New Hostel In Medellin

miamimike says on Mar 7, 2005, 10:28:

Is this part of IYH? Is this private or part of IYH system I have my memebership to? What do your Motoadventures consist of and where?

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.

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MotoAdventures says on Mar 9, 2005, 09:01:

Thanks for asking, Ken! The Palm Tree is a great hostal. The only problem is that it's not really close to anything. During my 10 months living in Medellin (two of which I spent at the Palm Tree), all I heard from other travelers was how they wished there was a hostel within walking distance of Parque Lleras, the center of nightlife (the zona rosa) in Medellin.

That's why I opened up the Casa Kiwi five blocks from Parque Lleras, in El Poblado. Now you can go out to bars, restaurants, and discotecas, and walk home at the end of the night instead of having to look for a taxi...hopefully arm in arm with your new latin sweetheart.

And yes Ken, I have to admit, I might have a few residual hippy tendancies. That's why in Casa Kiwi you'll find a nice hot-box in the water heater closet.

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MotoAdventures says on Mar 9, 2005, 09:23:

Reply to MiamiMike Mike, no, I am not associated with the IYH. I don't believe there are any IYH hostels in Colombia. Our prices are rather reasonable though, as you will see on the website: www.motoadventures.org. This site has all of the information you need about the Casa Kiwi Hostel, including pictures of the house.

As far as my motoadventures that you asked about, the whole story with pictures is also on my website www.motoadventures.org. But here's a brief synopsis since you asked: I rode my Kawasaki KLR 650 motorcycle from Alaska through Central America to Panama, and from Panama I shipped the bike and myself in a contraband boat to the north coast of Colombia. It took me two years from Alaska to arrive in Medellin, Colombia, and have been here since May 2004. I fell in love with Medellin when I arrived here, and decided to open up a hostel. I still would like to finish my trip to Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina. But everything can wait: mañana!

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YEP says on Mar 18, 2005, 17:29:

But there's this "NET" too

http://www.fcaj.org.co/eng/red.htm


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Just another scandinavian getting ready to explore South America

------------------------------------------------------------------- Just another scandinavian getting ready to explore South America

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paisa29 says on Mar 19, 2005, 06:56:

Paul!

muy bonita tu historia.
Me encanta cuando los extranjeros llegan a mi ciudad y se enamoran de ella.

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phishrox says on Mar 19, 2005, 07:58:

Hot water ???!!?? Did you say you have HOT water ??? OH MY GOD !!! Do you allow older hippy types to stay there too ?? I promise I will not let my "flash-backs" bother the other guests !!

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MotoAdventures says on Mar 27, 2005, 10:45:

Hippies and Hot Water Phishrox - yes, hippies (even older ones) are more than welcome at Casa Kiwi. We have tons of hot water - a 200 liter hot water tank, and five full bathrooms. And please feel free to use it liberaly so as to not bother the other guests with your hippy stench.

Morpheus - one of the many advantages of Casa Kiwi (including orthopedic mattresses, a 6 burner gas stove, pool table) is that each guest has their own key to the front door of the house so you can come and go as you want at any hour, without having to wake me up. All of the dorms also have locks on the doors to keep all of your things a little safer. I also have a safe for passports and other valuables.

For more information about Casa Kiwi:
www.motoadventures.org

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morphus says on Mar 27, 2005, 10:58:

sounds more fun than a hotel. i guess i'll give you a call. i'm interested in a private room.

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MotoAdventures says on Mar 29, 2005, 06:42:

Contact Morphus - The house phone number at Casa Kiwi is (57.4)268.2668. My cell phone is (57)300.740.7244.

If you're in Medellin please feel free to stop by Casa Kiwi anytime just to see the house, have a drink, play a game of pool, watch a movie, whatever. There are always at least a few people around. The beauty of Casa Kiwi is difficult to capture in pictures. I tell everyone to just come by anytime to really experience the house.

Thanks!

Paul Thoreson - Casa Kiwi Hostel Medellin - www.motoadventures.org

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Bonzi says on Mar 29, 2005, 09:06:

I don´t recommend this hostal!!! I stayed at this hostal and wasn´t too pleased. The owner had late night parties till 6am . I saw someone doing cocaine in the upstair part of the house. Strangers that weren´t staying at the hostal were going into the rooms where the guests were staying . ( it happened to me while I was trying to sleep at 5 am ,while the music was still blasting) .The owner also mentioned he was going to have these parties often. I don´t think the owner has any experience running a hostal and for hours in the day he or no other staff where around.. If this is for you, enjoy, but next time I would prefer to stay elsewhere.

Bonzi

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morphus says on Mar 29, 2005, 13:22:

Bonzi no seas aguas fiestas!

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MotoAdventures says on Apr 1, 2005, 18:32:

Cultural Exchange in Casa Kiwi Hostel Bonzi - thank you for the constructive, if somewhat negative, criticisim. Due to your negative attitude I believe I remember which guest you were. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the cultural exchange we had here last month. (I'm also sorry that you were too embarassed by what you wrote to use your real user name, instead you made up a ghost account three days ago just for your negative comments.) Thank you Morpheus for your support.

I find it interesting that you like to exagerate and say 'parties', since I have only had one since I opened in February. Fortunately all of the doors to all of the rooms in the house have key locks on them, even the dorms, so as to prevent somebody from accidently walking into the wrong room.

Since I just recently opened the hostel I've been running around town getting everything organized, so needless to say I've been a little occupied. Now, between myself, my girlfriend, and the cleaning lady, there will always be somebody in the house to attend to anything that might arise.

It is true: about once a month I like to invite some students from EAFIT, one of the best private universities in Medellin, in order for the local students to have an opportunity to practice their english, and also for the foreign travelers staying here to practice their spanish. Everyone was having such a good time at the Casa Kiwi inaguration party that it did go a little later than I had anticipated. That's why I only charged the guests half price, which I must say made most people very happy: a great fiesta and only half price for the room! What could be better?!

However, everything is a learning experience. Next time I would definately end the party much earlier so as to give the guests a good night sleep, which is very important traveling in a foreign country. That's also why I invested in 30 orthopedic mattresses.

From my experience most travelers enjoy meeting locals in a foreign country, and I'm glad that I've established good relationships with the wonderful people of Medellin in order to assist with a little cultural exchange once in a while.

It gives me such pleasure to look over my guest list and see some of the same names repeated various times, as they go and travel around Colombia and come back to the wonderful city of Medellin and stay in Casa Kiwi. It is very satisfying to have repeat customers, revealing to me that I must be doing something right with my hostel.

If you're in Medellin, please feel free to come by anytime to see the house, watch a movie, play a game of pool, or just hang out and have a drink. (Sorry, I don't rent rooms by the hour.)

Gracias.

Paul Thoreson - Casa Kiwi Hostel - www.motoadventures.org

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Giann says on Jan 3, 2007, 17:50:

Heya Paul If you see this I have some question about your trip from Alaska to Colombia if you don't mind.

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