Using Medellin ATM’s

Planning to use your ATM card when you visit Medellin? You will get better exchange rates than changing cash or travelers checks at a cambio!

There are convenient ATM’s (called ATH’s in Medellin) all over Medellin. In Banks, Malls, Grocery Stores, Casinos, Restaurants and more. Most of them support the more popular networks like Cirrus, Plus, Maestro, MasterCard and many others. Most also have an English and Spanish language option.

Different ATMs have different per transaction limits of usually 400,000-500,000 COP. You can do multiple transactions up to the daily limit allowed by your bank.

A few hints on using ATM’s in Medellin;

Only withdraw what you will need on a daily basis;

Only carry 1 or 2 ATM/Debit/Credit Cards

Only make withdrawls from ATM’s in well lighted areas and preferably places with on site security;

Keep your paper receipt;

Count your money; Check your balance on line to make sure only one transaction occurred.

Make sure that your transaction has ended and the machine is ready for the next customer….not asking you if you want another transaction!

Using ATM’s in Medellin

Planning to use your ATM card when you visit Medellin? You will get better exchange rates than changing cash or travelers checks at a cambio!

There are convenient ATM’s (called ATH’s in Medellin) all over Medellin. In Banks, Malls, Grocery Stores, Casinos, Restaurants and more. Most of them support the more popular networks like Cirrus, Plus, Maestro, MasterCard and many others. Most also have an English and Spanish language option.

Different ATMs have different per transaction limits of usually 400,000-500,000 COP. You can do multiple transactions up to the daily limit allowed by your bank.

A few hints on using ATM’s in Medellin;

Only withdraw what you will need on a daily basis;

Only carry 1 or 2 ATM/Debit/Credit Cards

Only make withdrawls from ATM’s in well lighted areas and preferably places with on site security;

Keep your paper receipt;

Count your money; Check your balance on line to make sure only one transaction occurred.

Make sure that your transaction has ended and the machine is ready for the next customer….not asking you if you want another transaction!

What should you pack for your visit to Medellin?

We get asked this question  lot.  Casual (not shorts) is our standard pat answer but here we go into a little more detail!

 

What should you pack for your visit to Medellin?

 

Attire is very casual in Medellin. It ranges from dressed down casual to fashionably casual in the more upscale neighborhoods like Poblado and Tessoro but casual none the less.

For men:

Jeans, Dockers, T shirt, polo shirt, casual cotton short or long sleeve shirt;

Tennis shoes, loafers or regular street shoes.

Baseball caps are worn by many.

The only ties or coats and ties you see are worn by office, casino and some mall workers.

Rarely do you see shorts, sandals or flip flops.

These guidelines pretty much apply to daytime or nighttime activities for guys.

For the ladies:

You probably do not have to buy anything special (too bad).

Jeans, pants, cotton tops (many times layered but accentuating cleavage), light sweater tops, fashionable belts and accessories;

Shoes range from tennis shoes to fashionable boots.(this is also a good place to buy shoes as many are manufactured locally. (Good news.)

You do not see many skirts or dresses except on office, casino and some mall workers although short skirts are worn by younger adults.

At night, the ladies are more inclined to dress up especially if they are going clubbing or to discos. Again, there is a major emphasis on plunging necklines and displays of cleavage. (don’t mean to be sexest here, just letting you know how the local ladies dress). You will not see a lot of sweat pants, baggy sweat shirts, ruffled hair or ladies without makeup. Usually, nails are well manicured.

Although Medellin is considered a conservative town, the Paisa women are proud of their god given assets. Many of them have been enhanced and are proud to show off their results.

 

Medellin clothing sizes tend to follow the international sizing conventions. In this chart it would be the continental sizes. http://www.onlineconversion.com/clothing.htm 

 

 

Feria de Las Flores 2009

RCN Noticias (the local 24 hour news station) is estimating that 4,000 foreign visitors will be in Medellin this year for Feria de Las Flores.  About 1,700 of those will have visited Colombiamoda the previous 3 days.  Now, to many of you, that is not a staggering number but to the promoters of the event, it is about an 85% increase over last years foreign attendance. They are also expecting in excess of 50,000 Colombians from other cities to be in town as well.

RCN also announced that there are very few if any hotel rooms available in the city during the 10 day event.  Surely a good sign for the Medellin economy. Expect a 20-30% premium over normal posted rates for this event.

 

The festival begins on July 31st and runs through August 9th culminating with Cabalgata on Sunday.  Cabalgata has been trumpted as the worlds largest outdoor horse parade with over 7,000 riders and participants in last years parade.  It is an event not to miss if you are in Medellin.

 

There are plenty of places to view the prade along the 28 kilometer route.  Just a word of caution.  Avoid large crowds of people as there are many pickpockets working the event.  Protect your valuables, money, cameras, don’t wear flashy jewlery etc.  A fanny or back pack is recommended.

