Charlie's MED Trip I

[Charlie640]

MED TRIP REPORT
After all the talk about how nice MED was.. I decided to take a peek.
I didn't have too much time available so I settled on 7 days.
I also did it on fairly short notice of about 30 days.
Out of 12 or so gals I contacted on the net .. I got replies from 5.
I talked to one of them on MSN and I got the impression she was NUTS,
so she was out. Another was seperated... and I took the cue from
you guys here and avoided almost certain death. So this left 3.
I knew early on this was going to be more of a relaxing slow paced trip without
the chasing around I was used to in my prior BOG. Listening to LL's BOG trip report brought back many good memories!! I was also looking forward to meeting Micky and Tinto.

Things got off to a ****ty start when I left my Laptop at the other end of the Xray machine in NYC. I realized I left it when in COL. As it turned out the place I was staying at didn't have in room net access anyway.. so it would have gotten little use even if I did have it. I was in mouring for the next few days. Luckily I got a call that it was found and I later retrieved it. Lesson learned.... I have since enabled the biometric finger print reader in it and put a BIG reward if found label on it.

Drive into MED was really neat. It has a completely different feel than
BOG. It felt more like I was visiting a Caribean Island, minus the beach.
Place has fantastic weather and plant life. I was in awe when I saw a humming bird doing its thing. Thought is was an oversized dragon fly at first.
Looking down on the city from the mountain top was awesome.

Stayed at the Provincia Apartment Hotel which is off
Calle 10 and Carrera 30A. They do not speak a word of English.
Place is a solid 3 stars.
I had a kitchen, a new big LG TV with cable, and a DVD player.
Bathroom was on the small side. There is a Carullas across the street which came in handle when buying water and eggs. There is also a Bodytech Gym 5 blocks away. The place was relatively clean.
The place is gated with a 24 hour guard and
I felt 100% safe their and in this area.. BUT I was somewhat
horrified to learn that they do not have an in room safes.
They have one safe in the 1st floor office. THis place came on Ray's
recommendation ( thanks Ray ) ... so I had faith they would not walk off with my goodies. They count how much $ you leave with them, and itemize other things and put them all into an envelope and into the safe. The safe seemed very small, and given the fact they are on the first floor... one of these days that safe is going to get stolen. I was also shocked to learn that guests DO NOT have access to the safe on weekends!!!! I was not aware of that initially... and it was a good thing I was not leaving town on a weekend.
Location wise.... its a 10 minute walk from Parque LLegas.. but it is all uphill the last 4 blocks.. and it is a very STEEP hill. Overall it was a very good value for $50 a night. If it had wireless internet for all the rooms and an inroom safe I would return without a second thought.

This was my first experience dealing with the nuances of calling cell phones
from within COL. In the past I just picked my hotel phone and made the call.... but since this was not an uppity hotel all such calls to cellphones were blocked. I later found out that the only way to call a cellphone was to buy a "FIXED to Cellular" prepaid card or deal with one of the folks on the street corner with the signs that say Cellular 300 pesos/minute.
Next time I will bring a GSM phone and hopefully find a prepaid SIM card to use.

After my 2 days of mourning for computer I got around to calling some folks.
I hooked up with one 25yr old gal Ms T. I was on guard with her since she started using all those mushy words on MSN chat almost immediately. I decided to meet her anyway given that my "girls to meet" list was on the short side.
She shows at my Hotel with her mother in tow!! I should have been surprised by this.. but them again I wasn't since this happened one other time... so I'm thinking . "Here we go again" !! Fortunately she didn't stick around for long.. she gave me some story about how her mother had a doctors appointment in the area so ... you know the rest... so we chatted a bit and then 5 minutes later she was back in the taxi.... I guess I passed the test. I think the story was BS but thats OK ... I completely understand her mothers concern. I wished more mothers in the USA took a more pro-active role in their daughters life.
Last time a gals mother showed up unannounced she stayed for dinner and I was getting a bit worried when we are in the taxi for 30 min going to a place the mother knows.. and I am thinking ... "I AM BEING KIDNAPPED, I GOTTA BAIL OUT OF THIS TAXI" ! Anyway... back to Ms T ... She's a nice sweet gal.. but she's a bit of a bubble head... and I can see we have little to talk about besides our mutual affinity for vegetables. Appearances only open the door to a relationship but cannot sustain it. I knew within 10 minutes that this would be my first and last date with her, and it was ..... although she had other ideas and was calling my room for the next 2 days.

