I haven’t updated for 1.5 weeks because I’ve been in Medellín waiting for my bike to be repaired. Medellín has a tendency to become more appealing with time. At first glance it seems like another sprawled, car congested American city set in a vast valley albeit with good natural light and a lot of trees and well landscaped streets even in industrial areas. After taking the metro (the only one in Colombia) a number of times I noticed that even though the buildings are largely ugly concrete towers, the natural light and clarity of the surrounding mountains makes the city look beautiful.
My time has mostly been spent with a mix of Paisas (residents of Medellin) and foreigners from the Casa Kiwi hostal. Located in the upmarket Parque Lleras, I can’t say it’s been very representative of the city but visits to bars, clubs, the Botanical Garden, and the crowded center have all been pleasant. Again I’m struck by how a country with a GDP per capita of under $3000 USD can be so clean, ordered, and with such well behaved and polite people. I’ll update more when I manage to pick up my bike and leave town sometime this weekend.
The bike repairs have expanded as I arrived in town, the current list is:
- solder the exhaust which has cracked
- replace the chain and rear sprocket (teeth sheared off while driving to the mechanic)
- solder reinforcements on the luggage rack
- replace sparkplug with an iridium one (30,000 km lifetime)
- new cam chain
- new Pirelli – MT90
- fix rear brake light switch
It was to take about three days. It’s been 1.5 weeks. Torben’s bike is also in limbo, with parts in a plane in Miami which won’t depart for Colombia until the flowers that it’s to pick up in Colombia are ready…
Medellin, Colombia
Identifying fruits of Colombia (Chris?)
Botero, Central Medellin, Colombia
You’re asking me?
You of all people should know that I prefer native locally grown fruits, while if memory serves me right, you are the expert for Mexican and similarly exotic fruits.
Good to hear you didn’t fall victim to a gang of beggars ;-)
This is awesome. More pictures, please. For those of us who will (most likely) never go to Colombia.
Hello?
More pictures, please I am from Medellin and I want to see more pictures. Do you have friends???
Botero statue wonderful . I have a copy of one of his paintings in my office – it shows a lady of somewhat similar build seated partly unclad at a card table where one of her ( male ) companions can be seen to be surreptitiously holding additional aces below the table .
From what I’ve seen most of his paintings show human activity in a sly or ludicrous posture . If there is a museum showing his work it would be worth a visit .
That was mainly why I took the photos. I also went to the Botero museum in Bogota, but the Medellin park of statues was better – apparently he was a Paisa – a local.
not apparently, he is! some of the best artists Colombia has ever had are Paisas: Botero, De Greiff, Juanes, just to mention some…
Clean, beautiful mountains, friendly people, excellent fruit. Where else in the world can you find this? Medellin is truly an awesome place, I know, I stayed here and do not wan to leave; EVER!