Medellín: So much to say

We have just finished a week in Medellín, Colombia, but we wish we had much more time in this city, and in the rest of the country. We tried to pack as much as we could into every day–our usual vacation style vs. the slow-travel approach of the last three months. And since we haven’t posted once, we have so much to share.

First up: First impressions

It’s funny how the little things surprised us and made us feel so comfortable:

• Drivers stop for pedestrians who are trying to cross the street–even if they are just waiting on the sidewalk. After three months in Ecuador, we couldn’t believe it when the first driver stopped and waved us across.
• In general, people share the sidewalks and move aside to let others pass.
• There are sidewalks to share.
• The city is lush and green. It is built in a valley, at about 4900 feet, with green mountains rising all around.
• In general, the roads are in excellent condition.
• We were told by our host that it was completely safe to walk around at night in the area we were staying.
• Buildings are finished and well cared for. (This in contrast to many in Ecuador where roughing in a top floor is common, leaving exposed rebar and wires and the appearance of everything under construction.)

After just a couple of days, we were smitten. Since there is so much to share, I have grouped some of our experiences into the following posts:

Medellin: Downtown
Medellin: Trains, gondolas, and escalators
Guatape: Beyond Medellin

TripBits

• We stayed at an AirBnB in the Poblado neighborhood, the one most often recommended when people ask where to stay. It was a great location as we could walk to the metro, large grocery stores, the restaurants of Calle de la Buena Mesa, and the nightlife of Parque de Lleras.
• Say hello and engage–people are happy to have tourists in their city and really try to help.