Mom and Dad’s Week with us in Medellin (May 6-14)
Thank you Mom for being a guest blogger with us!
Thank you Mom for being a guest blogger with us!
My husband, Pres, and I recently spent a week visiting our daughter, Jennifer, grandson Gustavo, and new grandson, David in Medellin, Colombia, South America. We are home, unpacked, and have finally caught up with things. We had a wonderful trip, met our new grandson, David, and found Medellin to be a great modern city with almost all of the comforts of home.
Mother’s Day Celebration at Mexican Restaurant
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Some things we learned about Medellin:
- No one wears shorts or even capris most places, especially at the mall. Ask me how I know this. Pres was wearing shorts and I had capris on for our first mall visit. We were the only ones not wearing long pants in the entire mall (which seemed to be at least as big as the Mall of America). It didn’t bother us, as we were also the only ones carrying cameras. Can you say, “Tourist”?
- Any order of “messy” food (even at a fast food restaurant) includes a pair of plastic gloves to wear while eating. Famous Dave’s, listen up! Out with those wet wipes and in with the gloves.
- Although the traffic was terrible at times, the only accident we witnessed while there was the one we were in. Luckily, there was only minor damage caused by another driver (not our taxi driver) and no injuries.
- “Tomorrow” does not necessarily mean tomorrow, but instead means “sometime in the future/maybe”.
- I came across a new way to carry my cellphone. I will now be wearing only cleavage baring shirts and will carry my cellphone wedged right between the girls!
- For a total of $20, we were able to hire a manicurist to come to the apartment and do pedicures for both Jennifer and myself. I’ve been asking my local nail salon for years why they don’t make house calls!
- Although most things were very expensive down there, $18 US dollars buys 18 DVD’s (some very current) from a card table on the street. These can’t be bootleg, can they?
- Only in Medellin, is a cable car part of the local transportation system. A ticket for the Metro (train) includes all Metro stops and continues with a cable car ride up the mountains.
- All of the students wear uniforms. The girls wear little plaid pleated shirts, white blouses, and knee hi’s. Don’t let their innocence fool you. While we were sitting outside eating, 4 uniformed school girls ran past us carrying a fifth girl who had just been stabbed by another girl while on their lunch hour.
- Security people are everywhere. We never felt unsafe.
- The people of Medellin were all very friendly, although very few speak English. When people heard us speaking English, many would come up to us and ask to practice their English.
- Because Medellin is in the mountains, every walk was uphill. (How can that be? We must have gone downhill at some time!). Even the entrances to the malls were comprised of ramps and lots of steps. My legs still ache.
- We learned to always bring a raincoat and/or umbrella whenever we went anywhere. Although the temperature was wonderful while we were in Medellin, it rained every day but 3. We got caught in the rain a few times. Other times, it rained only at night. Because of the rain, everything is lush and green.
- The food was delicious and we ate a LOT! See before and after pics below. Just kidding. These are pics from the trick mirrors.
BEFORE
AFTER
While in the local supermarket, we noticed this bar right in the middle of
it. I’m not sure if it was really a bar
or just a display, but Pres really wanted to check it out!
- Kid’s meals are very large!
- Brotherly love is the same in any country! We love our little grandsons so much!
Thank you so much, Jennifer, for allowing us to be a part of
your adventure!
Love,
Mom and Dad
Thank you for this wonderful post.
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