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I assume this fine forum has some kind of policy in place regarding sex tourism/prostitute posts so if this is out-of-line, please feel free to delete. I hope it's viewed as a fairly straightforward travel query though.

I was wandering around downtown Medellin during the day and stumbled across a small/medium sized park. It was packed with people, lots of musicians, orchid sellers at one end, etc. The atmosphere was great.

In a building at the corner of the park, upstairs over a chicken place I noticed a bar overlooking the park. Myself and 3 gals (all gringo tourists) went up and really enjoyed ourselves for a couple of hours, drinking cheap beer and having fun with the two guys working there. There was no kitchen so we bought a pile of food from the chicken place downstairs and the bar guys supplied plates, etc. One of the girls took over the music and the others had a few dances with the guys. All and all it was a great place and we had a lot of fun. We were the only customers.

Finally one of the girls had to go to the washroom to recycle some beer and discovered a couple of dozen small cubicles at the back, well hidden from the main bar area. Each cubicle was lockable from the inside, had a mirror, a stool, a trash can and a couple of cheesy posters.

The cubicles were numbered, and then we noticed the tables in the bar were numbered too.

Obviously this was some kind of a prostitute/lap dance/rub and tug/whatever set-up, but for some reason we weren't comfortable asking the bar guys what the deal was. Perhaps we were just having too much fun and didn't want to spoil in the mood.

In any case, I'm sure this is not a unique situation and I'm sure this type of bar is common knowledge amongst experienced Colombian travelers, so I was hoping someone could explain it to me.

Thanks.

Cheers,
Terry

By the way, the entire bar, the cubicles, washrooms, etc. were spotlessly clean - almost sparkling. The bar was decorated nicely, a low key but top-notch place that was very comfortable, fun and had remarkably cheap booze. It was so nice and so much fun that I found it really odd that we were the only customers for the entire time we were there...

By Cheers Terry on Jun 20, 2008, 16:02 in Friendly Talkzone.

bigtexas1974 says on Jun 20, 2008, 16:32:

Terry,

Not much 'splaining to do - you did it all!

"Sex is one of the most wholesome, beautiful, and natural experiences money can buy." - Steve Martin "You don't appreciate a lot of stuff in school until you get a little older. Little things, like getting spanked every day by a middle aged woman."

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 20, 2008, 16:37:

I guess it is what it is then.

I assume it gets a little sketchy at night, but it sure was a great place to spend the afternoon though.

Bottles of Club Colombia were 1,200 and unlike many places, icy, icy cold.

Cheers,
Terry

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RUV says on Jun 20, 2008, 16:51:

Ja Ja Ja,

Gringos.

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 20, 2008, 17:02:

I fail to see how being a gringo plays any part in a simple travel question, RUV.

I had never been in a Colombian bar like that before so I was simply curious how it worked, thus the post.

Throwing out "gringo" does not make you appear clever, or worldly. Quite the opposite.

Cheers,
Terry

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mcheasley says on Jun 20, 2008, 17:37:

Terry, where is this park with lots of musicians at?? what day of the week?? Is this the park with the open air market on the 1st saturday of the month?? thanks

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 20, 2008, 17:50:

Sorry mcheasley, I don't remember the location. I don't even remember what day of the week it was.

We started in the area around the Plazoleta de las Esculturas (the one with the Botero sculptures) and did a LOT of walking, so it could have been anywhere in the downtown core.

The park was very busy, with small groups of people packed around various musicians. The streets and buildings around the park were also very busy, completely packed with people. The whole area was VERY lively and a lot of fun. We chose the bar because it was on the second floor, removed from all the activity so it looked like a good place to have a rest.

The entrance to the bar was quite difficult to find, sandwiched between the chicken place and a parking garage.

Cheers,
Terry

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RUV says on Jun 20, 2008, 17:51:

Terry,

Nothing personal. Did not mean to upset you. I have seen this in several Latin 'American countries with slight variations. I do not consider myself worldly.

Sorry.

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dwmte7 says on Jun 20, 2008, 17:53:

know the area like the back of my hand, however not the lap dance appliances. i always go to the pizza place, up stairs, directly across the street from the park on the side facing the basilica. can't remember the name, but i've been hangin out there for 19 years. it's not some place to write home to the folks about, but the pizza's good and the view of the park and junin is great. if you want a taste of some REALLY funky get away bars down town, try aqelare or the bar with the two headed calf. both very far out. sort of down towners.

dwmte

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 20, 2008, 17:59:

Forget it RUV. Sorry I barked at you.

I spent a little too much time down south this year and the gringo remarks started to wear thin. They're invariably made by little guys with no self respect and with nothing except their genetic heritage as a means to try and feel superior. I actually feel quite sorry for them and if I was unfortunate enough to be born into their social situation I'd likely be a bigger dickhead than any of them.

