In and around Medellin

After traveling exclusively and packing our things every few days for the first few weeks, we were really looking forward to our time in Medellin, where we could finally settle in one place. The first impression of the hostel was ok and the language school was only a few minutes' walk away. So a routine quickly developed, consisting of yoga, school, studying, and eating. However, the first weekend Halloween was just around the corner, and as it turned out, it is celebrated here extensively (the whole weekend before, on Halloween itself, and the whole weekend after). For this occasion, we met up with some French people we met in Minca, dressed up for a fancy dinner, and then went out to explore the nightlife. We stumbled upon a club that had a pool filled with colorful balls. A very funny idea, lots of fun, (just a bit gross/sticky).

However, we didn't have time to explore Medellin because of our routine. We made up for it on the second weekend. The first destination was Park Arvi, which can be reached by cable car and is a good place for hiking (if you have the right shoes...). In general, the transportation in Medellin is excellent. It is the only city in Colombia with a metro system and is referred to as a model city in South America not only because of that. Afterwards, we explored the area around the university, where there is a large botanical garden. And on the way back, we made a stop at the main tourist plaza, Plaza Botero, where the artist presents - in my opinion - very peculiar artworks.

However, in our experience, one should not venture too far from this place. The cityscape changes quickly and you can suddenly find yourself surrounded by prostitutes and junkies. We certainly didn't feel safe there, turned around, and left the place as soon as possible.

The following week, Franzi and I decided to go our separate ways from now on. But perhaps the Franzi fans can convince her to write her own blog ;) Anyway, I wish you a beautiful (and safe) journey, with great experiences and nice people around you.

For me, the journey continued to Guatape. The planned 2 days quickly turned into 5. After the city life in Medellin, some time in nature was more than necessary. I met a Colombian woman on the bus, with whom I spent time here. She introduced me to Colombian cuisine and since she didn't speak a word of English, my Spanish skills improved significantly during that time (out of necessity). Guatape itself is a small and extremely colorful village. Here are 1-2 pictures:

The main attraction is La Piedra, a pretty big rock in the middle of the landscape. The locals claim that it is a meteorite, but... I doubt that. The view, however, is really beautiful.

However, since it was a long weekend (I believe the independence of Cartagena from the Spaniards was celebrated - there are incredibly many holidays here), the small village was quite crowded. But if you look for it, you can quickly find remote and quiet places where you can do yoga and relax. Like this perfectly still lake.

Biking, relaxing, doing yoga, and enjoying good food. That describes the 5 days best. And I got to experience how happy Colombians are that some peace has entered their country when a little girl came up to me on the street and said, 'Thank you so much for visiting my country'. A very moving moment.

Afterwards, I returned to Medellin. This time, however, I stayed in a different hostel. Unfortunately, there were too many negative experiences in the first hostel: besides a very high noise level and excessive alcohol and drug consumption, Franzi lost a lot of money and her 20 in 1 super shampoo was stolen, and I had uncomfortable experiences with my homosexual roommate who apparently didn't understand what NO means. The new hostel with a large rooftop terrace in a quiet area and excellent breakfast was all the more beautiful.

I met up with the Colombian woman again, and she took me to a restaurant above Medellin. Here you have a beautiful view over the whole city and the surrounding region.

We spent the following weekend together in Jardin. Three hours south of Medellin and already in the coffee region. The only highlight of the village is the park and the big church. But there is a lot to discover around the village. Great hiking trails, a sugar cane factory - powered by water, viewpoints, waterfalls, and caves.

Today I'm going to Santiago de Chile, and even though the start in Colombia was a bit bumpy, saying goodbye is really hard for me now. In this sense: Salud por Colombia! Nos vemos en Chile!