There seems to be some confusion about the dates for Colombiamoda 2008. At first it was announced it was to be held July 10th-13th. Those dates are posted on several web sites although the official Colombiamoda site lists the dates as July 29th-31st. Interesting that Feria de Las Flores begins on August 1st.
Perhaps someone thought better of their planning and decided to try and keep some of those thousands of visitors around for a few extra days.
In working with a local American Owned Realestate firm, I am continually amazed at the Medellin Penthouses for sale or furnished for rental that are available in this city. They range from small mini penthouses at about 1,000 Sq, Ft. to huge, opulent and lavish units in exces of 10,000 Sq. ft. Some have private roof top pools, saunas, steam baths, jacuzzis, huge patios, wood and marble flooring, gourmet kitchens and all boast spectacular views of the city and surrounding mountains. All have live in maids quarters with separate bathrooms for your help.
The truly amazing thing about these Medellin Penthouses are their prices. These units would easily cost 2-3 times their asking price in the US and if you put them in Miami, Los Angeles or New York they would be upwards of 10 times the asking price or more (and probably not have the views these have).
Moreso, if you are visiting Medellin with friends or family, you can rent one of these units for less than the cost of some 4 and 5 star hotels in the city. Imagine a 2 level 3 bedroom Penthouse with it’s own private roof top jacuzzi for under $130 per night or $700 per week? You could share the place with a friend and save a fortune over a hotel room, yet have all the amenities you could possibly require.
Next time you plan to visit Medellin, you might want to look into renting one of these fabulous penthouses. If you are thinking of moving here, there is not much to think about. A Medellin Penthouse is the way to go!
Medellin Travel Guide
Time is rapidly appraching for this annual international event in Medellin and the town is already abuzz with excitement. Hotels are filling rapidly, and the local gente are beginning to talk about this years show.
From the Colombiamoda website:
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New concepts and ideas from small and medium companies and the tradition of the big brands join in the 19th version of COLOMBIAMODA, the most important fashion trade show in Colombia that this year will also be the scenario to celebrate Inexmoda twentieth anniversary. COLOMBIAMODA that will take place from July 29th to 31st 2008 in Plaza mayor, Medellín, will gather once again the best of the business world, with the best of fashion, in a scenario that has won the recognition of important buyers, visitors and journalist all over the world. A place where you can find the new trends for formal, casual, jeanswear and sport collections for the feminine, masculine, junior, children and baby market. Ideal for wholesalers, chain stores, department stores, boutiques and distributors. GENERAL INFORMATION IMPORTANT: Products Shown: Men, Women, Junior and Kids Clothes: in Formal, Casual, Underwear, Sportswear, Bathing suits, Home textiles, Full Package / Sourcing services, Supplies for the fashion dealers and for the point of purchaise and all the other services related to the sector. Average numbers:
If you are thinking about coming to medellin for this event, better make plans soon,
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Thanks to all of you that sent me PM’s about my glowing review of life in Medellin.
Yes, it is a great place to live!
For those of you that asked, “what are the downsides”, I guess that is a fair question and deserves a direct and honest response;
1) If you suffer from any type of bronchial problem, asthma, or other respiratory problems, then you probably do not want to visit or consider living in Medellin. Medellin is in a valley, a bowl if you want a comparison. Not unlike L.A., Mexico City, Santiago Chile and other cities where a large population exists and pollution is trapped between mountains. The pollution created by the factories in the valley floor, the automobile exhaust emissions and burning of trash and debris can remain trapped in the valley until a swift breeze or tranquil rain can clean it out of the valley. It can be hours, it can be days. If you are at higher elevations up in the mountains, it will not be as prevalent as if you were in the lower valley.
2. There is a wide disparity of wealth in Medellin. There are a number of very wealthy and affluent while there are many very poor people. The middle class is growing in numbers as more and more take advantage of low cost educational and expanding job opportunities but the poverty will still send many reeling. There is no Social Security (except for career military), few if any assistance programs for people with disabilities, minimum wage is just slightly over $220 per month and many people displaced by the 4 decade old civil war are left to beg, sell chewing gum, fruit and other oddities on street corners. Like many Latin American countries, a large percentage of the wealth is in a small percentage of the populations hands but a visible tide is turning as security is improved, more investment into the country is taking place which creates jobs and more people are able to move above Maslows basics of food, shelter and clothing.
3. Being a foreigner in Medellin increases the price of just about everything that does not have a price tag on it. Almost everyone who is “doing you a favor” or introducing you to someone that “can help you” is making a commission for doing it. These people have learned to live by their wits, cunning and ability to sell you on an idea. Very few have long term plans and goals. Most live for today and do not worry about tomorrow.
