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The danger of raised expectations
Blog: Itinerant Londoner - 6 July 2009
Amongst the global backpacking crowd, countries don’t get much cooler at the moment than Colombia. While I was researching my trip, Colombia wasn’t even on my original itinerary. After hearing people rave about it, and in particular how much safer it is now, it became a must see. When I got to Mexico, the excitement continued [...]
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Relaxing in the Colombian Countryside
Blog: GoBackpacking - 6 July 2009
This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series Adventures at a Colombian FincaI was awoken way too early, around the hour of 7:30 am, by Max Blanco – slobbering canine friend. Another smaller dog also made himself at home on my mattress, practically pushing me off of it. Oh, the joys of living [...] Related posts:Adventures at a Colombian Finca
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Historic cities, natural beauty and a warm welcome in Colombia
Blog: Heather on her travels - 1 July 2009
My Guest post today will take you to Colombia - where you’ll find a warm welcome, historic cities and beautiful national parks. Andrew and Andrea are travelling around South America and provide travel advice and hostel reviews at Review-Hostel.com. Colombia. The very word alone inflicts fear into even the most laid back parents and relatives. Colombia [...]
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Adventures at a Colombian Finca
Blog: GoBackpacking - 1 July 2009
This entry is part 1 of 2 in the series Adventures at a Colombian FincaOn weekends and holidays, the city folk in Medellin like to escape to the countryside. I’d been hearing about foreigners visiting fincas (country houses) from time to time, and was hoping I’d have the opportunity to experience this aspect of Colombian [...] Related posts:Relaxing in the Colombian Countryside
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Update From Medellin #2
Blog: GoBackpacking - 18 June 2009
A Colombiana recently asked me what I would be doing my last 4 weeks in Medellin. I replied that I would be doing exactly what I have been doing. I’ve been living my life the way I’ve wanted for the last 19 months. Why should I stop now? It has been 2 months since I last [...] Related posts:Update From Medellin
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Update From Medellin
Blog: GoBackpacking - 15 April 2009
Wow, it is hard for me to believe I’ve been in Colombia 3 months already. Time is flying by now, and I just renewed my tourist visa for the second time yesterday. You can follow my exploits here by checking out (or better yet, subscribing) to my new blog, Medellin Living. What will you find there? [...]
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Final Thoughts – Colombia
Blog: GoBackpacking - 18 March 2009
Colombia was to be the last country of my trip around the world, and either because I was nearing the end of my adventure, or I simply couldn’t satisfy my curiosity about the place, its people, and culture, I decided to see what it would take to live abroad. Throughout the previous 13 months of [...]
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The Return Trip To Medellin
Blog: GoBackpacking - 17 March 2009
1:10 pm Sitting aboard my Avianca flight to Medellin via Bogota. Tired. Very. Melancholy. Only internet access at airport was wireless and of course my laptop battery is dead, the AC Adapter stolen. Maybe I try to sleep now. Long travel day but better than the 13-hour bus ride. On the ride to Barranquilla, I sat next [...]
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An Overdue Day At The Beach
Blog: GoBackpacking - 13 March 2009
I was up early my first morning in Cartagena, and went to check my e-mail, only to find the details of a writing assignment I had accepted for a popular website. Immediately, I was torn between experiencing the city, and figuring out how to accomplish the assignment in the 3 days given. I [...]
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Leaving Carnaval For Cartagena
Blog: GoBackpacking - 12 March 2009
Monday morning, I made the impromptu decision to leave Carnaval in Barranquilla for Cartagena. Since my plan was to return to Medellin in a few days, I didn´t know if I would make it back to the coast. I said goodbye to the Irish guys/gals who were heading for the same city later [...]
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Carnaval – Day 2 – Dancing In The Streets
Blog: GoBackpacking - 11 March 2009
The general plan for Sunday was to sleep late, and return to the same spot where we watched the parade the first day. Unfortunately, with our now giant group, it took forever to get moving. I was tired, but I figured once I was outside again, in the mix, my energy level would [...]
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Carnaval In Colombia
Blog: GoBackpacking - 10 March 2009
A group of us headed north in taxis to see the parade on Saturday afternoon. I bought a traditional woven hat, paying too much because I didn´t shop around and didn´t want to hold off due to the intense midday sun. Our groups splintered, but we mostly found each other after an hour [...]
