Medellin, Colombia......Our Adventure Begins....

I know we said we'd be staying in Panama for a while but we both were getting antsy and flights to Medellin, Colombia were almost too good to be true.......so we went. We scored round trip tickets for just $112 each on Copa Airlines. Our short one hour flight went smoothly and included what Copa calls a light snack.  It was a slice of cold roast beef, some smoked cheese, macaroni salad and a roll along with our choice of beverages including anything with alcohol for FREE also.

Last night our plane landed  around 5pm and we hit the ground running.  We quickly made our way through customs and immigration as we approached the long line of white taxi's just waiting to take money from tourists. As the first driver approached us I asked, "cuanto cuesta," or how much in Spanish.  He said, "sesenta mil," then in English said, "sixty." Sixty thousand Colombian pesos translates to $18.18 which was less than we'd expected to pay, so we jumped inside for a 45-minute drive from the airport to Medellin.

We arrived in the El Poblado section of the city at Hotel El Poblado Boutique Express.  For $40 per night which includes breakfast we found cheap accommodations to go with our cheap airfare. While the room is on the small side it does feature all of the necessities found in any other hotel.

Charming Boutique Hotel

Inside Courtyard With Birds and Skylight



After settling into our hotel room we headed out on the streets to find some grub for dinner.  We settled on a place called, "La Taqueria," which featured locals enjoying Mexican food. Of course since we were in Mexico.......ah.. not really we're in Colombia eating Mexican.....so we ordered margaritas for a starter.  The waiter brought us free chips along with salsa, guacamole and some sort of green relish with onions.  For our entrée I had an Aztec burrito.  It was stuffed with chicken and veggies, topped with white cheese and surrounded by pico de gallo. Clyde had a chicken enchilada topped with a red sauce.

Colombian-Mexican Food

Aztec Burrito



After dinner we strolled around the neighborhood getting lost (yes literally) in the Friday night crowds.  We ended up at Parque Lleras which sits smack in the middle of the famous scene of the El Poblado neighborhood.  People were literally lined up waiting to get into some of the clubs for a long night of dancing, drinking and partying with friends.  This is the part of Medellin where the rich and famous play on the weekends.  The place to be seen and see others and mingle with the well to do younger crowd. While it was fun to see we were way too tired to do any partying and made our way back to the hotel around 9pm and settled in for the night.

Today we enjoyed our first breakfast which included just about anything one would want to eat.  Eggs, rice and beans, corn arepas filled with meat, tortillas,waffles, cereal, fruit, yogurt, juice, coffee and more.

After breakfast we left the hotel around 9am and jumped into a taxi headed for Botero Park to explore the city.  Fernando Botero is Colombia's most famous artist and sculpture. He is famous for his depictions of fat people and rather strange distorted images.  Surely when I was voluptuous I didn't get the attention that these figures get, yet for some strange reason apparently people love them.

Sculptures Of Botero Park

Fat Lady And Child

Dressed Up Fat Lady

Fat Man With Short Arms....But How Will He Reach His......

Fat Animals

 Fat Lady With Mirror

Clyde And A Fat Lady

Fat Man With Pointy Pee Pee

Headless Fat Lady

Fat Hand

Fat Lady With Wings

Fat Man With Abs?

Standing On Someone

Fat Horse



Botero Park is full of these sculptures and nearby is the majestic Palacio de la Cultura.  Once an old government building it's now home to many offices.  Since today was Saturday and all of the offices were closed we freely roamed through the majestic palace free of charge.

Cultural Palace

Inside Courtyard



Nearby was the Museo de Antioquia which was full of artwork, sculptures and other displays by local artists. We explored the three floors of exhibits while some were stranger than others.  One piece of artwork on the wall had a chair carefully positioned directly in front of it.  So I assumed that just perhaps IF I sat down in the chair I would see something special in the piece of art?  But NO.....apparently the chair was PART of the art and I was scolded by a guard to not sit on the chair. After that the guards seemed to follow us from room to room and at one point we even saw police nearby.......perhaps watching the unruly gringo lady who dared to sit on part of the art. Colombia is divided up into "departments" and one of them is called Antioquia, where the city of Medellin is located.  So this museum is representative of this part of Colombia and its' artists.

