A friend of a friend is visiting Medellin this week. We not only had the pleasure of meeting Margaret and Dan, but we also were able to become "tourists" with them for a few days as we showed them some of the Medellin sights.
We met up at a cute outdoor cafe, and over a cup of cappuccino we discussed what they wanted to see and do during their three days in Medellin. From what they had researched and with a few suggestions from us, we formed a plan to make the most of their time in Medellin. Because of our Spanish class schedule, we really haven't done much touring outside of our neighborhood since our arrival in Medellin four weeks ago. I was happy that we were able to expand our horizons and become tourists along with them for a few days!
First order of business was to introduce them to Medellin's crown jewel, the Metro. Built by the city of Medellin in 1995, the Metro serves to connect the city from north to south along the Medellin River with extensions into the eastern and western hillsides of the Aburra Valley. Because of the positive economic, social and cultural impact of the Metro, the local citizens or "paisas" are very proud of their Metro system. It is an inexpensive, quick, and safe way to travel around the city any time of day or night. But we also found out that the tickets lines can be long and somewhat confusing to first time riders, so we helped our new friends buy their first pass. A four ride pass costs about 10,000 Colombian pesos ($3.30 usd), so each ride is a bargain at about 80 cents. But four rides is the maximum that you can get on a card at a time, so for frequent riders, obtaining a rechargeable Civica Card is a better option.
When we got to Medellin, we knew that we would be using the Metro quite often. The rechargeable Civica Metro card allows us to put more money on our card, and each trip is only about 65 cents (usd) versus 80 cents. We were surprised, however, by how big of a process it was to initially obtain the card. We had to find one of the only four Civica offices that distribute the cards along the Metro route. When we got to the Itigui station office, there was line of about 25 people waiting ... and that line inched forward sloooowly. When we finally made it into the office an hour later, we found out the reason for the wait. They needed our IDs (drivers license or passport), entered a lot of information into their computer data base, presented us with a long list of rules and regulations (in Spanish ... we just agreed), obtained a finger-print of each of us, and finally gave us our Civica card which we had to take to another line in order to get some money put on it.
But this past Sunday, we all quickly had tickets in hand, so we decided to cross one "must see" off Margaret and Dan's list ... Arvi Parque. Located on top of the mountains overlooking eastern Medellin, this city park is accessible by riding the Metro train to Acevedo station and transferring to the Metrocable car (think "gondola") that transports us about 1000 feet up the mountainside.
Riding in the cable cars brought back fond memories of taking gondolas up snow-covered mountains during our skiing days of past. Only this time, we are floating over small houses in need of repair ... but at the same time, we are floating over neighborhoods that are bursting with new hope. This new hope is a result of the much revered "Metrocable". The three Metro stations along the mountainside give the people living high on the hills above downtown Medellin new access to education, jobs ... and a brighter future.
At the San Domingo Station, we paid an additional fair of about $2 usd to transfer onto the final cable cars that took us over lush forests to the popular recreational area on the top of the mountains known as Arvi Parque. This nature preserve is popular for hiking, biking, and water sports. And judging from the large groups of picnickers, it is also a beloved place to escape the chaos of the big city and enjoy "family time".
Near the Metrocable exit is an outdoor food and craft market and some exhibits explaining the archaeological and natural history of the area. There are free buses taking the visitors to other parts of the park, but of course, we found that out after we paid a driver who had the talent of spotting confused groups of "gringos" like us. He drove us to what we thought was the beautiful lake preserve. Nope ... wrong direction ... need better Spanish skills! Thanks to the magic of "google maps" we were able to find a beautifully shaded trail and make our way back to our starting point through a lush forest of bamboos, pines, and flowering trees.
Back at where we began, we managed to hop on one of the free buses that took us to Piedras Blancas Hotel y Restaurante where we enjoyed lunch on their deck overlooking the park. (Here is the link to more information on Piedras Blancas from one of our new favorite bloggers, The Medellin Guru.) Margaret and Dan got to try the typical food dish of the area, the Bandeja Paisa. This large plate consists of beef, sausage, pork rinds, rice, beans, egg, plantains, arepa, and some avocado just to make you feel like you are eating "healthy".
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| (Google photo) |
The hard-working "Paisas" (what the people of this region call themselves) no doubt needed that amount of food and calories to get them through the day, but we knew that we would need to do a little more hiking in order to work it off. So, we ventured down to the lake reservoir.
Here is some of the beauty that we saw ... for those of you who need a "taste" of Spring.
As we rode the Metrocable back down at the end of the day, we shared a cable car with a young family who had enjoyed as we did, the chance to get away from the city and relax in the beauty of Medellin's countryside. Because the Metro serves as such an important link connecting so many parts of this large city, it is is no wonder that the Metro system is the "shining star" of Medellin.
The Metro serves as the beacon of hope that connects people in all parts of the city with the chance to work, learn, and live the "paisa" life to the fullest.
Until next time ... savor all the beautiful views along the way ... and enjoy the adventures in your life!
Coming up ... more "tourist" adventures with our new friends as we explore downtown Medellin and the colorful countryside town of Guatape.
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