the day.

I love listening to my neighbor whistle all day long with his pet bird accompanying him.  You can rely on having vendors wander by, screaming out the names of the different fruits and vegetables they have for sale.  I still can’t believe how load those guys are.  Even the random ringing of the doorbell from vendors selling anything from CDs to cake.

When the nearby school lets out, you can hear the boys whistling at the girls.  The girls giggle in their own groups, and let out the expected, shrill “Nnnnnoooo!” to the boys and to each other.  (Seriously, I don’t think the women here know how to just respond with a normal “No.”  They always turn it into a shriek.)

I admit that a lot of these sounds can get on my nerves as well, but it’s kind of comforting knowing everyday you will be reminded you are never alone in Medellin.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

We showed up around 10pm, and we met up with Kelerman, the dance instructor from the gym, and some other friends.  We decided on a bottle of tequila for about 80,000 COP for four of us at the table.  I had never drank much tequila before, but it ended up all right.

The tequila and a sticker from my favorite band.

Soon, I realized that Kelerman had disappeared, but I never got around to asking where he might have gone.  About 15 minutes later, I found out.

Kelerman...the performer!

It turns out that Kelerman was one of the performers for the night.  Once they got on stage, the whole place turned into the most fun dance party I have ever been to.  Most of us were dancers or dance teachers, so our whole group ended up looking like a music video.  We all could just dance well together and pick up on when we were changing rhythms or style.

Kelerman back to normal...dancing the Macarena.

The DJ played a mix of techno, 80′s, and a few new hits.  Most the night was spent with crazy-sexy dancing, tequila shots (sometimes body shots), and a few of us dancing on the tables.

Me and my trainer Hermes. When everyone is a dancer, things can get crazy.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Gatwick Airport Parking

Every frequent traveler knows that cab rides to the airport can be expensive and costs add up fast. For business travelers, especially cheap airport parking is essential. For short trips, parking at the airport is often the most affordable option.

Gatwick Airport is located just outside London and is one of the busiest airports in Europe and indeed the world, with millions of passengers traveling through a year. If you park in the regular airport parking at Gatwick you can pay as much as £13 a day, if you are away for a week those fees add up quickly and easily make cabs a cheaper option. This is where Holiday extras comes in.

Holiday Extras is a UK based company that has been serving the travel community for over 25 years. They arrange travel insurance, airport parking and other travel related services for over 5 million travelers annually.  Holiday Extras offers affordable and convenient Gatwick parking services as well as several premium add-ons.
Holiday Extras makes booking your parking painless and easy to understand with charts displaying various prices based on what parking lot and additional services. Valet parking is offered free of charge, or if you prefer you can park yourself and keep your keys.

For those travelers who want the greatest amount of convenience, Holiday Extras offers a meet and greet service for a small additional cost. With this service your will simply meet your driver at the airport to drop off your keys, while you are away your vehicle will be stored in a secure compound, and when you return you will receive the keys to your vehicle at a prearranged location at the airport. This eliminates the need to travel to the parkade to claim your vehicle, offering most pain-free travel experience.

Being that Gatwick is one of the busiest airports in Europe, there is certainly a lot of competition for parking, and as such Holiday extras offers a price guarantee, if you can find a cheaper price, your parking with Holiday Extras will be free of charge.

Parking with Holiday Extras can be booked either online or on the phone, making Holiday Extras the most convenient option for Gatwick parking.

If you’re traveling out of London via Gatwick Airport than Holiday makes your trip that much easier with their excellent services. They offer a bevy of options to fulfill your needs, whatever they might be. You can rest easy knowing that you are receiving the cheapest service and your car is safe in their secure lots.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1RtpsFaz78

______

This was a sponsored post.

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Coming to Colombia, I knew that I would get a tattoo here, just so I could say that I did it.  My first month here, a friend handed off a card to me for a place in Envigado called Sailors and Mermaids.  I checked out the website, and I really loved the art.

From the inside of the studio.

Finally, after months of being here, I felt comfortable enough to go check out the studio.  Plus, the shop is really close to my apartment, and I’m a fan of keeping things local.

I ended up talking to Lucas, who spoke a tiny bit of English, but he definitely saw my vision with the tattoo I wanted.  It was a simple idea, an Andean Condor (Colombia’s national bird) created with a paisley pattern, but explaining it was a bit difficult.  Still, Lucas figured it out right away.