Museum Antioquia

Sculpture Of A Thumb

Resin Village

Cutout Of Fernando Botero

This Is The Artist That Makes Statues Of Fat People

Photo Of Fernando Botero



The Palacio Nacional, or National Palace was once a government building that was transformed into one of the most impressive malls in the area.  Featuring over 400 stores, restaurants and more it's quite a sight to see and something we're glad to have stumbled upon.

On The Streets

Centro Commercial Of Palacio Nacional

Inside Centro Commercial

Tons Of Tenis For Sale

From there we strolled through miles and miles of streets lined with shopping and crowds of locals taking advantage of the bargains.  While I expected Medellin to be full of tourists and it's not, we seem to be mingling among mostly locals with not another gringo in sight.  And in the absence of gringos there's certainly not anyone around that speaks English either, once again forcing us to practice our Spanish.

Cold Water.....Not In A Bottle But In A Bag

Only 30 cents.....But...How Do We Drink It?

Bite A Hole And Suck It Out

Busty Mannequins

Fruit Vendor

What Do You Think This Place Sells?

Jugo De Naranja (Orange Juice)

A Living Statue

Anatomically Correct Briefs

Piggy Banks

Doggie Boots And Accessories For Sale



When lunchtime came around today I managed to pick out a restaurant full of locals enjoying some typical Colombian food.  I choose the "menu of the day" which featured a bowl of corn and potato soup, rice, beans, salad and filet of chicken with barbeque sauce.  Clyde went for a hearty meal that came in a bowl and featured:  sausage, ground beef, beans, rice, corn, plantain, potato chip slices and avocado alongside a plate of white rice and salad and a arepa. Our total for this meal was around $9 and that included two bottles of Pepsi also.

Lunch Today For Me Began With Soup

Then Chicken, Rice, Cole Slaw, Plantain And Arepa

Clyde's Artery Clogging Bowl Of Sausage, Ground Beef, Beans,

Corn, Avocado, Rice, Plantain, Crunchy Noodles (we think these were chicharons or pork rinds)

AND.....There's More.....White Rice, Cole Slaw And Arepa (corn meal hard pattie)

In passing we noticed a grocery store so we went in to take a peek.  I came out with a one pound bag of locally grown coffee for around $1.50.  I just love to sample coffee in our travels so we'll take this one back to Panama to enjoy. At the register we looked up to see packs of cigarettes for sale.  Brand names around $1 per pack and generic brands even less...how sad that they sell for so little here.

After walking and exploring all day long we took the subway back to El Poblado and then a taxi back to our hotel.  Tired from a long day out we rested up a bit before heading out for dinner. Stopped at a place called, "3 Tipicos," and ordered a mixed plate of meat to share that came with sliced tomatoes, two arepas, and creole potatoes.  Clyde mellowed out while sipping on his first bottle of Colombian beer.  Again the prices seemed to be high at this cutsy restaurant in a ritzy part of the city, but once again we were wrong.  The meal was designed for TWO people and priced at 29,000 COP's which converts to $8.79, plus a little more for drinks.

Dinner For Two

Colombian Beer

The Sign Says It All

This Restaurant Literally Had A Line Out To The Street Last Night So They Must Be Good

While In Ecuador We Ate Guinea Pig.....So While In Colombia We

Ate.....?  Actually We Don't Know Why It's Called This Or What They Serve



  Who knows where tomorrow will take us in as we explore more of Medellin, Colombia....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

Giving Back To The Community......In Panama

Every year CASA (Coronado Area Social Association) an organization that we are involved with gives back to the community in a big way.  President of CASA Louise and Clyde her Vice President and right hand man, put in hours of work to make this day of giving come true.  They team up with Maribel, a Panamanian women who hosts the event at her house.  Several local businesses either donate money or buy food to help fill food baskets that are presented to needy families with handicapped members.  Along with a local band and some support from Maribel's church, both gringo's and Panamanians come together to throw one grand fiesta of giving.