I then hooked up with Ms K whom I did not see a foto of. Yeahhhhhh bad news.. I know.. but there is gold out there and I was willing to take the chance based on the description. I call her cell... and next thing I know I am am speaking English to a Gringo.. and I am thinking... what?? this gal is a Prepago and I am now talking to her pimp Aussie Greg!!?? Well.. these thoughts were quicky put to rest when he says that he is the boyfriend of Ms K's boss who runs a photo studio. He has a commuter relationship with her.. and spends half his time in MED and Half in the states. Now here is a guy I can relate to !! So he says they will drop Ms K off by car in Parque Llegas.
So they arrive and I am fixated on this gorgeous blond headed gal, in her 30's, in the front passenger side seat. She has her head out the window and is smiling .. and I am thinking
" WOW ..... just my type". THEN my heart jumps back into my chest when the rear door opens up and the REAL Ms K, makes her appearence. Not that she is unattractive, but clearly there is a BIG descrepancy in what was stated in the profile... and I know immediately that physically speaking she is not my type. The car pulls away and Ms K and myself head toward the Juan Valdez for a round of serious chit chat. As it turns out Ms K's boss, the cutie little blonde, is her life long friend and it was her that pushed Ms K to get her profile posted on LAC. I think Ms K's boss found this guy she is dating on LAC. It was Ms K's boss that posted all the info about Ms K and used her own physical description, NOT
Ms K's !! Yeah... no doubt that was not Ms K's description.
For one thing Ms K is a smoker and has a bit on the chubby side, too tall, but by no means unattactive... just not my physical type. On a positive note.. we did get along marvelously and had a great time together. She made a real effort, without me asking, not to use complicated words and she spoke at a relatively slow pace. I think this was because she was over 30 and not a bubble head, but despite the apparent great chemistry I knew it was my first and last date with her.

The third gal was a no show.

I hooked up with Micky and we had a great time paling around. Micky tells it like it is an lets it all hang out. He is one honorable Gringo and meeting him was one of the highlights of my trip. I was also fortunate to spend some time with Micky's other half Dora and her little rascal of a son. All I can say is that there is VERY good reason for Micky to be in such a good mood !! They make a good couple and it is no wonder that Micky affectionately refers to her as his wife. We all went to see the Christmas lights in downtown MED on Sunday night. It was fabulous! We did have an encounter with an agressive beggar type that had a piece of meat hanging out of his stomach.... I was told it was not real.... I wonder if it was for sale by the pound?

I also had the pleasure of meeting Tinto. He is a cool cat. He reminds me of Clint Eastwood.


I remember something said about Latinas focusing on small things like a guys shoes. I think this is VERY true. Leave the sneakers as well as the shorts at home. I was surprised that 2 of the gals made comments about my nails... none of which were especially complementary !! I bite my nails... and they noticed. I got very defensive at that point.. and started hiding my fingertips !! I need to work on this.... maybe I can bite my toes mails instead?
I remember when I was in Lima my gal pal their took me into a nail place to get her nails and my stubby nails done as well.. BOY did that hurt !!!!!! I posted a few amusing pix of that. Is there hope.. or should I should have my fingers amputated and start over???

I hope to be back in MED for round II next month, but this time I need to explore the city a bit more.

[LastLion]

Back on the nails thing again huh Charlie? Sounds like an actual vacation! I wish I had one! So overall, what do you think about medellin compared to bogota! Likes & Dislikes??

[HonkyTonk]

Enjoyed the report Charlie! I'm glad you had a good time. It's hard not to have a good time in LAm.

You're braver than a drunk gringo in Buenaventura with an anti Che t-shirt...meeting a woman you never even saw a pic of. Now that's scarey, especially with how picky you are.

Charles, put those hands away before you scare the kids! Those are the hands of a man who hasn't been laid in 3 years. Don't shake hands with Charlie Just kidding man!!! because...

Many a time a latina's pulled a complete hand kit out of nowhere to give Tonk's mitts a workover. Don't let them talk you into putting that shiney sh*t on your nails. Nothing short of wearing a skirt will cause an hombre to question his manhood more!

Clint Tinto...ClinTinto. Kinda has a ring to it, don't you think?

Looking foreward to PT-2!