I love this surfboard chilling in the corner.

Being a super busy, yet small studio, he told me to make an appointment as soon as I decided I wanted it done there.  I took a quick look around the place to make sure the correct hygienic and sterilizing procedures were used.  Lucas assured me that every tattoo shop in the city was inspected regularly to keep their license.  I made my appointment and hoped for the best with Lucas creating the right design.

Anything to do with the sea can be found at the shop.

On the day of the appointment, everything went smoothly.  It was interesting to see Lucas having to trace out the image for the carbon to be placed, because at the shop I got to in the United States it’s just run through a machine.  Other than that, everything ran pretty much the same.

Lucas said my skin was amazing to work on, and he really had a great touch.  I would definitely get another one from him…if I do get another one.

Total cost was 100,000 COP.

...and the final result.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

At its highest part, on the rear (southeast side), it has a height of 2,135 m M.S.L. with an average temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. The “Peñon” has 185 m3 of rock mass and it is 385 m long, with an approximate weight of 10,000,000 tons. It has some rock breaks, one of which was used for the construction of the 644 stairs that can be used to go to the top.

The wide Antioquian rock base, called “batólito Antioqueño”, and the “Peñon” were formed 70 million years ago.
The Tahamies Indians, former habitants of this region, worshiped the rock and called it on their language “mojarrá” o “mujará” (rock or stone). This rock is located in the country area called “La Piedra”, just 5 minutes from Guatape Town, and can be reached by an excellent road.

The rock was climbed on July 1954. History tells that it was climbed by a group of friends, at the invitation of a local priest. Luis Villegas, Pedro Nel Ramírez and Ramón Díaz climbed the rock in a five-day endeavour, using sticks that were fixed against the rock’s wall.[2]

On the top of the rock was found a new species of plant, subsequently named “Pitcairma Heterophila” by a German scientist.

On the top of the rock was built a viewing spot, where it is possible to acquire handcraft products, mail cards, and other local goods. It is possible to see the 500 km shore-perimeter dam.

In the 1940s, the Colombian government declared it a “National Monument”

Music: Nine Inch Nails – La mer

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Welcome to my office!

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Leaving

So, after finding all of the correct offices, getting my stamp out of Colombia and into Venezuela, and having a super relaxing lunch, it was time to finish the process.

The stamp out of Venezuela was easy, but interesting.  To receive a stamp out of Venezuela you must pay 55,000 VBF.  I went to the office, filled out the same paper I had to get the stamp in, and then had to go buy a postage stamp type thing from across the street.  I turned those in with my passport, told them I was going back to Colombia, and that was it.  No wait and very little fuss.  I did get a little comment from the lady at the desk.  She said, “Divertirse en Colombia.”  (Have fun in Colombia.)  In the cutest little snide tone.

JD and I then returned across the border for one last time.  This time we stopped and took a few pictures and acted just a little silly.  We were so glad it was all almost over.

I went into the DAS office for the last time, and asked for a stamp back in.  JD and I decided it would be better for me to not have a translator because we didn’t want to have to get into deep details.  They sure did ask a lot of questions.  the guy at DAS was curious why I would want more time in Colombia.  He wanted to know exactly what I was up to and why I needed so much time.

JD was excited to cross the bridge for the last time. I love the goats underneath.

I shrugged it all off by explaining that I have friends in Medellin, and I really love it here.  Eventually he got frustrated and gave me another 60 days…with two underlines under the number!  Finally, I had it all completed.

Our next task was to get back to Cucuta.  We hopped on a local bus and headed on the 20 minute ride back.  During the ride we saw a lot of really interesting people on the bus, and because we were speaking English we got a ton of interested looks.  It was all super fun.

Back in Cucuta, we bought tickets for the ride home.  These tickets were even a little cheaper, but it seemed like there were more stops.  One place we stopped for a few minutes in was Pamplona.  It was a super cute town, and JD said that there are a few Universities there.  If I had the time I would have stayed for a few days there, because it was amazing.  If you are every traveling that way, give that town a night or two.

We finally got home to Medellin Tuesday morning, and all seemed right with the world again.  It was a crazy bus journey, but well worth another two months in Medellin.

This boy was so fascinated by our English.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Yesterday I announced the launch of Travel Blog Success, a new website and community aimed at helping travelers build successful blogs.

Click here to learn more, or sign up.

