8. Medellín
Day 95
Today I have only a short hop of 100 km to Medellín. I am dragging my feet, having a nice slow breakfast. I don’t want to be in the city too early. I need only 2 hrs to get there, provided there are no snags. Yeah, right …
I finally leave at 10. This is the latest I have departed in the morning on this trip. Inching my way through the resort town, enjoying the scenery. It is really pretty here but too touristy for me. But I can spend a week here, no problem. My GPS says I will be there before noon. Unacceptable, that is too early. Only way to solve this “problem” is to stop for another coffee. It is not too hard and soon I am sipping on a strong Colombian coffee. Nothing else to do just people watch. My favourite pastime … But I can do it only for so long and I soon enough I am on my way again. I hit the main freeway heading to Medellin. The route is in my GPS and in my iPhone so what can go wrong, right? A very nice freeway with a fair amount of traffic all heading the same way. But there are LOTS of cyclist there. Single, couples or the whole groups. They all look like they can join the Tour de France tomorrow. Somehow, they are not afraid of dying as they ride 2, 3 and even 4 abreast on a freeway! And nobody gets bend out of shape here. Even with that nutty traffic. Another thing we can learn from here. But boy, it is hilly here. I am heading towards the international airport which is east and above the city at 2,600m. The city is at 1,500m. Incredible climbs and descents. The roads are wide with nice wide and paved shoulders. Awesome place for cycling. Colombia must have a very deep pool of great cyclists.
I take a turn which takes me directly to the city. My place is, of course, right on the other side. I checked my route last night and noticed that the last portion is through a long tunnel. I noted that and put it in the back shelf of my head. But that might be a problem. At some places, motorcycles are not allowed into the tunnels. Soon enough I arrive at the toll booths. I look for a familiar moto entrance, but I can’t see one. I stay on the right side and stop. And there is a guy in the booth waving at me, clearly gesturing I need to turn around. He gets out and come to see me. He wears a double barrel shot gun on his chest. Hmmm, I won’t be arguing with this guy. But he was very nice and explained that I can’t go into the tunnel. He explain how to get out and then showed me pictures on his phone where to go. Super nice. I turned around and backtrack a bit then find my way to the route around the tunnel. Well, this one is sure much more scenic. And twisty, and steep. Medellín is way down bellow in the valley. This is one impressive city. Descending steeply into the city and my GPSs are all flustered after I couldn’t get through he tunnel. Needless to say I end up taking a wrong exit and do some more sightseeing. I should note that meantime I try to ride my bike and find my way in a foreign city, there are bikers whizzing by me left and right. I have never seen so many big bikes on the entire trip. It is obvious, there is a lots of money here. After awhile and through some very heavy traffic I find my place. It looks very upscale hood with nice highrises. I find mine building and park my bike right in front of it. The door to the lobby is closed and there is a big security guard. I tell him who I am (for some reason he didn’t recognize me … 😂) He said he can’t let me in til 1500. It is 2 hrs from now. I am not going anywhere, though, I am hot. He lets me park the bike after the first gate in the building and I go for a coffee in a bistro very conveniently located next door. I have no problem to kill 2 hrs and coffee and food is awesome. Meantime I get my entry info via WhatsApp. The guard lets me in at 1445 … Running tight ship here. He sends me towards the second gate and onto a car elevator. I get in and go down two levels, and get out in nearly empty floor. Not sure which place to park, I stop. Soon the guard comes down and points me to my spot. Nice. I am in. My apartment is at 6th floor. Luckily they have elevators here so I take everything off the bike and haul it into my place.
Really nice one. A big loft with a fully equipped kitchen and a washing machine. That’s way I picked this place, bc I am pretty dirty. Mainly my clothes, though … 😉 I have a nice view of the surrounding hills from the floor to ceiling windows. I have an internet, so life is good. I am in Medellín. I feel like I know this place but I’ve never been here. I’ve read a lot about it, I’ve seen a lots of report on TV and we all have seen the Netflix series. I have 3 days and 4 nights here so it will be interesting.
I am paying a lot of money for this place. In fact, it is more than twice the amount I paid so far. But it is still less then half what I was paying for motels in the US. I pay here $60 CAD/night. Pretty cheap considering I am in one of the best hoods in the city.
Lets see what can I find here.