The Mayors official website has a schedule of events for the Feria; http://www.medellin.gov.co/alcaldia/jsp/modulos/V_medellin/index.jsp?idPagina=1015

For the locals and many Colombians that visit from other cities, this event is an opportunity to party for 10 days. For the visiting foreigners, they will see Medellin life at it’s best.

MTG

Medellin Travel Guide Updated Travel Directory

There are many Blogs and Forums on Colombia and Medellin in General. There never seems to be an end to the repeated questions that arise on many of these forums.

MTG has attempted to put a plethora of snippets on Medellin in it’s travel directory section; www.medellintravelguide.com/medellin_traveldirectory.html

It is actually 5 pages long but can answer many of your questions about traveling to or visiting Medellin.

The format is quite simple. Many short snippets about Medellin Travel topics with each one being linked to pages with more intense information.

If we have missed anything you think is important, let us know and we will be happy to add it.

Thank you,

MTG

Chicken Gizzard Soup-Medellin Colombia

We almost always have a pot of soup on the stove. Started fresh every morning and generally based from a bullion cube, what gets added is fresh vegetables, rice, pasta, left over meats from the night before (if there are any) and occasionally some special surprises.

In this fashion, there is always something fresh to eat that can be quickly heated and consumed when hungry instead of waiting for a pre determined time to eat.

Now, when I was a youngster, I was introduced to chicken gizzards at a very early age. Unlike many kids, I rarely turned up my nose that weren’t familiar to me. I always tried it and if I like it would eat it. If I didn’t like it I wouldn’t. Several things took time to acquire a taste like broccoli, caulifolwer and cooked cabbage to name a few (all of which I now readily devour when presented).

Anyway, I recall my first experience with chicken gizzards at my aunts farm in Tennessee. I had no idea what they were but as soon as I put one in my mouth I immediately liked them and even asked for seconds!

The one thing about my chicken gizzard history is that they were always fried!!!

Imagine my surprise when I found chicken gizzards in my daily bowl of soup? There was no doubt I would eat them but I was curious about the taste/texture etc of this new treat.

Since our soup is always cooked in a pressure cooker, the gizzards were were actually quite tender and tasty and brought out an added flavor to the already delicious chicken based soup of the day.

The receipe? Chicken based bullion cube; add fresh vegetables of your choice; pasta or rice and chicken gizzards. Pressure cook or boil for as many hours as you wish and get out your spoon when ready to eat!

I am told that addiding gizzards to soup is quite common in Medellin. First time I have seen it in over two years but I am delighted to have found it.

Next time I go to Exito or Carrefour, I believe I’ll stock up on more gizzards as a kind of hint. I might even show them how to fry up a few for dinner one night.

Sabados Felices

A favorite Medellin comedy/variety show was doing a live filming in Parque de Deseos last Saturday night. The crowd began forming early in the afternoon for a 7PM filming.

By curtain time, the open air plaza was jammed with about 25,000 people. It was a standing room only event.

Now my spanish is not bad but a lot of the jokes that included innuendo, metaphors, sarcasm and local modismos went way above my head. Probably like some of our jokes would appear to a non native English speaking person.

None the less, we had a great time and it was fun to be around a large group of local people. I think I was the only gringo in the crowd!!!

Medellin Flower Festival 2009

The Alcalde Medellin’s web site posted July 31st to August 9th as the 2009
dates for Feria de las Flores. Other Annual Events listed as well.

http://www.medellin.gov.co/alcaldia/jsp/modulos/V_medellin/index.jsp?idPagina=1015

If you have not already started planning your trip for Feria de Las Flores 2009, you may already be too late. This annual event, now in it’s 52nd 52nd year, attracts visitors from all over the world. Hotels and rental apartments fill up fast (and many charge a 20-30% premium during this time).

The entire city of Medellin is in Party Mode for 10 days as parades take place almost everyday including the Antique Car Parade, Desfile de Silliteros (flower carriers parade). the worlds largest outdoor horse parade called Cabalgata and many others.

If you have never been to Feria de Las Flores in Medellin, you are truly missing one of the most important times this city has to offer.

Make your reservations soon!

Medellin Travel Guide

For photos and videos of preveios years festivals go to www.medellinflowerfestival.com

Envigado Nightclub Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle is an Envigado nightclub opened from Thursday-Sunday nights. From Thursday to Sat nights it plays a combo of crossover and local Vallaneta music and is full of a young crowd of local Paisas.

On Sunday nights, it is transformed into perhaps one of the largest dance studios in Medellin. Many professional dancers, dance schools and their students (as well as many local accomplished dancers) go there to practice in public and is it ever a sight to behold.

You will think you are watching a professional ballroom dance contest without the coats and tails and fancy dresses.

Drinks are reasonable and there is no cover charge.

See ya there some Sunday night!

Medellin Office Rentals Super Bowl Party

Medellin Office Rentals is changing this Sundays BBQ to start at 6PM (instead of 3PM) to co-incide with the Superbowl. The game will be broadcast by direct TV on the roof top terrace during the BBQ. The BBQ will also last until 11PM (or until the game is over).

Same great food, drinks and locals. Stop by and watch the ghame with your friends