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SurAmericana Guide

Since every reference to what is going on in Medellin always seems to center on Poblado I will being to post some guides to other areas of the city that are just as fun, cheaper and a lot more real.

I will begin in mi barrio, SurAmericana where backpackers like to stay (Palm Tree Hostel and my guesthouse Casa Sol are 2 blocks from eachother).

This area offers a whole slew of diversions: cafes, shops, clubs, museums, theaters. And it is a quick jump to Centro (that guide will be next).

First for cafes, since there are some great ones here. If you want to chill at one of Medellin´s nicest cafes in a park setting you are in luck. Just go to the park that is adjacent to the SurAmericana complex and look for the little cafe that sits alone in the corner of the park. You can´t miss it because it has huge flower sculptures in front. Here you can chill in the park, drink a cofee or beer (cheap prices) and watch people pratice tai chi, couples make out and dogs running about.

Onwards we go... to the area called "Carlos C", which is where you will find the Museum of Modern Art and Medellins most bohemian hangouts. There are several cafes that surround the Museum, just cross the little pedestrian bridge over the main highway that runs to downtown and continue walking. This is a pedestrian area and one will find it packed and jamming on a Friday night (lots of pot smoking, drinking outside, cool hippy types).

If you walk toward the city and take a left just before the bridge you will see the library. Next to the libary is a very cool cafe that used to be Le Bon but is not much much better. Great world music, great food, great prices.

Now, if you are looking for a great place to hang with the locals you cannot go wrong with a place called "Cheitos", which is just up the street from Exito (going away from the city). There is a little park across from it and it is a corner bar (you cannot miss it because it´s always crowded). This is the place to sit and watch the night pass, meet some new friends and if you are looking for the unmentionable this is your best bet.

Next door is a great crepe cafe called Rincon Francais, with a very nice inner courtyard for privacy. If you are lesbian or gay, Medellin´s hottest spot is right here, just a couple doors down from Rincon Francais. And if you go just a little further there is a great rock club with the best open air space (palm trees and all) you will find in the city.

This is just a basic guide, if you walk around the area there are plenty of things to discover including discount malls, the stadium, more clubs & cafes, etc. If you have any questions about SurAmericana post your question and I will do my best to answer it.

By jctripp on Jul 2, 2005, 11:23 in Friendly Talkzone.

spigrimace says on Jul 3, 2005, 14:02:

I´m one barrio over Hey for Suramerica you forgot the notaria 14, that funky underpass that gets you onto the Autopista, (sL)OLa, the dude that sells the orange juice from the plastic pitcher while you´re waiting for the light to change by Banco Colpatria and all the homeless that live under the metro and the canalization.

I´m in Estadio behind Obelisco (another REAL barrio) and a regular in Exito Colombia, shoot me the address of Casa Sol and I´ll stop by and say hi.

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Peter (Moderator) (Trustee board) (Dev team) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jul 4, 2005, 16:47:

Great guide, we need more like this! I hope to add city guides (Medelling, Bogota, ...), then I'll definitely add links to articles like these! Keep 'em coming.

Poor but snappy

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