bufalo sees hope for theme parks!

True - I imagine some here know how much I can't stand theme parks and what a waste of time they are. They don't show much if anything of the local culture (Parque del Café in Armenia supposedly does, but spend 10 minutes on an actually coffee farm, nope not a touristy one kids, but a real campesino coffee farm and you'll learn lots more), and aside from making $$$ and keeping the kids happy they really don't offer much.

Then I went to Parque de los Pies Descalzos yesterday (Medellín) - it is techinically a theme park, no money I saw was involved (as in free), and is just pretty damn cool all around.

The guide - not sure if I had to pay or not so I just listened in for a minute or two, she kept giving me looks and wasn't sure if they were "interested" looks or "cheap gringo doesn't pay for the fing tour" looks, either way it was only a bit. First thing she said was that the park had nothing to do with Shakira (Descalzo) and did so with an attitude - liked that. Then explained how it is a theme park. All different places to step and stuff to relax your feet - hence theme. It wasn't an activity park, they don't let kids run wild, must behave yourself and keep your shirt on.

All in all cool place - really good after hitting the library a few blocks away - kickass kids section (although we got REAL close to being mugged out front).

By bufalo on Dec 20, 2007, 05:04 in Friendly Talkzone.

dwmte7 says on Dec 20, 2007, 05:41:

bufalo...wanna up your odds for a REAL muggin? go hang out at the medallo zoo. things can be pretty rough around there. my youngest loves the place but i get tired of riding 'shotgun' makin sure were safe.

dwmte

bufalo says on Dec 20, 2007, 07:30:

won't be able to hit that spot... heading home today. Just hope with all the roadslides we'll be OK.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

dwmte7 says on Dec 20, 2007, 08:42:

happy trails....be sure and watch out when you get home--whereever home is--cause the u.s. is real dangerous now. don't tell your folks you're going. they'll have a cat and try and disuade u.

dwmte

bufalo says on Dec 20, 2007, 11:09:

they wanted me home for years now, but they're freaking because I can't possibly afford the upstate NY neighborhood they live in. Actually it isn't all that expensive, but there's also no work. We'll probably be slumming it out in Queens or Brooklyn.

ugh.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

adrimm says on Dec 20, 2007, 18:13:

Parks in Colombia (including National parks) seem to be really big on manufactured/landscaped experiences.. hand holding etc. While I enjoyed seeing the Parque Nacional Chicamocha, I was astounded at the organized activities, more on par with a private amusement/destination place in my mind. Big restuarant, gift shops, plus umpteen pay-activities: zip-lines, ostrich-viewing, goat-feedin, hang gliding, cable-trampolines (assisted jumping)....a giant historical monument in the centre.

I guess that the difference is that to me parks have always been (generally) been non-commercial areas.

The other day I was also browsing for parks and I came upon this place near Bucaramanga: "Parque Ecologico El Portal" - http://www.elportal.com.co/ubicacion.php Which is actually high-end resort in a more rustic setting, pretty but hardly a park.

bufalo says on Dec 22, 2007, 17:26:

Unfortunately a lot of the tourism down here is in the Mangos direction - but not all, that's why I never go with an agency. I just show up in a place and start hoofing it.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor