Since we'd seen just about everything there is to be seen for tourists in Medellin, today we headed out of town once again. From the metro we took a bus to the pueblo of Santa Fe de Antioquia to see what we could find. The one hour bus ride was even more of an adventure as we boarded a tiny white bus that held only eight passengers. Our driver seemed to know everyone as he passed by waving, stopping to chat or even to buy a snack.
Our day trip took us through the Tunel de Occidente, the longest in all of South America. The 2 kilometer tunnel connects Medellin to Santa Fe, reducing the distance by 30 minutes to get from the big city to the tiny pueblo. Along the way we passed through the pueblo of San Jeronimo with it's village square featuring a tiny church, restaurants and shops, a few hotels and roadside food vendors.
Once our little bus stopped in Santa Fe de Antioquia at the bus station we headed down the street to find the central park and plaza of the town. The hustle and bustling little village was full of tuk tuk's, motorcycles, cars, buses and plenty of pedestrians too. As usual we couldn't pass up an opportunity to taste the delights of the village and since it was time for lunch, we stopped to eat. A local joint called, "Pielroja," or "red skin" was decorated with Indian heads and other memorabilia. We both ordered the "menu del dia," which included patacon or plantain soup, rice, fries, salad, a whole fried tilapia fish and lemon aid for around $3.50.
Santa Fe is lower in elevation that Medellin and is therefore hot year round. With the heat and bright sunlight after walking around a while we decided to ask someone for a tour. As usual we let the taxi driver be our friend but in this case the taxi was a tuk tuk. Gasoline prices in Colombia are pricey and therefore many of the locals either use motorcycles, tuk-tuk's (where appropriate) or don't drive at all and use public transport. Someone told us that gas prices here run around $5 per gallon yet looking at the signs in transit I calculated it to be much less, but my conversion from pesos to dollars isn't too good.
The town square is full of tuk-tuk's with eager drivers waiting to offer tours to tourists. For around $12 he drove us around for an hour or more showing us the major sites of this village. A camera buff at heart he was rather eager to take photos of Clyde and I together at every stop, until we told him it was not necessary. Our young guide was impressed with our understanding of Spanish and complimented us for how well we spoke his language too.
One of the must see sights in this area is the Puente de Occidente which sits a few kilometers outside the village center. Built at the end of the 19th century it was considered one of the most magnificent civil engineering works of its time. When it was completed in 1895 it was the third longest bridge in the world and the longest in South America at 300 meters long. In 1978 the bridge was declared a National Monument.
Santa Fe de Antioquia is well known for it's stunning colonial architecture some of the best preserved in all of Colombia. The quaint little village is reminiscent of olden days with narrow cobblestone streets, a lovely plaza, white washed buildings and beautiful churches and parks.
We boarded a bus back to Medellin which was a much bigger bus with air conditioning. After relaxing and freshening up for dinner we headed out for dinner. Last Friday when we arrived at our hotel we noticed a line coming out of a nearby restaurant. Literally next door to our hotel is a tiny restaurant called, "MU Fukin Good Ribs." The place is only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday so it was now or never to see if the food lives up to it's name. We were escorted upstairs to a little table overlooking the street and presented with a menu. The simple menu offered two choices of ribs and the waiter explained. This one if for two people and the other is for two very hungry people, so we chose the smaller of the two. The price for the smaller version was 48,000 pesos and the larger was 58,000 pesos which converts to $14-$17 and some change.
After ordering a waiter brought us each a plate with something plastic on it tied up in a bow. I looked at it perplexed and called the young man over to ask, "que es esto?"He explained in Spanish that it was gloves in case we didn't want to get our hands dirty. Oh.....now I get it, plastic gloves to eat the ribs with.....what a great idea!
Another waiter came over with chips and guacamole and a dish of four different sauces. He explained that one was bbq sauce, another was hot sauce, another a mango chutney and the last was a spearment sauce. Finally a huge order of ribs came out which were served with steak fries. We put on our gloves and dug in to our really, fukin good ribs that truly lived up to their name. And the total for our fukin good meal with way too much food came to $19.89 after adding a beer for Clyde and a glass of wine for me.
I suppose this was the perfect ending to a lovely week exploring the city of Medellin with my wonderful husband. Or should I say a fukin good ending to another fukin good adventure......along the gringo trail.
Terry and Clyde are able to "Travel The World House Sitting" and so can you! We have created a website to help people who want to learn about house sitting. Information for both the prospective house sitter and for someone who needs a house sitter.
the New Website --> CLICK HERE
How to Get Your First House Sit --> CLICK HERE
How to find a house sitter ----> CLICK HERE
Indigenous Woman And Family On Sidewalk
There Was Another Child That Was
Maybe 4 Years Old Feeding Another Baby On The Side
When I paid for the baño at the bus station
This is what I got!
This is what I got!
Toilet Paper in a box!