In any case, no sweat, buddy.

Cheers,
Terry

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 20, 2008, 18:08:

Thanks for the background info, dwmte.

One of my favorite travel things is finding interesting places to drink well off the beaten path. There's nothing better than a true dive (as opposed to a dump, and yes the difference is enormous) and this area seemed to be full of potential, but with 3 very hot chicks in tow it wasn't appropriate for me to be sticking my nose into anything that appeared sleazy.

I think it's quite ironic that the nicest, cleanest, cheapest and most fun place we found was actually some kind of bloody brothel. That's hilarious.

Cheers,
Terry

PS If I can dig up a photo I'll post it and you can likely tell us exactly where this gem is. I could sure use one of their ice cold Club Colombias right now...

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elchocoano says on Jun 20, 2008, 19:04:

These kinds of Medellin bars function as oases for men. You order your beer from a girl, you can talk to the girl, dance with the girl, all night if you want for very little money. It is something like a temporary girlfriend. You can even go back into a "pieza" which is just past the urinal in the back. You generally have the male boss standing at the entrance of the bar making sure everything runs smoothly, so these places are quite safe. You are not required to interact with a girl past ordering a beer, and I've found there is no pressure at all.

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 20, 2008, 19:37:

Thanks elchocoano.

Cheers,
Terry

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dwmte7 says on Jun 21, 2008, 04:36:

i've been talkin about 'aqelare' (reunion de brujos) for years...never heard any feed back from adventurous visitors....same goes for the bar with the two headed calf. both real funky, getaways where you're guaranteed not to run into anyone you know...unless you got drunk there the day before. just real bastions of colombian life.

'por si lo vin' in sabaneta is another get away, void of the funky surrounds of centro. safest and best of all--in many respects...basically, quality and appearance of ladies--is, la casa de los cinco puertos, in poblado.

dwmte

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mranderson says on Jun 21, 2008, 09:41:

I'd like to know where this bar is. 1200 pesos for club colombia? That's really cheap. I haven't been able to find regular pilson for under 1500.

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 21, 2008, 12:47:

Sorry dwmte, I can't believe it, but I have no photos of the bar or the park.

The only photo I have is this one, which is one of the orchid sellers. I snapped it when I was downstairs at the chicken place, waiting for them to put the food order together. The photo was taken on a Tuesday, so this park is definitely jumping on a weekday, not just the weekend.

Cheers,
Terry

Photobucket

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maritime04 says on Jun 21, 2008, 17:34:

i dont understand? are you suprised, shocked, offended, puzzled?

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mcheasley says on Jun 21, 2008, 19:16:

Terry, thanks alot!! I know to wander around all the parks in Medellin and look for a guy with a box of orchids on a tuesday so i can hear some good music and maybe have a chicken dinner.... Sorry, i couldn't resist! jajaja.... If you do happen to run across the park again, please message me and let me know the name please....... thank you..

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 22, 2008, 02:28:

"... i don't understand? are you surprised, shocked, offended, puzzled?..."

maritime.... thankfully I still sometimes get a little surprised on my travels, but I don't remember the last time I was shocked or offended, especially in a bloody bar of all places. I was simply a little puzzled/curious, thus the post. No big deal.

===========================================

mcheasley.... I don't want you (or dwmte) stepping in front of a bus as you're scanning the ground, looking for the tiles and step you see in the photo while you're sniffing for chicken, but honestly, please find this place, guys! I can't believe I didn't take note of the location... too many Club Colombias I fear... jaja...

Cheers,
Terry

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Colombiareports.com says on Jun 22, 2008, 14:45:

Hey, that's where I live :-) Welcome to Parque Bolivar

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 22, 2008, 15:02:

I know someone would eventually put two and two together. Colombiareports, you win!

So, do you know the bar I'm talking about? It's out-of-the-way enough that if you don't normally frequent similar establishments I imagine you could live in that neighborhood a long time and never bother to go up those narrow stairs.

In any case, interesting neighbourhood with loads of action and fun during the day. I assume it gets a little sketchy at night, but nothing that normal street smarts wouldn't mostly negate, no?

Thanks again for confirming the location. Next time I'm through town all the drinks are on me...

Cheers,
Terry

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MitchAlvarez says on Jun 22, 2008, 21:55:

where is this place? please invite me next time you go. :)

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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mcheasley says on Jun 23, 2008, 06:52:

Terry and Colombiareports, thank you!! I knew someone would recognize that (Fiesta box) with the orchids... Parque Bolivar... i guess i will go there on a tuesday and listen to the music, and people watch.. You didnt really say how good the chicken was did you??? But since you didnt remember where the park is you probably dont remember how the chicken was... ( sorry, i couldnt resist)!!! .........lol

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