Presenting The Gifts.....From Left To Right

Maribel, Clyde, Louise And Terry with One Of The Kids 

CASA raised both money and food to fill 100 bags that were presented to deserving families.  Mailboxes Etc. donated red, canvas bags to hold the many items.  Clyde and Louise spent plenty of time talking to local businesses and individuals who all helped make the event possible.  It's not easy going to local grocery stores to buy 100 of each item along with added goodies like candy, school supplies, phone cards and more. The bags were stuffed to the brim with necessities like:  toilet paper, soap, rice, beans, pasta, sauces, mayonnaise, flour, canned sardines, vegetable oil, a canned ham, etc....along with some goodies for the kiddos like cookies, candies, toys, pencils and erasers.  Add to this gifts donated by a local church which brought a smile to the 100 families in attendance.
Other local groups like the Rotary Club helped provide wheel chairs for poor families that needed them too. 

More Gift Giving

We arrived on site early to watch as the families began arriving a while later.  Buses pulled up delivering families with handicapped kids, some being carried in by their Mothers because they either didn't have wheel chairs or they were not able to bring them on the bus.  Several of us chatted with the Mom's in Spanish to inquire if they needed wheel chairs or not.

A View Of The Crowd

Louise And One Of The Kids



As the party began the families were fed a meal of rice, beans, meat, bread and salad.  Balloons were blown up and handed out along with ice cream cones, cake, candy and drinks. CASA members created crowns from craft foam and adorned them with fun stickers, glitter and other trinkets.  Photos were taken of each child and then printed on site and given out to each family as a keepsake of the event also. 

And More.....

Lots Of Smiling Faces



I put on my elf costume and danced the day away with some of the kids.  Another expat wore a Santa's helper outfit and did some of the same.  A Panamanian women showed up dressed as a "payaso," or clown.  She delighted the crowd with her charming presence and created balloon animals to give out to the kids.

Dancing With The Kiddos

 

 

As usual a big thanks goes out to all those who gave of their time, talents, money and donations of food, photos, a printer or anything else.  A big, heartfelt thank you goes out to the following:  To Ferreteria HIM, a local Chinese owned hardware store for their generous donation of many food items. To Mailboxes Etc. for having canvas bags made to hold the food. Inside Panama Real Estate for monetary contributions.  Coronado Frame Shop for allowing us to use her printer along with financial support.  As well as many others who donated or raised money to help those in need.

Tons Of Smiles....

Little Princes.....

I'm Too Cool To Smile....

And Princesses.....

And Wide Eyed Little Munchkins....

Don't Bother Me I'm Eating.....

Ice Cream?....What Ice Cream...



I'll let the photos explain the rest as you get a glimpse into our day of sharing in Panama......along the gringo trail.

The Slow Moving World Of Panama.......

To Have Patience......Or To Smack Someone.....
That Is The Question?

On most everyone's first glimpse of Panama many people fall in love with the laid back lifestyle of the locals. Panamanians are the most patient people in the world unless they're behind the wheel of a car, but that's a story for another time.  Go most anywhere in the country and watch as the casher at a large grocery chain barely moves as she scans the items.  And because all cashiers are seated while they work in Panama, if an item should not be within her reach she will not get up off of her stool to get it. Instead she will sit there and wait until you the customer or her bagger reaches over the move the item.  And it's not uncommon for cashiers to stop what they're doing to hold conversations with co-workers while the customer is standing in line.  When the time comes to change cashiers because their shift is over a customer can plan to wait about ten minutes while customers are left standing in line.  Slowly the girl will count out her drawer in front of everyone while a supervisor stands over her.  Slowly she moves with no need to hurry while the incoming cashier waits for her turn to move in.  The incoming girl must also do certain things before her drawer is ready to go.  The girls chit chat about their day, their kids, husbands and more while everyone stands in line impatiently waiting to get out of the store.  Don't even think about buying frozen goods here as they surely will be defrosted by the time you get them out of the building.

 

 

As you can imagine things at a pharmacy surely don't move any quicker.  Yesterday we made a trip to Price Smart a warehouse, members only type of club for some supplies.  Nearby at another mall is where we stopped for lunch and then a quick stop into a pharmacy.  Arrocha is the largest pharmacy chain in Panama and usually where expats go when they can't find something elsewhere.  Unlike big chain pharmacies in the states that have much of the stuff "over the counter," here in Panama it's quite the opposite. Most everything is behind the counter making it necessary to stand in line and ask the pharmacist for whatever is needed.  Here's where things slowed down to a dead stop and stayed that way for a long time.

