Medellin- need some facts for a planned visit- May 2004

Sam Salmon says on Apr 24, 2004, 10:38:

does the government of Colomb does the government of Colombia allow foreigners to carry concealed weapons or do they issue weapons permits to foreigners?

Asking for trouble-don't do it!

are there any left over criminal elements?

No more than in LA-probably fewer.

I'd like to visualize the airport arrival
Find a shared cab/van-no unauthorized vehicles allowed-the security situation is such that things are generally under control no fucking around.

Also, whats the scoop on this nut or nuts strangling all those people in Medellin? drug related or a serial killer
It's thought to be someone who lived in the USA for many years and was deported.

Police, is it common to payoff police for minor traffic violations?
Not in my experience but others may have more/different tales to tell.







' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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vladimiro says on Apr 24, 2004, 12:27:

El Retiro And Envigado I was in El Retiro and Envigado a few weeks ago and was really impressed by the surrounding country-side. El Retiro is only 15 minute drive from the International Airport in Rio Negro(Medellin's airport), so the whole area is very safe - there is a lot of military along the roads, and in El Retiro itself.

EL RETIRO - an old village with typical colonial architecture, a town square with a big church and an open market located in the countryside surrounding Medellin. It's main industry is hand-made furiniture, and is full of small shops selling furniture and handicrafts made of wood. Large mountains can be seen in the distance, but El Retiro and Envigado are in the hillside, lots of winding roads through bright green hills, but no mountains.

ENVIGADO - there are really two Envigados. What I call "lower" Envigado which is in Medellin itself; bustling with people, its a cogested middle class barrio of Medellin. "Upper" Envigado is located outside Medellin in the country-side not far from El Retiro. Its a very wealthy area. Large spanish style mansions overlooking fog covered lakes can be seen here. Doesn't really seem like a town to me, no church, no town square, no shops - just a sparsely populated area dotted here and there with upper-class homes perched on hills. Seems like a place were doctors, or businessman from Medellin would have homes, where as in EL Retiro you could see modest farm houses, people tending cattle,etc.

A nice resort call Hosteleria LLano Grande is near both locations. Its pretty cheap too, and I highly recommend it for those that may be nervous about staying in the country-side. There is a large waterfall nearby, nice restaurants, and a lake called Sierra Blanca where you can rent a fishing poll and try fly-fishing.

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mark says on Apr 26, 2004, 01:38:

Thanks for the replies Thanks for the info.

Just a little note to the factual negative side of colombia:

Colombia has the highest murder rate in the world -- 77.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. To put this in context, if the U.S. had the same murder rate, we would suffer approximately 230,000 murders per year as compared to the 18,000 a year we now endure.

http://www.axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_6743.shtml

While it is a fact that colombia has the highest murder rate in the world I'm not trying to put a negative spin on that fact, as with many humans who venture into unknown terrorities being well informed is a natural desire.

For those colombian nationals who read these posts, dont take them personal, but the truth is the truth. I will enjoy all the beauty that colombia has and its culture but at the same time employ an enhanced awarness to the fact that colombia has dense polulated areas that are tantamont to a typical high crime area as in any major city in the world, with an understading that statistically meaningful data exists to suggest that colombia does in fact have the highest murder rate in the world.

Regards.

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ColombiaBoard says on Apr 26, 2004, 06:08:

Arriving in Medellin The airport is about 45 minutes away from the city. You drive through mountains, the scenery is beautiful. The structure is somewhat like Miami´s international airport (basically two levels in an arch) but much smaller. Arriving passegers leave the airport through the lower level, lots of taxis and minibuses waiting for passengers to take them to the city. No illegal taxis allowed. Fare: about 12 dollars (around 32 thousand pesos).
Are weapons allowed into the country? No
There are no exchange houses at the airport, only in the city, most taxi drivers won´t accept dollars. Try to buy colombian pesos at the airport in the US.
If you look latin (in Medellin that means mediterranean white or latin brown - blacks aren´t so common) and speak spanish no one will care about you much.
If you know people in the city then ask them to tell you where to go and not go.