[Micky10]

I will say that I TRY and prejudge NO one, but to be honest I thought Charlie would have a little edge to him; all blamed on that NYC attitude that is somewhat common. Well I was wrong AGAIN! Charlie was a REALLY nice man, great to talk with and is welcome in our home anytime. Dora thought he was so nice she is hooking Charlie up with her SISTER upon his return trip! Charlie thank you very much for the kind words. Next time we will go to Centro and the West side and make a full day of it.

Love - Micky

[Tinto]

Charlie,

It was nice meeting up with you also. Too bad it was on your last day here otherwise we could have done something other than have tinto at the local Juan Valdez store.

Eastwood huh? I sure hope you were talking about his younger days, say, Fistful of Dollars rather than Million Dollar Baby. Poor Clint, the years were not too kind to him.

I got to the Valdez store before Charlie arrived and saw him walking up the hill and made him for a Gringo. His shirt was tucked in and was too neat to be an expat. I also pegged Charlie as a cool cat and on the intelligent side. At least too smart for me to get the name of that cute blond he referred to above.

I always find it interesting putting a face to a poster here, especially if you've been reading their posts for a while.

What did I tell you guys? Another Latina checking out the nails. I'm telling you, invest in that nail kit I mentioned in a previous post and make those things look pruddy before your trip down south because the ladies will definitely be checking out your hands. I guess they equate nice looking hands/nails to being refined and gentlemanly. Oh well, whatever works, right?

[Charlie640]

LL >>
Did I really discuss the nail thing here previously?
Yes.... this was definetly not one of those whirlwind trips
to BOG like you had!! I also needed a vacation after
I visited LAI the first time... but it was so much FUN !
,, and I got to meet Tonk briefly too!!
I really need to see more of the city to make a fair comparison
of MED vs. BOG... but overall my intitial impressions of MED are
favorable, and I'd say it is more "liveable" than BOG.

Tonk >
Hmmmmmmmm .. I was hiding my palms from you guys. Those calluses on my palms aren't from lifting weights.

I think if we drop the "N" in either name, its quite fitting.


Micky >
Thanks Micky.... I always like to be buttered up like that....
Your right Micky... the majority of NYers can be hard edged, and I can be too, but not with friends and certainly not while on vacation. YEsssssssss... we will have to plan some joint excursions for sure !! Contrary to what I told you earlier.... it looks like I won't have to delay my next trip to MED ! Ohhhhhhhh please ask Dora what Astrological sign her sister is ... I'm curious.

Tinto >>
Clint ala "High Plains Drifter"
I wish I was smart enough to get the name of that Blonde.. but she was taken anywayyyyyyyyyyy. Hey.. meant to ask you... whats with the 2 cellphones?? According to MED MIKE... thats a RED FLAG..... are you a pre-pago ?? Please do tell .

[Tinto]

Charlie,

The reason why I currently have two cell phones is because one is a "prepago" (pre pay) while the other is a plan account. Once I received my cedula I was able to acquire a plan program. It is cheaper than paying as you go. For example, my particular plan with Comcel is 90.000 COP per month for 500 minutes. Comcel couldn't convert my old prepago number to the plan account so unfortunately I had to buy another SIM card. Once I notify everyone of my new number I will go back to one cell phone.

You are correct though, when a chica has two cell phones it may be a sign she is a working gal. One cell phone for business and the other for personal use.

ClinTinto

[LastLion]

Originally Posted by Charlie640

LL >>
Did I really discuss the nail thing here previously?

Not sure if it was you , maybe Tinto! I remember it though!!
Well anyways great to hear your persepective charlie! I really appreciate your insight into things!

Being it manicures o Latinas, bogota o medellin!

[Tinto]

LL,

Okay, I fess up. It was me that came out of the NAIL closet.

Ya think Clint would have gotten his nails done to impress the ladies?

[LastLion]

Originally Posted by Tinto

LL,

Okay, I fess up. It was me that came out of the NAIL closet.

Ya think Clint would have gotten his nails done to impress the ladies?

No problem for me taking care of yourself is an important deal. I have the working man hands! Not sure what having a manicure does or how it helps, but I definetely keep my nails trimmed!

Hey at least you aren't that pilot someone was talking about here who is getting the full body wax !!!!


Or are you?

NO not you Azjet!

Not sure if Clint would have his nails done! Maybe JACK! jajaja but who knows? Jack is always with the hot young gals!