In 2009, my travel blog success resulted in online earnings of more than $10,000, plus I was offered a blogging trip to Colombia to help promote tourism.  I don’t say these things to brag.  I say them to encourage other travelers to join me in taking advantage of the shifting media landscape.

How It Works

Travel Blog Success is an online course consisting of 12 core lessons, covering important topics such as choosing a domain name, building an engaged audience, search engine optimization, and how to make money online.

Unlike other blogging courses and eBooks, this program addresses issues topics to travel blogging, such as mobile technology, and keeping up with a blog while always on the move in foreign countries.

Travel Blog Success includes its own Blog where additional tips and audio interviews with subject matter experts are posted regularly.  To kick off the interview series, I spoke with Mike, Editor of Vagabondish, about the importance of web design to a travel blog’s success.

To ensure every member has direct access to me, plus a way to ask questions, network with others travel bloggers, and collaborate, there is a lively Forum.  I invited a few experienced travel blogger friends to join us there.

I’m offering an introductory rate for the first 100 members who join.  After that, a price increase is likely because I want to ensure I can continue to offer personal support to everyone who joins.  Membership comes with a 60-day money back guarantee.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below, or send me a private message (via the contact form). I’ll get back to you promptly.

You can read more, and sign up here.

___________

PS – I’d really appreciate it if you can help me get the word out, either by sharing this post or a link directly to Travel Blog Success (http://travelblogsuccess.com) on your favorite social media site, such as Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, or your blog.

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

The border near Cucuta.

After a crazy long bus ride to the border town of Cucuta, and a nice traditional breakfast, of course the next thing my friend JD and I had to do was get on a bus.

JD asked around about what bus we should take to get my visa stamped, and it all seemed easy enough.  We rode the bus for about 15 minutes before actually crossing the border.  As we approached, and I saw the sign, I thought, “Sweet, we’ll get of when they need to check everyone’s passport and I’ll be stamped out of Colombia and into Venezuela.”  WRONG.

We crossed the border and nothing happened.  No one stopped us, no one cared that we just crossed the border with lord knows what in our bags.  We were just in Venezuela.

So we asked some more, and it turned out we had to go to a town over to get any sort of stamps.  So we got off the bus and onto another one to San Antonio.

Once in town we had to find the bridge that went back into Colombia and walk there so I could go to the DAS office and get my stamp out of the country.  They asked my final destination and my occupation, and I was officially out.

We walked back across the bridge and to the office to get my Venezuela stamp.  Here they had me fill out a small form with my passport number and occupation.  I was then issued a stamp for 90 days in Venezuela.

Done with half the adventure, JD and I changed some Colombian Pesos for Venezuelan Bolivars (I got 95,ooo VBF for 35,000 COP), and we  settled down at a small restaurant for lunch and some rum that I had brought from Medellin.

Lunch in Venezuela. The pither is typical, and the juice (whatever it is) is amazing with rum!

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

The church across the street from Parque Berrio

…and for something new, we saw this at the Venezuela border:

The fierce border dog.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Robin, my friend behind The Arepa, has just begun a new weekly radio show at 101.9 FM, a station run by the University de Antioquia.  It airs on Saturday nights at 9 PM (local time).

Here’s how he describes it:

We are Robin and Jeff, two guys from California living in Medellin making an English magazine called The Arepa (www.thearepa.com) and we make a radio show for the University of Antioquia (101.9 FM) called Prime Cuts. It is a show to play music from Medellin and music from around the world.

You can listen to Robin and Jeff’s first show here.

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Eating...Waiting for the bus.

So, I needed to leave the country since my tourist visa was up.  Venezuela was the closest and cheapest option, and that’s where I decided to go.

With my limited Spanish I knew that I would need some major help for this trip.  I recruited my friend JD for the trip, and he was kind enough to leave his store for a day just to make the trip with me.

We met at the Parque Barrio Metro Station at 5:30 on Sunday evening, and then made our way to the North Bus Terminal that is connected to the Caribe Metro Station.

At the bus station we found a company with good buses that was leaving at a time we wanted. JD negotiated the price, and we paid 80,000 COP each for our tickets.  With the bus not leaving until 7:30PM we found a place to eat and relax as we waited for the departure.

Once on the bus, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to sleep well, but I did bring some rum just in case.  Having the bus only about half full was nice as well.

Sleeping with my teddy bear. He was the most useful thing I brought!