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Hotel Olimpico vs. Couchsurfing
Blog: GoBackpacking - 9 March 2009
Stepping out of the cool bus Friday morning, I was immediately greeted with the heat and humidity of the Caribbean coast. The sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky. Lonely Planet and the few travel blog entries I´d read about Barranquilla, describe it as something of a big [...]
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Overnight Bus To Barranquilla
Blog: GoBackpacking - 6 March 2009
On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, I took the metro to the northern bus station in Medellin and with a little hand gesturing and patience, managed to buy an overnight bus ticket to Barranquilla, a large city on the Caribbean coast which plays host to Colombia´s biggest annual Carnaval celebration. The one way ticket cost was [...]
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Hostel Robbery
Blog: GoBackpacking - 5 March 2009
A few weeks ago, a Colombian girl entered the hostel in an altered/distraught state and took a bed in a room on the lower floor. While I was using the internet in reception, I heard her ask Paul, the owner, if she could switch rooms. She told him she had been drugged the night before [...]
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Transitions & Launching MedellinLiving.com
Blog: GoBackpacking - 3 March 2009
I tried to leave Medellin. I booked a flight to Santa Marta on the coast, but knowing it was fully refundable, canceled it the day before departure. After more than 14 months of travel through 20 countries, I finally felt as though I´d seen enough of the world. Another beach, another village, another mountain, another [...]
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Capoeira In Colombia
Blog: GoBackpacking - 3 March 2009
I met Martin (dressed in black) from Germany my first Friday night in Medellin. He is working abroad at Universidad EAFIT for 6 months, and has been practicing capoeira, the Brazilian mix of martial arts and dance, for several years. He discovered two capoeira groups in Medellin. I thought I would go [...]
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Salsa Dancing At Kukaramakara Club
Blog: GoBackpacking - 2 March 2009
I met Luisa from Couchsurfing on a Friday night outside the Industriales metro station. The plan was to go dancing but I didn´t know where. She assured me it would be fun. To my surprise, she was with two friends, including Catalina (black shirt) the birthday girl. They were all wearing [...]
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Pablo Escobar’s Grave
Blog: GoBackpacking - 28 February 2009
I had to visit. Pablo Escobar’s influence on Medellin, Colombia, and the world of drug-trafficking was too infamous. I took the metro to Itagui, and then asked a taxi to take me to his grave at the Cemetario Jardins Montesacro. Along the way, he told me his Dad use to work for [...]
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Salsa Lessons With The Students Of Antioquia U.
Blog: GoBackpacking - 27 February 2009
The day after the Couchsurfing party, I met Martin from Germany, at the Universidad metro station. While I was waiting for him, I took in the view of the city from the vantage point of the elevated platform. Gorgeous! We then met up with Luisa, one of the students at the large University of [...]
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Saturday Night In Sabaneta
Blog: GoBackpacking - 20 February 2009
I met Milena from Couchsurfing at the Juan Valdez Cafe in Parque Lleras. We walked across the street to Thaico for dinner and drinks. Like many of the restaurants in the Zona Rosa, special deals were available.
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Teatro Lido
Blog: GoBackpacking - 18 February 2009
I took a taxi to Teatro Lido and found Jesusa at the back of the 2-block line. She was with a German couple – Ann and Amu. Only Ann stuck with us for the free dance performance this Friday night.
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Food Mission: Brasarepa
Blog: GoBackpacking - 15 February 2009
I watched Anthony Bourdain’s Colombian episode of No Reservations on YouTube from the hostel, and inspired to track down at least one place where he ate in Medellin, I confirmed the address of Brasarepa with Salome, one of the hostel staff.
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Couchsurfing Connections
Blog: GoBackpacking - 14 February 2009
I arranged to meet Jesusa from Couchsurfing downtown one afternoon. She was going to take me on a walk past some of the sights I hadn’t seen my first few days. I was late because the taxi driver didn’t understand where I wanted to go. As we speeded past the city center, [...] Related posts:Hotel Olimpico vs.
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Medellin´s Cable Car
Blog: GoBackpacking - 13 February 2009
Medellin is very proud of its metro system, and unlike any other I´ve used, it features cable cars which extend off the train lines to reach up mountains to the poorer neighborhoods in the city.
