Festival of Flowers A Disappointment

Simon says on Aug 13, 2008, 20:12:

Awww, that's too bad, now go home!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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Simon says on Aug 13, 2008, 20:28:

Truthseeker, why don't you come out of the closet and say who you really are, you cowardly troll!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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turnmeon (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 13, 2008, 20:58:

SUERTE GRINGO says on Aug 14, 2008, 03:25:

truthseeker says on Aug 13, 2008, 20:23: flag

"Don't worry about Simon. He is the angry clown of PBH. He happens to live in the U-S-A and is a janitor in a local school system."

So he is one of the 98% of Colombians who would rather live in the USA. I hope clowns like him never return home.

I'm just getting acclomated to my surroundings understanding that when I want to order food in a restuarant it takes time to get someone's attention for them to take my order not that they are ignoring me just that life in Colombia is at a much slower pace.

I did enjoy the many festival activites overall it did not live up to the hype but as they say don't believe they hype.

“If you're gonna eat your crackers in bed, you're gonna have to sleep with crumbs."

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dtapia says on Aug 14, 2008, 03:36:

C'mon, you can't expect everything to be all roses.

JK. Sorry.

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webmanco says on Aug 14, 2008, 04:38:

turnmeon
try the barranquilla's carnival, the biggest carnival/event in Colombia

Small town festivities might not be the biggest but IMHO are better.

I still need to see Fiestas de Blancos y Negros in Nariño.

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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Dolfi says on Aug 14, 2008, 05:07:

What really disappointed You? One shouldn´t expect big US- Style happenings in Colombia. I didn´t see the Feria de las Flores myself, but I imagine it would still be nice enough with all the flowers and the people having a good time in the streets.

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Brians says on Aug 14, 2008, 05:08:

Suerte Gringo I agree with you 100%. I hate the Feria. Too many people and too much traffic. I promise each year I will not be in town for it but circumstances always seem to override my desires. Thus ended up in the middle of a frickin traffic jam after the horses two Saturday's ago. Any other time of year is better for me. BTW Simon I think everyone in my wife's family agrees and generally trys to get away from Medellin that week.

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rhydewithdis (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 14, 2008, 05:30:

panthdave says on Aug 14, 2008, 05:35:

I had a good time but I go because its a week my novia does not have to work that much..and there is a holiday on Thursday during the week...or landed this year...I had good time at the Horses parade behind the Caracol Bleachers, a street concert in Belen, car parade was okay I walked with my Novia and friends down from my apartment and was in front of the Guaro stage..., to get away went to Novias hermana casa in Viente de Julio San Javiar and we a great barbacue, one night we did nightclub with friends, did not see that much traffic I think the police did an excellent job, one night went to the University and listened to a Reggaton Group. Overall not a bad time but I don't look for a Big Drunken Orgy Party as Morph says..Traffic was about the same on Poblado avenue except for a couple hours after the car parade near Lomo's..but thats it.. If your looking for Marti Gras or Carnival Feria de las Flores festival is not for you...or druken orgy party not for you...

panthdave Miami

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august says on Aug 14, 2008, 06:36:

The poorly managed crowds (is it necessary to have the Desfile de los Silleteros smashed into a few blocks instead of spreading it out?) and the overabundance of vendors was disappointing, but the free nighttime concerts by the Edificio Intelligente weren´t so bad and the trove finals at Parque de los Deseos was probably one of the cooler things I´ve seen this side of Kingston.

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webmanco says on Aug 14, 2008, 06:37:

No news from NY Firefighters?

Did they got burned :-)

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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elmodefoque says on Aug 14, 2008, 07:05:

is that chief salvatore o'reilly?

I'll get there, when I get there!

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webmanco says on Aug 14, 2008, 08:18:

Truth Seeker

Simón will show you the true

jeje

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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elmodefoque says on Aug 14, 2008, 08:24:

morph, what happend to that hot chick MaFe, i think i scared her off, I have that special gift with colombianas

I'll get there, when I get there!

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paisa29 says on Aug 14, 2008, 08:35:

ohhh man... I think you have a serious problem, perhaps you don´t have a good command of the spanish language to read the newspaper and knowing about every program ... La feria this year was one of the best I´ve seen in my entire life living in Medellín, we had lots of cultural events for everyone´s taste, even an afro-colombian night with music and dances from the Pacific area, it was awesome!
I hate la cabalgata.

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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Lowell says on Aug 14, 2008, 08:59:

Some people go there expecting the Pasedena Rose Parade. Not! All in all I still love a parade. No matter where or how big. Live and love life!

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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droble77 says on Aug 14, 2008, 09:46:

I can see how the feria can potentially be a bit of a "disappointment" from a gringo perspective. A local will get more out of it, paisa29's idea of consulting the paper is a good one, as you can find some interesting "side events" that might even be more fun than the main ones. . .

Me personally, I can't possibly imagine spending more than an hour watching people on horses go by (cabalgata), I don't care how beautiful the women are, lol! :) As for the silleteros, probably about the same maybe a bit more, an "hour of flowers" ? ;)

The crazy part is the bs "high season" prices you pay in terms of air fare and lodging, all these apartments being marketed to gringos go up in price in August. The smart thing to do is to crash with a local friend or rent from some local contacts you've previously made to keep costs reasonable, otherwise you will feel like gringo just got ripped off by the time the feria is over. . . and if the rumbas are no more fun/intense than any other time of the year, then gringo might also begin to wonder what was the point of his trip. . . ;)

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SUERTE GRINGO says on Aug 14, 2008, 10:19:

Interesting how many locals had no clue as to scheduled events. Also checked several different programs and no two had the same overall events listed.