I knew it was going to be an interesting drive when the bus driver started talking.  All I picked up from the driver’s speech was something along the lines of, “Normally, we would show a Jackie Chan movie…but that has so much violence, sex, and drugs…”  After that I was pretty lost, but he sure was animated about what he was saying.

It turned out that the driver was a super religious man and decided to show Fireproof, a Christian movie, instead of the normal movie.  I had not seen it, but heard a lot about the movie, and honestly wasn’t super excited about it.  Good for me that it was easy to not get involved with it, since it was in Spanish.

The bus was completely freezing the entire time, and I was so glad that not only did I bring sweats, but I also had a blanket and a friend to keep warm with.  I really wished that I had warmer socks, though, because my feet were so cold the entire time.

After a few hours talking with JD we both drifted off to sleep.  The bus stopped a few times for dinner time and at the Bucaramanga bus terminal for many passenger to get off and to pick up a few more people.  At one of those stops JD said that he was excited for the sunrise because we would be at a very beautiful place to watch it.

I woke up right at sunrise, and the view was absolutely amazing.  I tried to get JD to watch it with me through the crazy fogged up window, but he was out.  So I watched for a while and drifted back asleep.

Around 10:00AM we arrived in Cucuta.  We went to the tiny restaurant and had a nice, typical breakfast.  All was calm, an we were happy to be off the bus.

Somewhere near(ish) the border. "Sunrise, and your brown eyes..."-Snowed In, Broke City

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

I just got back from the adventure, so make sure you stayed tuned for the next few days to get all the details.

Here are the essential facts:

Where:

Medellin & Cucucta, Colombia; San Antonio, Venezuela

Costs:

• 160,000 COP-bus, round trip, Medellin-Cucuta
• About 10,000 COP-for buses from Cucuta-San Antonio
• 55,000 VBF-for stamp to leave Venezuela
• 40,000 VBF- for lunch (Menu del Dia)

Time:

• 13 hours- Medellin to Cucuta
• 30 minutes- Cucuta to San Antonio (Each Way)
• 2-3 hours- Finding someone who knows where all the places I needed are and walking there.
• 17 hours- Cucuta to Medellin (I have no idea why such a big difference.)

Needed Items:

• Blanket
• Warm Clothes
• Short-Sleeve Shirt
• Cash
• Passport

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

2010 Weblog Awards

Medellin Living is one of the 5 finalists for Best Latin American Weblog in the 10th Annual Weblog Awards (aka the 2010 bloggies)!  When I arrived in Medellin this time last year, I was immediately struck by the natural beauty, rich culture, and friendly paisas.  Starting this blog was my way of getting the word out that the city had a lot to offer.

My other travel blog, Go Backpacking, is one of the 5 finalists for Best Travel Weblog as well.

Please head over to 2010.bloggies.com to vote for both this week.  You do not need to vote for any other blogs to submit your ballot.  The deadline for voting is Sunday, January 31st at 10 PM, EST.

Medellin Living became a team effort after I left Colombia last July, and I owe a big thank you to Holly for keeping the content fresh and interesting.

I mean how many expats in Medellin blog about BASE jumping off buildings?!

Vote here:  2010.bloggies.com

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

From the Parque Berrio Station

I just hope they aren't planning on burning those books.

If you sit on those steps in the distance for long enough, someone will talk to you!

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

I knew I would be able to get what I needed here in Medellin, but I had no clue what the actual process would be like.  So, I talked to a few of my friends and got some great advice.  One thing I wasn’t expecting was that everyone told me to go to the pharmacy in the supermarkets.  I know there are a lot of different ones on the streets.  A few of the chains look pretty reputable to me, but everyone said to not take the chance.

*The following information is fairly personal, but I am happily sharing it for anyone that may find it useful…just a warning for those that don’t want to know about my personal life!*

I, personally, take a birth control pill and an anti-depressant.  It was pretty obvious that I wouldn’t need a prescription for the birth control, but no one knew for sure about the anti-depressant.  I am lucky to be on a pretty ‘old-school’ medication that is even cheap in the United States, so I was pretty sure they would have the medications I needed.

In the end, I grabbed a friend to translate (just in case) and headed to the nearby Consumo.  Since my prescriptions weren’t valid anyway, I just wrote down the information.  At the pharmacy, they didn’t have the exact brand of birth control (Cryselle) but they knew exactly what it was and found me something similar.  They did have the same anti-depressant (Trazadone).  There was never any mention of prescriptions or insurance.