Taking The Little Bus To Santa Fe de Antioquia
Our day trip took us through the Tunel de Occidente, the longest in all of South America. The 2 kilometer tunnel connects Medellin to Santa Fe, reducing the distance by 30 minutes to get from the big city to the tiny pueblo. Along the way we passed through the pueblo of San Jeronimo with it's village square featuring a tiny church, restaurants and shops, a few hotels and roadside food vendors.
Heading Into The Tunnel
Coming Out Of The Long Tunnel
Village Of San Jeronimo
Street Vendor
Once our little bus stopped in Santa Fe de Antioquia at the bus station we headed down the street to find the central park and plaza of the town. The hustle and bustling little village was full of tuk tuk's, motorcycles, cars, buses and plenty of pedestrians too. As usual we couldn't pass up an opportunity to taste the delights of the village and since it was time for lunch, we stopped to eat. A local joint called, "Pielroja," or "red skin" was decorated with Indian heads and other memorabilia. We both ordered the "menu del dia," which included patacon or plantain soup, rice, fries, salad, a whole fried tilapia fish and lemon aid for around $3.50.
Name of the Restaurant
Translation: Red Skin
Translation: Red Skin
Our Menu Of The Day.....Those Tiny Balls Of Corn In The Back Are Arepas
Restaurant Decor
Santa Fe is lower in elevation that Medellin and is therefore hot year round. With the heat and bright sunlight after walking around a while we decided to ask someone for a tour. As usual we let the taxi driver be our friend but in this case the taxi was a tuk tuk. Gasoline prices in Colombia are pricey and therefore many of the locals either use motorcycles, tuk-tuk's (where appropriate) or don't drive at all and use public transport. Someone told us that gas prices here run around $5 per gallon yet looking at the signs in transit I calculated it to be much less, but my conversion from pesos to dollars isn't too good.
Our Tuk-Tuk Driver
The town square is full of tuk-tuk's with eager drivers waiting to offer tours to tourists. For around $12 he drove us around for an hour or more showing us the major sites of this village. A camera buff at heart he was rather eager to take photos of Clyde and I together at every stop, until we told him it was not necessary. Our young guide was impressed with our understanding of Spanish and complimented us for how well we spoke his language too.
Sights Around Santa Fe de Antioquia
A Tiny Church
Another Church
Bus Terminal In Santa Fe
One of the must see sights in this area is the Puente de Occidente which sits a few kilometers outside the village center. Built at the end of the 19th century it was considered one of the most magnificent civil engineering works of its time. When it was completed in 1895 it was the third longest bridge in the world and the longest in South America at 300 meters long. In 1978 the bridge was declared a National Monument.
Bridge Of The Occident
We Walked Over The Long Foot Bridge
Santa Fe de Antioquia is well known for it's stunning colonial architecture some of the best preserved in all of Colombia. The quaint little village is reminiscent of olden days with narrow cobblestone streets, a lovely plaza, white washed buildings and beautiful churches and parks.
We boarded a bus back to Medellin which was a much bigger bus with air conditioning. After relaxing and freshening up for dinner we headed out for dinner. Last Friday when we arrived at our hotel we noticed a line coming out of a nearby restaurant. Literally next door to our hotel is a tiny restaurant called, "MU Fukin Good Ribs." The place is only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday so it was now or never to see if the food lives up to it's name. We were escorted upstairs to a little table overlooking the street and presented with a menu. The simple menu offered two choices of ribs and the waiter explained. This one if for two people and the other is for two very hungry people, so we chose the smaller of the two. The price for the smaller version was 48,000 pesos and the larger was 58,000 pesos which converts to $14-$17 and some change.
The Sign Says It All......Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 6-11pm
After ordering a waiter brought us each a plate with something plastic on it tied up in a bow. I looked at it perplexed and called the young man over to ask, "que es esto?"He explained in Spanish that it was gloves in case we didn't want to get our hands dirty. Oh.....now I get it, plastic gloves to eat the ribs with.....what a great idea!
What Is This? ......Plastic Gloves For Eating Ribs
Eating Ribs With Plastic Gloves On
Another waiter came over with chips and guacamole and a dish of four different sauces. He explained that one was bbq sauce, another was hot sauce, another a mango chutney and the last was a spearment sauce. Finally a huge order of ribs came out which were served with steak fries. We put on our gloves and dug in to our really, fukin good ribs that truly lived up to their name. And the total for our fukin good meal with way too much food came to $19.89 after adding a beer for Clyde and a glass of wine for me.
Four Sauces: Mango, Hot Sauce, in Front BBQ And Spearment
One Big Pile Of 8 Meaty Ribs And Fries
I suppose this was the perfect ending to a lovely week exploring the city of Medellin with my wonderful husband. Or should I say a fukin good ending to another fukin good adventure......along the gringo trail.
Terry and Clyde are able to "Travel The World House Sitting" and so can you! We have created a website to help people who want to learn about house sitting. Information for both the prospective house sitter and for someone who needs a house sitter.
the New Website --> CLICK HERE
How to Get Your First House Sit --> CLICK HERE
How to find a house sitter ----> CLICK HERE
Street Performer.....Spinning Basketball On Top Of Umbrella While On A Unicycle
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