4. Get used to everyone being late for everything. If they tell you they will be there at 10:00AM, do not be surprised if they show up at 10:30 or 10:45 with little more than a brief apology for having kept you waiting. The only time they seem to be in a hurry is when they get behind the wheel of an automobile. Their impatience reaches the boiling point, they speed in and out of traffic as if they were taking a relative to an emergency room, they can honk their horns when a red light changes to green in a nano second, yet, when they reach their ultimate destination, everything goes back to ”tranquilo”. It is frustrating to many westerners. For the locals, it is a way of life!
5. YOU WILL HAVE TO LEARN SOME SPANISH! It is impossible to live here and not expect to become pretty conversational if not downright fluent in Spanish. It will take years because much like the US and other western countries, they have their own use of idiomas and modismos that will take you longer than formal Spanish to learn. Think about all the local ones you use. IE: “I am just pulling your leg”! They say, “I am just pulling your hair”. There will be days when you encounter people from the barrios or countryside and you can barely understand 25% of what they are saying to you. Just think about how a Spanish speaking person would understand a deep southern drawl from Eastern Kentucky or a Bronx accent from New York if they learned formal English!
6. Opening bank accounts, establishing credit or gaining peoples trust here is a challenge…to say the least! One of my administrators made a comment one day, “nobody trusts anybody here”. It shed light on a lot of frustrating moments from the past year. Toto, you are not in Kansas anymore! Do not expect to walk into a bank, open an account and walk out with a new toaster for doing so. Do not expect to get a post paid annual cellular plan, do not expect anyone to give you Net 10 much less 30 day payment terms. Expect COD or prepayment no matter how high your credit score in the US.
Okay, for those of you that live here or have visited here, please feel free to chime in with your observations. I’ve only been here a year. Who knows, a year from now I may have a totally different perspective.
MTG
Wow! I am rapidly coming up on my 1 year anniversary of living in Medellin Colombia. It has gone by really fast but has been an excellent experience.
First of all, the climate of this city just cannot be beat. I have neither an air conditioner nor a heater. I like to tell people when it gets warm, I open my windows! When it gets cool, I close them! How is that for energy efficiency? I have only worn a light windbreaker jacket twice that I can remember. If it is raining or drizzling in the evenings, it can get chilly.
Secondly, the Paisa people are some of the friendliest on the planet. Maybe it is because they do not get a lot of tourists here and we are an oddity but rarely a day goes by that I am not stopped by a local, asked where I am from, see their surprise when they find out I am living here and taking Spanish lessons and am genuinally welcomed as a Gringo Paisa. (that always elicits smiles).
Thirdly, the women of Medellin are perhaps some of the most stunning in the world (and I have traveled to 74 countries so that is a pretty good basis for the comment). They are warm, friendly, very family oriented, sincere (well, most anyway), have fidelity in a relationship, love to party, dance, rarely ever go outside their home when they are not looking their finest and make wonderful girlfriends. A Medellin Girl is a great catch!
The food, well, to be honest, it is not the best. Very bland, high in calories and fat. These people eat more garnishments on their hamburgers and hot dogs than I have ever seen. Many times, they have to eat them with a fork.
Cost of living. It started out pretty good but the declining value of the USD has admittedly put a dent in my spending patterns. It is still not bad though. I rent a 1,300Sf Apt for $650 per month. My utilities (including cable TV, HS Internet, local phone, electricity, water, sewer, garbage etc) is about $150 per month and I live in the highest strata area of the city. (Strata: They have 1-6 here. The lowest strata pays a lower amount for their utilities. The higher stratas pay more. It is a way to help the poorer people and works quite well.)
Transportation? I take, taxis, buses and the metro almost everywhere I go. Much cheaper than a car and you can get a taxi almost anywhere 24 hours per day.
Clothing? Haven’t had to buy any but you can spend a lot or a little, just like in the US depending on how you value shop.
Language: It is still a barrier at times but my Spanish is coming along well. I would say I am at an intermediate A or B level. Learning the idomas and modismos (local slang or colloquisms) is the tough part. Some days I just look at them and shake my head.
Am I going to stay? You betcha! More Spanish classes, more exploration of this beautiful city and it’s surrounding countryside and more posts on WordPress about living here.
If you want to know more about this gem of a city, check out my website at www.medellintravelguide.com If the info you need is not there, you probably do not need to know about it!
Chou
MTG