Total costs:

Microgynon (birth control) 21 tablets: 8,374 COP

Trazadone (anti-depressant) 50 tablets: 23,792 COP

From my experiences with these medications the cost for the birth control was super cheap, and the cost for the Trazadone was very similar or more expensive depending on what store in the United States I bought it from.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

The Pond at the Botanical Gardens

Ducks...and the hair of the most beautiful Colombian girl I have ever seen!

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

My Red Hair and Nails on My Balcony in Envigado

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Near Parque Berrio

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

New Years Eve is a party, for sure, with fireworks and tradition.  The next day, it is obvious just how hard everyone partied the night before.  Even some of the major stores like Exito were closed for the holiday.  Pretty interesting, considering most were open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

If you ever want to walk the streets of Poblado during the day, and see the streets and the parks empty, make it January 1st.  I definitely got the feeling that I could own the city for the day.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

My friend and I met up with the other kids at the Floresta metro station around 8pm and we all walked over to the family store.  There were chairs circled around the front patio, and already the Aguardiente was being passed around.  Having drank a large amount the night before, with the same family, I passed on the guaro and stuck with a few beers.

We spent some quality time with the family and were served a lovely dinner of pork, rice, potatoes, and salad.  There was also a bit of dancing.  As midnight approached, some of the kids wrote down their wishes for the New Year.

At the stroke of midnight, every person kissed each other on the cheek and we all wished one another “Feliz Año!”  The kids then burned their strips of paper, and ran off around the block with their backpacks.  This tradition is meant to bring travels in the upcoming year.  Several families in the neighborhood participated in this tradition, and those of us that stayed at the store cheered on the groups that passed by.

About an hour after midnight, we rode in our friend’s car back to Envigado.  When we got home, the streets were going crazy.  Everyone was partying and cooking in the streets.  You could easily see at least six fires in the street from cooking.  Many of the streets were also blocked off with cars or tied off with ropes, just so families could take over the street for their parties.

Once again, this place totally surprised me when it comes to knowing how to party!

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

La Catedral - Photo courtesy of Hans Peter

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Santa at the Christmas Store

These other pictures I’m posting for their artistic value.  Just a few sweet shots around Santa Elena.  Courtesy of Juan Diego Bautista.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

There is a lot of things in store for me in the New Year, and I’m excited to share them all with you.  Check back on Saturdays, as I will continue the pictures of the week during the break.

Thanks again!

-Holly

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

The live music is also amazing.  It’s traditional and fun.  I had my doubts when I first saw them gather, but my ideas quickly shifted.  The vocalist is amazing, and the band is completely interactive.  You can have one hell of a good time here!

You can find 3 Cordilleras at many different places in the city, and it’s definitely worth a try.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

As I walked with my friends around Rio Medellin a few days ago,  I found that I prefer the atmosphere that accompanies the holiday season.  I really don’t know how to explain it other than it’s just a different atmosphere.  There is a communal hope in the air as everyone is remembering how far they have come in the last year…and the last 15 years.

This city amazes me a little more every day.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

The front of JD's house in Santa Elana.

The view from one of the many balconies.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Lighted Tree

The Fountain

The River

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

The truth is, you’re in for an experience unlike any other in Medellin.  Mahalo was once just a house, where the owner and his friends would lounge and enjoy the panoramic view of Envigado.  One night, they had the idea to turn it into a bar…not an unusual idea these days.  Now Mahalo is home to a great little climbing wall, a perfectly balanced pool table, and a dirt track for mountain bikes with jumps and drops that are the best that I have ever seen in Antioquia.  This is where extreme sports enthusiasts find themselves, every day.

In addition to the many rooms, the beautiful porch, and awesome young in-house DJ, there is a fireplace and lounge seating, too.  Oh, and don’t forget the climbing room.  That’s right, an entire room lined with climbing walls…including the ceiling, and a padded floor for safety.  With super cheep drinks and even themed rooms to crash in if you find you’ve had a few too many, Mahalo is simply a cool place.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Thanks to my favorite Colombian Rockstar (and perpetual crush) Felipe, I was able to get a couple tickets without the hassle of calling.  My friend and I got there a little early, but not early enough to get a great seat.  We ended up about halfway in the club directly in front of the door.  Which worked out well, because when Felipe strolled in with the rest  of the band about an hour after the show was supposed to start, I was in the perfect position to get the customary hello kiss.  I think then everyone else stopped wondering what a couple of gringos were doing at a local show.

