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Paragliding and partying in Medellin

Jieun, found another interesting way to make herself sick this time paragliding over Medellin to get a birds view of this huge sprawling city. We planned to do it the day before but the rain wouldn't allow for it, so today the clouds open just enough for us to take flight. Took an hour by bus up an twisting road to arrive at the north hill side of the city. When we arrived the clouds had come in again so we had to waited and started to get hungry waiting so we ordered a hamburger and just as the guy put the patties on the grill the people called us to say its perfect to take off "shit" we told the guy we had to leave but he made us wait another 5 minutes to cook the burgers. We swallowed them as fast as humanly possible and suited up. I took off first it was a nice experience but felt alittle sick up there not sure if it was the half cooked burger or the pilot flying in circles but the view was breathtaking. Flying over a city is unreal we landed only after 10 minutes in the air but the real ride was just beginning, the taxi back up the hill. This driver took a road less traveled thats fore sure he raced up the hill on dirt, mud, rock, winding and just writing about this makes me sick. When I arrived to the top I saw Ji, sitting in front of the office now I flew before her and I had short flight, sure I would be waiting for her. She was looking pale and I asked her did you fly she said "yeah, but I vomit again" apparently her pilot only flew in a circle at take off and after a minute she told him to fly another direction but he didn't so they landed about 500 meters from take off, Ji's flight was less than 2 minutes. We asked the agent why the flight was so short and didn't get a good answer and she offered $8 off Jieun's flight. Cost was $50 p/p,  Ji's discounted price of $42 was a total rip off as she didn't even have to take a taxi back up the hill that cost the pilot or company $10 per return but glad she didn't take it up I am sure she would have lost the last bits of the hamburger left in her.

just arrived and taking in the view

2 of the many lovely dogs on the hill with us

weather not looking good

ready to go get ready

suited up and ready to fly

running for take off

flying high above Medellin

Next day feeling better we decided a night on the town would help. First meeting up at our hostel with few of the other guest for some drinks, as 11pm arrived and we left for a Mall, not any normal mall but one full of bars, restaurants and cafes sort of a night spot Mall that opens its doors around 8pm. We already had a few beers at the hostel and at our first bar we all had a shot called the inferno I guess the bar only had one funnel because we all took turns. Now I am not sure what was in the 6 ounce shot of fire mix but I am pretty sure it had some zambuca it went down warm and after 5 minutes was burning in our stomach and everyone felt a buzz after 15 minutes when you poor that much alcohol that fast down your throat there is bound to be an reaction. Only one guy couldn't finish the drink and don't worry Ross, I won't mention your name.  We hit another 3 bars before called it a night, the others stayed out until 5 am. With the number of bars, clubs and stunning people, Poblado Medellin has got to be the premier hot spot of Latin America nightlife hands down now we haven't been to Brazil yet but its going to hard to top this place.

let the drinks begin

next

more shots these are the normal ones

just one of the many shots

 

 

15 minutes after the inferno shot

don't ask

these cool chicas teaching Ji how to move Colombian style

Medellin home to Pablo Escobar, Fernando Botero, rain, and more rain

Medellin is the second largest city in Colombia but in terms of history, art, commerce, and pretty girls its second to now. I wish I had taken more pictures to prove the last statement but in our short stay we already meet 5 guys that made the move to Medellin with the main reason being the girls. We think the city has way more to offer than just good looking ladies the city is full of neat shops, good night life, good metro system and loads of wonderful people. With all the malls, museums and restaurants its the warming people the truly make this city attractive. We only spent 2 weeks in Medellin and it rained everyone they get about 3 months with less rain and thats not saying much because this place just gets a lot of rain all year round. But lucky we had dry sunny afternoons and as soon as the clock struck 4 pm the rain would begin like a switch on a timer.

modern metro clean and safe

cable cars serving the steep less affluent regions

not rich but the people seemed happy even with all that rain

free enterience for all

staple food of Colombia deep fried empanadas, filled with rice, potatoes chicken or beef

just one of the countless modern shopping centres

closest I will get to Ana

normal day in Medellin

Now about the history of the city one name comes up a lot Pablo Escobar, ruled the city in the 80's to his death in 1993. The poor considered him a hero, the rich despised him, the Colombian government called him an outlaw and the Americans just wanted him dead. All the hostels have posters with tours to his farm, home and even get a chance to meet his family and talk with them, now we didn't take any tours because we don't believe in what he stood for but most important the tour cost like $45 usd sorry We not paying anything to make his family even richer.

the death of Escobar

If you mention art in Medellin usually its accompanied by Fernando Botero, his work is famous for its fullness or chubby which makes his work a joy to look at and ponder about how he can make everything look fat? From people, animals and even objects all appear fully bodied. We really had fun looking at his works and loved the countless masterpieces he donated to the Museo de Antioquia.

As for accommodations we stayed at 3 different hostels 1st was a Korean place that only cost $8 each plus they cooked some much needed Korean food for us plus they gave us drinks. Pretty sweet deal but they had no secure parking, not clean at all and the owners drink til they fall asleep so we only stayed one night. 2nd place was at Arcadia hostel, very hard to find home converted to hostel in the Poblado zone, with expensive restaurants, bars, clubs and shops this is the centre of nightlife in Medellin. We got a private room with shared bath for $22 a night, place was new but not well maintained. Owner never cleaned up after himself contrary to his own signs and sometimes would have guest up all night making noise in the common area and our room was right beside, one good thing they had one parking space indoor but I had to clean up alittle for the van to fit in. After 9 days we had enough and left for the Ram hostel down the crazy steep hill its better located, well run, parking, pool and very cool guest, everyone saying loved it and so did we. $15 p/p for a dorm bed would recommend this place to anyone traveling to Medellin.