Did I have a good time, yes, but have seen better organized events in many small towns in the USA. Also read in El Colombiano that this years festival was one of the best in years which left me wondering how the other prior events actually entertained spectators.

The parades were fun for about 15 minutes until you realize the rest is more of the same. I did not see one attractive or should I say hot Colombiana in any of the parades. I had a friend comment to the fact that there were no hot chicas on parade especially for a town that is suppose to have the hottest woman in Colombia. Not that it mattered to me but thought it was an interesting observation.

I got the impression many of the locals stay away from these events. Sorry but I could not recommend for anyone travel to Medellin for the festival especially when rates seem to go up during the festival week.

They need to hire a Minister Of Parades for next year.

“If you're gonna eat your crackers in bed, you're gonna have to sleep with crumbs."

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panthdave says on Aug 14, 2008, 11:06:

I hate to disagree I see many hot colombianas in the sponsered bleachers and areas of the parade...I noticed many in the Caracol sponsered area and I hung out with novia and friends and drank guaro and listened to the music coming from the Caracol area..Next year novia is going to buy the passes seemed like everybody was having a good time...I did not see many increase in prices but have my apartment and my airfare was 490.00 MIA-PTY-MDE roundtrip 08/01-08/11. My usually restaurants same prices, booze same prices. Shame have to be in the office for a couple weeks here in Miami wanted to stay for the rest of August the weather was amazing during the Festival....That damn rain noticed only a little at night if so..

This year was excellent and Novia only had to work one day in the office for the whole week another reason I come down during that time more relaxed atmosphere along with mix of partying..

Morph where did the Paisas take off too let me guess New Jersey and Queens....

panthdave Miami

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Mononoke28 says on Aug 14, 2008, 11:22:

Well, it's not just about the horses and flowers. What about the concerts and parties? If you don't enjoy Colombian music, you're screwed, but if you do, it's a blast!

Diana

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panthdave says on Aug 14, 2008, 11:38:

Got ya Morph

panthdave Miami

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elmodefoque says on Aug 14, 2008, 11:45:

morph, and what a lotta these paisitas doing in bogota, cartagena, cr, europe, nj and queens?

I'll get there, when I get there!

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romy says on Aug 14, 2008, 11:53:

"I see many hot colombianas in the sponsered bleachers and areas of the parade...I noticed many in the Caracol sponsered area"
hahaha that's your american dream right there... sadly these woman cost more in the millions rather than the thousands you are willing to spend...

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elmodefoque says on Aug 14, 2008, 11:55:

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW HOLY CRAP
I 'LL GIVE HER A MILLION FOR A WEEKEND

I'll get there, when I get there!

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romy says on Aug 14, 2008, 11:59:

WOOOW
can we have a thread lockdown instead of a comment deletion?

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tejasmarcos says on Aug 14, 2008, 15:09:

this was my 3rd. i thought it was great! got to see santa elena on a chiva the day/night b4 the silleteros parade.

* i do not know of any other city in the world that has a 10 day long festival jam packed with various events, etc.

* i thought the city did a great job. i was sick for the parade of chivas, but that looked like a blast! it was on the final day (sunday).

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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paisa29 says on Aug 14, 2008, 15:15:

tejas... I´m glad you enjoyed la feria.

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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tejasmarcos says on Aug 14, 2008, 15:21:

i liked how the clean up crews were there RIGHT after the various parades to start cleaning immediately. all the locals were having a blast. i saw a few more foreigners this year, but not many as usual. no doubt this thing will keep getting better and better.

- parade of silleteros was awesome! the only negative thing i can say is the amount of vendors on average. too many in my opinion - especially selling the sombreros!

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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paisa29 says on Aug 14, 2008, 15:23:

I do know it could be annoying but they also have to make a living especially during these days.

"Fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality" Conrad Hilton

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tejasmarcos says on Aug 14, 2008, 15:36:

the key is to buy a poncho and sombrero right off the bat and wear them everyday at the other events! the artisans do not really hassle people. i think they are too "mellow" for that. maybe more "mellow" vendors would be a good idea.....

;)

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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turnmeon (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 15, 2008, 10:31:

tomtom33 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 15, 2008, 11:38:

I see less than 1.8 million as of 6/30/07 here for BAQ metro http://www.citypopulation.de/Colombia.html.

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Mononoke28 says on Aug 15, 2008, 15:01:

Are we splitting hairs here now? =D

Diana

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romy says on Aug 15, 2008, 15:04:

web meant that he likes the small town festivities better... no reference to BAQ

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webmanco says on Aug 15, 2008, 15:11:

turnmeon have another cerveza aguila on my name

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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elmodefoque says on Aug 15, 2008, 17:29:

while our brother in the interior (medellin, cali, bogota) were still wearing ponchos, machetes to the side on top of burros as their only means of transportation and speaking chibcha a small town such as barranqulla already had model t cars and el carnaval de barranquilla going back to the 1800's
thank you!

I'll get there, when I get there!

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elmodefoque says on Aug 15, 2008, 17:43:

WE CIVILIIZED THE FOKIN COUNTRY
well, we tried to

I'll get there, when I get there!

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