Ten Cuidado a Quien te Llevas a tu Habitación

Es común ver a hombres de todas las edades llevar mujeres a su habitación de hotel / hostal / Airbnb.  Las mujeres son lindas, tienen buen cuerpo, son jóvenes y algunas incluso hablan inglés.  ¿Sabes algo acerca de ellas?  Quiero decir, ¿En serio, sabes algo de ellas?

Probablemente piensas en qué si usas un condón, estarás bien.  No tan rápido, hay otros peligros de los cuales debes preocuparte….

La escopolamina, también llamada burundanga, es utilizada con frecuencia por prostitutas con el fin de drogar a sus victimas.  Sólo basta un poco de esta sustancia en contacto con la piel o un poco en una bebida para qué la victima pierda el control de decisión.  Usualmente las victimas retiran todo el dinero de sus cuentas bancarias y le entregan todo a su atacante sin ninguna objeción y luego no tienen memoria de sus actos. Si se exceden un poco en la dosis de escopolamina, esto podría significar la muerte.

Estas bellas jóvenes podrían ser demasiado jóvenes.  Muchas chicas de quince, dieciséis y diecisiete años andan las calles vendiendo sus cuerpos. ¡Ten cuidado! Que te encuentren con una joven, menor de edad, puede implicar ir a la cárcel, el cierre del establecimiento comercial e incluso la extinción de dominio sobre el inmueble. La juventud colombiana, o cualquier otro menor, en cualquier lugar del mundo, NO debe ser explotada y las autoridades colombianas no son tolerantes con este tipo de CRIMEN.  Si, esto ES un crimen.  No permita ser engañado por la minifalda, los tacones altos y el maquillaje.  No crea en las tiernas palabras.  Podría no tener aún los dieciocho años, y si este es su caso, usted podría verse en una situación muy delicada.  Si usted decide llevar una de estas chicas a su habitación, por favor compruebe qué la joven tenga cédula original, no una fotocopia. La prostitución en Colombia es legal, pero acostarse con una menor de edad es EXPLOTACIÓN SEXUAL.  ¡NO LO HAGAS!

 

Medellin Taxis

When taking a taxi in Medellin, it is a good a idea to keep the following in mind:

1. Do not ride in a taxi if it doesn’t have a working meter.
2. Only pay what the meter reads.
3. The meter should start at $2.600COP.
4. The minimum cab fare is $4.600COP, even if the meter reads less.
5. For every 85 meters traveled the meter will increase $72COP.
6. For every 60 second wait period the meter will increase $72COP.
7. The hourly rate is $25.000COP.
8. The standard rate to the José María International Airport in Rionegro is $60.000COP.  They don’t go by the meter.
9. There is no evening surcharge in Medellin.
10. There is no surcharge for taxis taken at airports or bus terminals.
11. Tipping is not necessary.
12. It is common for male passengers to ride in the front.
13. Seat belts are required for those riding in front.
14. Do not pay for tolls if headed out of the city.
15. Taxi drivers are not allowed to have more than 4 passengers.
16. Remember to write down the taxi number, in case you leave something behind.

 

It is Christmas in Medellin, a poem by guest Jesse Lipman

It is Christmas in Medellin

The rio resplendent

bathed in blues whites

artificial green lights lining

its concrete banks

sparkling up the surrounding hillside

curved into luminescent swans stars

designs they begin making each February

The locals flock in families

wide eyed toddlers in shoulders

patriarchs organizing snapshots

Vendors emerging out of charcoal plumes

pressing chicken to grill

cackling grease roasting corn

sweat beading on foreheads

in the fluorescent glow

grown girls in spaghetti  straps

envelop boyfriends locked in pose

amid the swim of bodies

weaving the pathways by thousands

a yellow eyed beggar

mumbling as he follows

a rapid of rubbish waves the water

away from eyes

lost in light

 

Medellin Metro Stops and Attractions

Estación Itagüi:

Mayorca Outlet Mall

Cementerio Jardines de Montesacro – Pablo Escobar is burried here.

Estación Ayura:

Central Mayorista – (Las Malvinas farmer’s market, Euro supermarket) Take bridge over the Medellín River, go straight. The Central Mayorista will be on the left hand side before the gas station. It’s a 5 minute walk from the station.

Estación Poblado:

HOSTAL TAMARINDO, TAMARINDO INN, TAMARINDO B&B

Parque Lleras

ÉXITO (Department Store)

EAFIT University

Centro Comercial Monterrey

Centro Comercial Oviedo

Parque Comercial El Tesoro

Centro Comercial Vizcaya  

Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín (MAMM)

Aeropuerto Enrique Olaya Herrera (Regional Flights)

Terminal Sur – To Manizales, Salento, Cali, Popayán…

Estación Industriales:

Centro Comercial Punto Clave (outlet)

Centro Comercial Premium Plaza

Cerro Nutibara, Pueblito Paisa Cross bridge over Medellín River. Make first right and then the first left on to Calle 30A. Cerro Nutibara will be on the right.

