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Medellin Spice of life

hmmm maybe the first one didnt take so i repated it here.

Be aware i am in Medellin less than a week and things and feelings change over time and by the time or day of the week.

I was sitting in Balcones Del Parque (segunda piso..2nd floor)
watching latin life go by on avenida jundin. Colombian musica
playing (blaring but good no..great). So much life in throngs of
people...it gives me goose bumps and a feeling of amazment at the
human condition personified by everyday life her in Colombia. It is
6 pm and another perfect monday evening in Medellin.

With one eye out to make contact with John Pierre, things I can´t
capture with the digital camera..they happen to quickly. The girl
who walks right below me with the huge tatooed breasts symbolic of
this silicon capital of the world (where´s my camara, wheres my
camara!!). The way the motorcycles take off sometimes at rush hour
when enough make it to the front of the intersection. Like motocross
racers jocking for position. A guy pulling a huge cart on steel
wheels, beautiful women, mothers and daughters, lovers hand in hand,
school girls arm in arm, almost everyone touching touching the other
when they make contact.

The very distinguished (like the guy from the fantasy island tv
show) waiter brings me another Colombian Club cervesa, the light is
fading to night but the street is as full of life as before. I am
not sure it will ever lose the magic and as I sit here I am looking
forward to meeting with Jaqueline. All I know from my limited
Spanish is she is calling at about 8.

Often I hate to be alone in such a setting but right now I am
enjoying so much the astmosphere..it wouldnt be quite the same not
alone. The incredible experience continues, the cell phone guy
dancing a bit to the music, the cigarette and the flower ladies, the
more prim and groomed passing by.

Why is there something special about these people? Maybe it was the
lady on the metro this morning that set the mood. I asked directions
to the university that we had just passed. She gave me good
directions before the train came to a stop but then she got out with
me...i thought to point the way or to go to her house. She was
planning to walk me to the right office for language training. And
it wasnt even her stop. I said mil gracias pero no necasario muchas
gracios. So she got back on the train before it left.

A 45 y.o. guy I met briefly 15 years ago said "My life didnt start
until I moved to Colombia". I may be experiencing some of that.

I was thinking of mentioning in the next post about the poverty and
the drug addicts sleeping and freaking out on the street once in
awhile, the deformed that sit on the sidewalk to beg but it is not
so prevalent and it is enough to know it exists I guess.

I gave my charming waiter, Ucho, a 1,000 peso tip (50 cents) on a
5,000 peso bill for 2 cervesas. I told him restaruant was
fantastic. He shook my hand 2 times and not only about the tip but
showing friendliness and we exchanged nombres.

FootnoteÑ Medellin is know as murder captal of the world (9,000
people killed on average during the 1990,s every year just in this
city.. it is well under half that now). There are places you would
not last long at night but that doesnt romove the magic of the city.

I was lucky to have Patricia show me some of this life a few years
ago.

_______

By DonkeyDust on Jan 18, 2006, 20:25 in Friendly Talkzone.

DonkeyDust says on Jan 18, 2006, 20:30:

Estadio un barrio in Medellin Oops I forgot to put that previous post was from an email to friends in Vancouver as this one is.

I moved from el centro today to the area of estadio. El centro is a little shaky safety wise at night and my hotel rented rooms by the hour alhtough there were families there.

Jacqueline recommened on advise from a friend a hotel in San Juan, i went there an although it was a very lively area it was too noisy, poluted, and not much different than el central at first glance anyway and the hotel was crappy at around $20 a nite.

Medellin (for the benifit of Eric and others it is pronounced.. Med aye Jean with emphais on Jean..I have to use the J (as in Jean for double L) sound more as hey use it more than mexico as i remember from Diana.

So Estadio is a great barrio. Really great. Unfortunately Jaqueline didnt call as she said she would at lunch so...I was dissapointed. She is very affectionate so I think there was a problem, i will find out tomorrow.

As amazing as I found the barrio Poblado for night life and sofistication in the day I find Estadio. I am a few blocks from the Stadiums. I dont know how many but they are not like canada. It is a huge area devoted to people playing sports. Every kind of sport you can think of including maybe 30 clay tennis courts I couldnt see many of them cause they are built up due to the hills.

There are maybe a hundred doors that lead to the under area of the stadium and everyone had a league as they call it. Judo, boxing, cycling, ping pong, tye kwon doe, and i dont know what else. In the outer areas were maybe a mile or more of bike riding, roller blading and jogging areas with that were busy. there were maybe 75 people doing some kind of streching to salsa music and a lot who maybe didnt join doing it a few feet away from the main area. Soccer games every where of course. A guy told me softball also and skating but i didnt see them. and hundreds of cafes in the stadium area and on the streets surrounding the stadium.

I had a steak nd potatoe and a beer and i gave her 20,000 pesos $10us cause i couldnt here her with the music. She didnt come back for a half hour so i thought it was the price but she came back and it was only about $6 total. Helps make up for my room. I have a pretty good hotel at about $45 us a nite which crimps the buget a bit so i may stay at a hostel near here... off and on.

I have been out a lot a night and not been intimidated at all so far. But i realize even here in estadio you have to be on guard. Estadio is full of life much like Poblado but with out the money. Many people in Poblado have a lot of money. So I like this area better so far. But if one was to buy down here Poblado wont get any bigger and real estate hasnt gone up much yet. The stock market down here apparently went up 1000 percent in the last 2 years.

I stopped in a pool hall for a beer, actually on the sidwalk cafe in front and as the whole front was open i watched a game. Colombia according to what i have read on the internet has a lower standard of lving than Mexico and I expected a low standard but even the pool halls are great. Not the 18 the century type of mexico but not oak and
totally modern like ours. But ours dont have a bar and a sidewalk cafe.

So thats whats happening on january 18 in Medellin, Colombia. It really seems like a dream city. Then again I have only been here 6 days. Feelings and understanding can change I know.

Hope all are well . It was so nice to hear from Patricia, Hope to hear from you guys more.

Hasta Manana, William

Changes in Latitudes...attitudes.

Latitudes attitudes & platitudes.

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morphus says on Jan 18, 2006, 22:14:

Sounds good so far. Your feelings may change once the Medellin spell wares off. I have a theory about Medellin; a lot of tourists that go to Medellin for the first time were expecting to see more violence and get mugged on their first stroll around the city. Once they realize how pleasant and friendly the people can be, they think they have found the best city in the world. The good aspects of the city are magnified. If Medellin did'nt ever have the reputation as a murder capital, it would probably be just another good city in South America. Its definately one of my favorites though. Along with Cartagena and Cienfuegos, Cuba.

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Lostgringo says on Jan 19, 2006, 05:35:

Great Narrative I hope the magic never wears off for you and you are always able to look on the bright side of life.

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