In front of us was a Panamanian gentleman and in front of him an elderly woman dressed in purple with a cane.  The pharmacist was an elderly female with long grey hair pulled back into a pony tail.  She wore a white lab coat over her chubby frame and looked down over her reading glasses very carefully.  The woman in purple that was getting waited on must have had TEN prescriptions piled up in front of her that the pharmacist was filling.  Understand that here in Panama MOST all drugs DO NOT require a prescription but still the doctor will write down on what resembles a RX pad his orders for the patient.  And since most of us cannot read a doctor's scribbles this is where the pharmacist came in.  She was writing down very explicit orders on the reverse side of every page so that this patient would understand how to take the meds.  Then the pharmacist and her tech made copies of each one of the papers that they were giving to the customer.  You see here the pharmacy does not keep the paper with the orders written on it but always gives it back to the patient. Moving at a pace that would be slow even for a snail or a sloth, the line kept growing longer behind us.  My impatient husband Clyde was making snarky comments in Spanish to the people in back of us on line.  "Yes, this is the speedy line here, it's moving very rapidly," he told the people as I tried to shush him up

Once the pharmacist was done transcribing the orders she then walked a few feet over to the register.  There sat a young girl who was the cashier.  She wore a nicely pressed gray uniform provided by Arrocha and her face was made up with lots of makeup, her hair pulled back into a tight bun.  As per her job requirement the cashier never once moved from the stool she was sitting on to help anyone. I wondered if we could have asked her to reach behind where she was sitting to grab the little bottle of B-12 injectable solution that we were waiting to buy but that probably was not in her job description.



The slow moving pharmacist stood by the cashier as she rang in the many drugs that were being purchased by the customer in purple.  I watched in awe being nosy and wondering how much all of this stuff would total.  The total was $260 from which the cashier deducted the customers senior citizen discount of $60. Then the pharmacist along with the cashier deducted other amounts from the total apparently because the woman was on the local version of social security.  The customer paid a total of $40 for the whole pile of medications and off she went hobbling along with her cane. While $40 seems like nothing for a pile of medication to most of us, the reality here was that this person probably lives on social security of $125 per month.  So for her it was probably a fortune!

Next the man in front of us who had been looking at his watch and groaning was finally able to ask for what he needed from the pharmacist.  Then it was our turn to get my tiny bottle of injectable B-12 for around $4 along with syringes for administering the vitamin.  I've been looking to buy hydrocortisone cream 2% which our doctor said IS available here but yet no pharmacy seems to carry it.  I questioned the pharmacist as to its availability but she said it's not sold in Panama so now we don't know what to think. Disgusted from our 30 minute or more wait at the pharmacy we left amazed to think that anything gets accomplished here at the pace these people move. Yes the Panamanian people are certainly laid back and see no reason to rush for anything.

Last night while driving home from visiting friends in the mountain community of Altos Del Maria, we saw this little fella crossing the road.  I yelled for Clyde to stop the car and he jumped out to take a picture.  But in the meantime a car was coming toward us in the other direction and nearly squashed the slow moving cutie.  It's hard to imagine how these suckers ever make it across the road alive since they move soooooo slow.  My knight in shorts and sandals began waving his arms in the air to get the oncoming car to stop.  With barely an inch to spare the car came to a halt with it's bumper brushing up against the furry creature.  Forgoing the idea of photos instead Clyde went over to encourage the furry sloth to move along out of the road. He gave it a slight push into the wooded area along the roadside where it could safely carry on with its happy existence.  Once a hero and always my hero!Clyde was there to save the day and the life of the critter known to all Panamanians as a "oso perezoso," which translates to "lazy bear." But to the rest of the world it's simply known as a "sloth" be it three toed or two, we didn't stop to count its toes while trying to save its life.

Picture of Sloth from last year

Last year some time while coming down the same road we saw as similar sloth crossing the road.  Clyde is convinced that it's the exact same sloth who we just happen to bump into, although not literally. Perhaps we should give it a name, something befitting like Slowpoke Sloth? Just another example of something slow crossing our paths here in Panama......along the gringo trail.