Estación Exposiciones:

Palacio de Exposiciones

Teatro Metropolitano

Plaza Mayor

Parque de los Pies Descalzos

Centro Comercial San Diego

Estación San Antonio:

El Hueco (The Hole – Shopping) (El Palacio – for clothes)

Parque San Antonio (Botero Doves)

Transfer station to B line.

Estación Estadio

Estación San Javier – Metrocable to La Aurora (J line) and bus to Comuna 13 Escalators

Estación Parque Berrío:

Museo de Antioquia

Plaza Botero

Palacio de la Cultura

Iglesia La Veracruz – Oldest church in the city

Iglesia La Candelaria

Paseo Junín

• El Astor (pastry shop, mandarina juice)
• Cafetería Versalles (Argentine empanadas)
• Arts and Crafts Bazar

Parque Bolivar

• San Alejo (Arts and crafts Bazar on 1st Saturday of the month)

Catedral Metropolitana

Estación Hospital:

Cementerio San Pedro

Estación Universidad:

Parque de los Deseos

Jardín Botánico

Planetario

Parque Explora

Parque Norte

Estación Caribe:

Terminal Norte

• To Turbo, Cartagena, Santa Marta, Bogotá, Bucaramanga…
• Parapente (Paragliding) – Booth #17 (Expreso Belmira) Estadero El Voladero. Ask for Ricardo or Antonio (100mts. Before toll)
• Santa Fe de Antioquia (Day trip) – Booth #25 or 26
• Pierda del Peñol, Guatapé, Parque de la Culebra (Day trip) – Booth #15

Estación Acevedo:

Metro Cable to Santo Domingo (K Line) and Arvi Park

 

Hostel Etiquette

At Hostal Tamarindo in Medellin, Colombia we feel is a good idea to be courteous and follow some basic guidelines when sharing with strangers in hostels.

Remember:

• Respect house rules.
• Respect fellow travelers.
• Move around quietly while others are sleeping.
• The food in the cupboards and the fridge isn’t free. Take what you like from the free bins only.
• Try to keep clean. A clean body odor and a fresh breath make getting along a lot easier.
• Clean up after yourself. A clean kitchen is a pleasure to be in.
• Limit shower time to five minutes. Others may be waiting to use the bathroom and saving water is important.
• Keep an open mind. Everyone is different.
• Use closet space and bins provided. An empty bed is not your bed.

 

Golfo de Uraba, another alternative to get to Panama from Colombia

Gulf of Urabá

Popular destination spots:

{ Triganá: Great ecotourism, almost no tourists during low season, off the beaten path.

{ Capurganá: Great ecotourism, rocky beaches, tourists all year long, popular destination, has airport, if traveling to Panama you get your passport stamped here.

{ Sapzurro: Beautiful fisherman’s bay, great seafood, walking distance to Panama’s La Miel.

{ La Miel: Beautiful Panamanian beach, no accommodation, no passport needed.

Bus information from Medellín to Turbo:

Buses leave from Medellín’s North Terminal. Two bus companies travel to Turbo on alternating days, Sotraurabá and Gómez Hernández. It is recommended that you travel at night in order to arrive a few hours before catching the boat to any of the above mentioned destinations which only have morning departures due to rough waters in the afternoon. It is not worth staying in Turbo overnight. Make sure you dress warm; the AC makes it really cold on the bus. As night becomes day, make sure you check out the incredible banana region of Urabá, the smell in the area is not as wonderful, however.

Bus schedule:

PM: 6:15 – 8:00 – 9:00 – 10:30

Cost: $53.000 officially, but haggle for a better price.

Sotraurabá Tel. 230 9696 Booth #25

Gómez Hernández Tel. 2309551 Booth #24

Boat information:

Once you get off the bus ask for El Waffe, this is the dock area, it’s just around the corner from the bus terminal. Only one or sometimes two boats leave every morning around 8:30am for each destination, so try to be there early. You will need to purchase the boat ticket at the dock office, have your passport handy as you will be asked for it. Hopefully you are traveling light because they try to charge you an arm and a leg for excess baggage. 25 people fit on each boat. If you sit in the back of the boat you will most likely get wet. If you sit in the front, you’ll be dry but it is very bumpy and you’re kidneys and your back won’t like you. Personally, I like the front because of the view but in order to avoid body aches, I travel standing with my knees at shoulder width and slightly bent, make sure you hold on. Wear sun screen and a secured cap as these usually fly off. I recommend you wear shorts and go barefoot. You will be able to change from your bus clothes at the dock (Waffe).

Cost: $35.000 to Triganá, $49.000 to Capurganá

Traveling to Panama through the Gulf of Urabá:

If leaving Colombia from this area of the country, you must have your passport stamped at the DAS office in Capurganá. From Capurganá you take a boat to Puerto Obadía, Panama, which costs about $40.00US for 1 to 4 people so try to travel with a group to keep costs down. Make sure you get your entry stamp at the immigration office once you enter Panamanian territory. From Puerto Obadía take a flight to Panama City. The flight costs about $65.00US.

Flight 320: (Wed. 9:10am), (Thurs., Sat., Sun. 9:05am) – 1 Hour flight

Traveling from Cartagena to the Gulf of Urabá:

Take a bus from Cartagena to Montería then take another bus to Turbo. The road is not the best so be prepared for a bumpy ride.