I had a shot of really nice whiskey there, and then worked on quite a few Pilsens.  The two for one special made the 5,000 COP beer a lot easier to stomach.  After the show, El Blue opened it’s doors for a normal night, and the dancing began.  El Blue is a cool little place, but I think I’ll stick to finding new places in some lesser known parts of the city.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Yet, somehow the young people all stay beautifully thin.  Probably because, like me, they don’t use this convenience unless necessary.  Like today, when I’m too sick to get out of my pajamas.  Just ring the pharmacy, and they’ll deliver you some antibiotics, pain killers, and even Gatorade.  No doctor’s visit required!

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

The Bathroom from My Favorite After Hours Club

I thought I would start of the return with something…real. This is pretty dark compared to next week’s Christmas theme.  This is the ‘nice’ bathroom at my favorite after hours club.  It’s not so much a club than a converted basement apartment, but it is like no other place Colombia. (I’ll bet, anyway.)  This is a place where people do drugs in the corners and have sex in the closets.  It’s in the dirtiest part of the center.  The walls are black with some artwork painted on them, and it is only lit by candles and black light. I could give out the name, but the place is extremely hard to find anyway, as it doesn’t have a sign or anything like that.

Colombians...Should not pour beer.

Just an FYI.  If you’re at all like me, you might want to pour your own.

Sorry these aren’t the best quality.  I don’t like to carry my camera around unless I have my purse, and these were just too interesting to pass up.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

I found a company on one of the job sites I had listed here.  The interview with the company went well, but they didn’t have a position for me right away.  I waited about three weeks before they finally had something for me.  I am now working with an outsourcing company that does appointment setting and customer service for a handful of companies in the United States and Canada.  I really lucked out by getting in with a fairly new company that is growing super fast.  I’ve already gotten a promotion and a raise, with another raise coming before the end of the year.  Pretty lucky for me.  I will be working on getting a visa next month, and I’ll let you guys know how that goes.  I’m glad that I should be done with the DAS office for good!

I’ve also had to move yet again.  I’m still in Envigado.  I’ve lived in three different apartments in two different neighborhoods here, and I’m still completely loving it.  I am pretty convinced this is the best place to live in Medellin.  I am in the part of Envigado called La Magnolia.  It’s super safe.  I’ve walked from my friend’s house completely drunk at 2am and had no reason to be worried about anyone bothering me.  It’s a lively place, that is still quite enough at night to sleep soundly.  It’s a quick bus ride over to El Poblado or to the Metro, and you can get everything within walking distance.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Medellin shoe shop

This is a guest post by Robin, director of The Arepa.

Medellin, home to friendly Paisas, beautiful women, and people with really small feet.

Yes, small, feet.

I have lived here for a year now and have sadly not been able to find a pair of shoes in size 13. Here in Medellin, shoe sizes stop at 12. And it’s not that I haven’t looked either. Over the past 6 months I have visited over 60 shoes stores and am now treading the streets with shoes that have holes in them. I simply can not find a size 13 (or 46 in Euro sizes) because they simply don’t exist here.

Friendly Paisas always have a recommendation of the one place that may have something bigger, but I have visited them all, high and low, and nothing. I even went to the small and scuzzy Diamante plaza which everyone said would have big shoes but they all ended at 12. Well, that is not entirely true, I did find one size 13 but it was a big poofy Nike basketball shoe that had no laces and a big white plastic strap across the top – it was horrendous, and $150.

So, if you are looking for a business that caters to the gringos with big feet in Medellin, man that market would be at your feet; yes, pun intended!

Robin is the director of Medellin’s English magazine called The Arepa. You can check out the magazine at: www.thearepa.com

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

The mission had started at 4:30AM, with my roommate knocking angrily on my bedroom door.  My alarm hadn’t gone off.  I went to the balcony and told HP to give me a few minutes.  Not long after, Mario drove up, blaring Green Day from the radio.  I finished getting everything together, my rig, the camera, and all of the needed accessories for a base jump.  I went down to the car, and we started through the empty streets of Envigado.

We got to our destination about 10 minutes later.  During the drive, we discussed the timeline of the mission.  HP and I entered the property from the far corner and stayed back away from the security building.  Finding a way down the slippery, muddy hill took way more time than I wanted, and keeping HP in the right spots to keep from being seen without being loud was just a headache.

