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Tolu -> Medellin by car

Spent Saturday and Sunday night at Kevins Hotel Cra 3a, 20-85 in Tolu - nice and clean, AC, nice pool, 3 blocks from beach, secure - 80,000 for 2 per night (cash or debit, add 7% for CC). The beach is nice going to the west towards an airport where the runway runs close to the ocean. Many vendors typical of Colombia. Food was great, awesome as a matter of fact. I love all the coconut candies and was buying them from various vendors. When you walk towards the east from about 5 blocks east of the center of town, the beach atmosphere changes dramatically, the pavement stops and there is standing water that smells of urine - but the place is packed, I mean jam packed. Drunks passed out on the beach, under trees and sides of tents. People cooking sancocho and fish stew on large semi tires, garbage scattered everywhere.. Fires everywhere with people cooking just about anything. Turned around at this point since there were so many people (I never saw a single policeman./army guy in Tolu) and people were just so stoned that I questioned problems.

Other hotels we checked out which looked pretty good that were on the street across from the beach -- Hotel El Velero -- Avendia Primera La Playa, No 9, 30, Tolu 284-4990; Hotel Caribe Royal, Avenida 1a La Playa No 18-82, (5) 277-5115 and Hotel Piedra Verde, Avenida La Playa No 18-110, (5) 286 0133

Ended leaving Hotel Kevin and driving 5 blocks to the square and getting Arepa con Heavo (deep fried eggs in arepas - incredible) then going 5 blocks to the main road (highway 90 on the GPS) going west. The road is pretty good - runs parallel to the sea then by the HQ of the Colombian Navy - large installation - then swings S - about 100 km to Monteria - switched roads to Highway 21 (street signs were good) and came into Monteria - into the center of town and then turned left on HW 23. Took 23 about 100 km to HW 25 and then HW 25 into Medellin. The first 50% of the road from Tolu was fine - speads of around 100-140km/hr. Then the mountains - like usual -- you really need to be into the mountains - passing, etc. Made it back to Poblado in 8 hours.

Diesel from Monteria to the beach was around 500 pesos more a gallon than in MDE (around 6800). The long weekend drive was 1100 km and diesel for the trip ran right at 200,000 peosos. Oh, forgot to mention tolls, there are maybe 6-9 tolls each way - that is another 70,000 or so pesos. Along the way stopped every 2 hours for a beer and something to eat (grin).

So would I return -- you bet. This weekend chances are El Penol - then I will go to America for 2 weeks and then back here for a month. When I go to America I really miss being here. I just hope the housing situation changes so 2009 is the year I can make "the final move". - Grin.

Larry

By larryrn on Nov 18, 2008, 05:35 in Friendly Talkzone.

kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Nov 18, 2008, 05:37:

bump

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Brians says on Nov 18, 2008, 06:14:

Larry,
This is a very good post as opposed to the usual dribble on here as of late. Thanks for the information. These are the type of posts I miss and are helpful as I have wanted to see Tolu for awhile.

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medellinlodging (☼Travelguide writer) says on Nov 18, 2008, 07:14:

That area is absolutely beautiful in my opinion! I have gone there many times for the Covenas scene, and strongly suggest Hotel La Fragata, which is about 10-15 minutes South of Tolu. Easy to find and about 1 minutes past the bridge just outside of Covenas to the North.

As for the mountain drive, there was a SERIOUS delay from construction last I went a fee months ago - is that gone? Hard to explain exactly where, but basically at the peak of your drive as you bounce over the top and into that LOOONG huge valley working your way down. Went by moto that time and spoke with a trucker in the front of the line. He had been waiting almost 4 hours at a dead stop!

Medellin Apartment or Medellin Hostel at www.medellinlodging.com! Medellin Hostel at www.apartahostelkatthias.com! Medellin Apartment at www.apartmentkatthias.com!

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Sam Salmon says on Nov 18, 2008, 10:22:

Orale!

' a la orden!'

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utopiacowboy says on Nov 18, 2008, 20:38:

De acuerdo. Much better than the usual PBH nonsense. Hope you continue to post about your travels.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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