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Gadianton says on Jun 7, 2005, 08:18:

Sam Salmon Sorry, but I was just doing some research on the net and came across your post. L.A. more dangerous than Medellin? Medellin has consistently outmurdered L.A. many times over - despite being the smaller city.

Also, is there good evidence that this 'strangler' is an American, or at least lived in the states for some time?

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Crazy Eagle says on Jun 7, 2005, 08:53:

why so high? Why does Colombia have such a high murder rate? Who is killing who?

"Caught between the twisted stars the plotted lines the faulty map that brought Columbus to New York" Lou Reed

"The natural rhythm of life is routine punctuated by orgy" Aldous Huxley

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utopiacowboy says on Jun 7, 2005, 10:57:

The murders are usually related to gang control of the poorer barrios but killing is a Colombian past time. Ask any Colombian and they know someone who got whacked or had someone whacked.

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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Lisa Zee says on Nov 27, 2005, 17:47:

Mark Hi Mark are you alive? Why don`t you tell us about your trip to Colombia, was it that bad, did you get killed, robed, raped,etc? or you just had a terrific time. I live in Los Angeles for 30 years, and go to Medellin often, I cry when I get back to L.A. Medellin has the friendliest people on earth!. Here in L.A., I don`t go to watts or south central, do you?.
I would like to know how Mark feels a year later after his trip to Colombia. COLOMBIA IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND IS GETTING SAFER AND SAFER EVERY DAY.

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morph10 says on Dec 5, 2005, 16:42:

Traveling from the airport I will be arriving in Medellin in Jan,what is the best way to travel from the airport into the city at about 9pm?is there any safe private taxi`s,or is there safe bus`s in to the city? also how long does it take to travel into the city from the airport?
I do not speak very good spanish,only very very very basic LOL
i would be so greatful for any help

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paisa1 says on Dec 15, 2005, 14:00:

Answer Traveling to the ariport there is two ways to travel from the ariport to medellin
one is that you take a regular cab that is about $20-$23 Us dollars
And other way is called ''colectivo'' is a bus that travel for the airport to medellin. you can find them all the time. It departs when they have the full all the chairs of the minivan. so it wouldnt take more than 10 minuts. this is the cheaper way is close to $3 Us dollars.
you can use dollars on the streets, but on the airport you can find a place to exchange Us dollars to Colombian Pesos

i live in med. if you need more info contact me...

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JohnnyUK says on Apr 29, 2006, 03:54:

Travelling to Medellin I live in london, and have just arrived back from a short trip to Medellin .. although i was always with colombian friends whilst out there i have never felt safer. The people are very friendly, there are plenty of police around and even at night i felt safer on the street there than i do at home! So don't take the statistics you see in the paper as gospel .. go and see for yourself what its like and i promise you that you;ll be very suprised!

Now, Medellin Aiport is pretty basic - you arrive and go straight downstairs to collect your baggage - make sure you have your baggage receipt from check-in as the guards need this to see if you've picked up the right bag! A taxi in to the city will cost about 35,000 pesos (about 10 pounds!) and takes about 45 minutes.

Word of advice though, i wouldnt even consider carrying around a weapon, i have had some experience of Mexican police, that wasnt pleasant and i guess the colombian police are like that!

Hope this helps - regards john

i'm so gonna move to colombia :o)

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morphus says on Apr 29, 2006, 06:42:

When I first landed in Medellin and was taking the taxi to the city, It felt like I was upstate New York. I guess it was the mountains and the trees. I was thinking "this is going to be boring". Luckily, 10 minutes upon arriving into the city, I met a hot chica...lol

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fabio caro says on Dec 4, 2006, 07:18:

Travel to Medellin I am Colombian livin in USA for more than 28 years I will travel to Medellin for the holidays some one can tell me a place were I can receive the New Year

Fabio

Fabio

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