Down the hill, up another hill, up the ladder and into a window on the first floor of the parking garage, and we were in.  We rested for a few moments in a small cement room, and discussed our plan.  We started up the stairs, but soon found a barricade.  We went down a level, and back up using the car ramp.  It may have made us more exposed, but it was better than disturbing anything in the building.

As we got to the main building, we found where the one of the security guards was.  He was on the top level of the parking garage.  He was listing to some soft music.  We ducked back into a corner, and HP explained to me what the security guard was doing.  I made up my mind and just ran passed, betting the chances were slim that the guard would look in that direction at that single moment.

We got up into the main building, and for half a second considered taking the elevator.  I shot down the idea, knowing that once we got to the top I wanted time to relax and set up the perfect jump.  Twenty-four flights of stairs later, we were walking through the open doorway to the roof.

The sun was rising over Medellin.  It was bright enough to illuminate the mist that was building over the city.  We were high in the hills, so visibility was good still good for us.  We had the perfect view of the clouds rolling through the city below.  We took a few moments to take in the view, and call down to the get-away driver.

Mario had been waiting for us down the hill.  I should have told him to drive around until we called him because the police had been called to come check out his idle car.  The police thought he was up to something malicious and didn’t believe him when he said someone was going to jump off a building.  They basically wanted him to prove it.

When we got the call that the police were going to watch, I was hesitant at first, but I finally decided it would be acceptable.  I geared up, got everyone into position, and then climbed up on the edge of the building.  I was so surprised at how solid I felt on the edge.  I was scared I might fall accidentally, but my balance was spot on.

I stared down at the corner of the building, trying to figure out the exact steps I would need to take.  I started counting.

“Three”

Wait, I need to look up, not down, when I hit the edge.  I looked up and found a spot to look at.

“Two”

“One…Cya”

I took two steps and launched myself from the building.  I waited a half a second, and then threw the pilot chute that would open my parachute.  As I waited for the rig to open, I stared at the ground rushing up at me.  I kept everything in position and kept solid.  The parachute opened with a crack, and I immediately turned into my landing pattern.  There wasn’t time to do anything else.

Two quick turns, and I was landing in front of Mario.  The police were a few feet away in the street, amazed.  I landed, waved at the police, and started putting my things away.  One officer came and took a picture of me.  I looked up to see the security guards on the parking level, obviously talking about the jump.

We quickly discussed where to wait for HP, but we looked over and saw him climbing down the ladder.  We piled in the car and went to have a nice 6:30AM breakfast on a beautiful Sunday morning.

Medellin BASE

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

Robin from The Arepa put together a great video of photos from the past year. If I knew how to edit video, I’d be doing the same!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

It has free events every night with live music, dancing, theater, and I believe even movies.  If you want a little culture for absolutely no money, this is the place to do it.  The first and second companies from Ballet Folklorico de Antioquia even dance there sometimes.  Just make you sure show up early for the more popular events or you will not get a seat.

My friend Mario and I went to the second company of Ballet Folklorico performance on a Friday evening.  We arrived over an hour before the show and there was already a line around the corner.  We ended up getting really good seats, and I don’t think I stopped smiling the entire time.

The show started with a humorous skit/dance on love and dating, and ending with a Latin-Afro blend of music and dance.  The entire show was high energy and featured dances from areas all around Colombia.

The show was great, and I always keep Lido Theater in mind for fun things to do any night of the week.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.

We ended up on LA 33 in Laureles.  I had seen the bars and clubs lining this street before and had always wanted to try it out, but hadn’t had the chance.  I was super excited for the night.

We ended up at a small Salsa Bar.  We found one of the few tables still open in the back, and we ordered a media of Rum and a few cokes for the four of us.

A few drinks in, they started asking for girls to come up and dance on the stage.  At least, that’s what my friends told me.  I happily jumped up there, basically forgetting that I don’t dance Salsa at all or speak Spanish.

Luckily, it was more about hip-hop dancing, which I am capable of.  Eventually I realized that it was a contest.  There was one guy from the bar that was dancing with all the girls, in a very suggestive way…to put it gently.

I had a great time. and I ended up winning second place!  My prize was a media of Rum for the table!

If you want to party like a real local.  Check out the area.  There are a ton of different bars with a range of music to make anyone’s night.

Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!

Join Travel Blog Success and learn to build a better travel blog.