One thing that still comes up with my friends and family is the safety of Medellin and of Colombia. Honestly, I couldn’t comment on anything other than the city and suburbs of Medellin. I’ve been here for almost eight months, and I haven’t really traveled.
I can say with 100% certainty that Medellin is a safe city. I am from a small town in Idaho, and I feel safe here in Medellin. So, I’m not even comparing it to other big cities.
Here are some of the most insightful or common questions I have gotten since I’ve been here.
Can I walk the streets at night? Absolutely! As long as someone in your group knows where you’re going.
Alone? Only if you know the neighborhood and are comfortable there.
Are the buses safe? Yes. You will run into people playing music, selling things, or just begging. None of them care if you give them money or not.
Is the metro safe? Absolutely! If there’s any sort of problem there are guards at every station and they respond very quickly to the alarms.
Are the taxis safe? Yes. I’ve even gotten into the habit of hailing them off the street most of the time. They all use meters, and the drivers are really fun to talk to.
Will I get robbed? It’s definitely possible. It’s never happened to me.
Will I get hurt/assaulted/ect.? Again, possible, but only if someone is drunk or high, and you pissed them off.
Will I get kidnapped? No. Not in the city.
Will I be a target if I’m wearing nice clothes or business attire? If you are in the main parts of the city, no way. The majority of the people here care about their looks and nice clothing and business attire are extremely normal if not expected. In the smaller neighborhoods you may stand out. In fact, in the main parts of the city dressing in shorts and a t shirt may make you more of a target.
Will people try to rip me off because I’m a gringo? Maybe. I don’t think it’s ever happened to me. Most things have prices clearly marked, but haggling is common here.
Are drugs (especially cocaine) easy to find? No, it’s not just out on the street, but if you’re really looking for it you can find it. Just remember, there are new drug laws, and you can no longer posses any street drugs in any amount…none!
If you have any more questions, please ask! If I know, I will be happy to answer it!
Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!
After eight months in Medellin, I will be moving forward (back to the United States). A few weeks ago, I got a job offer to teach dance technique at a top level gymnastics facility, that is also close to my family. Considering my love for dance and gymnastics, being near my family again, being near my favorite base jumping places, and actually being able to skydive again; I couldn’t pass it up.
I will never find a place like Medellin. Its unbelievable beauty and infrastructure just makes it a place that is so easy to call home. I have thoroughly enjoyed settling down here, and if only I had easier access to my family here, I never would have been pulled away.
With my move in three weeks, there will once again be an opportunity for new contributors to this site. Some of Dave’s requirements can be found below, but remember that not all of them are mandatory (or may have changed completely). So, if you are interested, please contact Dave and he can let you know how you can contribute to the site. He may also have a few things to add about this in the next day or so.
I’m also looking forward to reflecting on all things Medellin in the weeks I have left. You can expect posts that may be a little more thoughtful than previous posts. Enjoy!
Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!
As the days come and go, there are a handful of things in Medellin that you can count on every day. First, of course, is the weather. I’m pretty sure that Medellin has a permanent forecast of temperatures in the 70’s F with a chance of rain.
A little more interesting, however, are the sounds. I have come to love the sounds of the typical day in my neighborhood. There are the cars and buses that drive by, some of which are ridiculously loud. There’s often a baby crying, and it seems like there is the sound of a child laughing, whining, yelling, or just playing in each moment of the day.
I love listening to my neighbor whistle all day long with his pet bird accompanying him. You can rely on having vendors wander by, screaming out the names of the different fruits and vegetables they have for sale. I still can’t believe how load those guys are. Even the random ringing of the doorbell from vendors selling anything from CDs to cake.
When the nearby school lets out, you can hear the boys whistling at the girls. The girls giggle in their own groups, and let out the expected, shrill “Nnnnnoooo!” to the boys and to each other. (Seriously, I don’t think the women here know how to just respond with a normal “No.” They always turn it into a shriek.)
I admit that a lot of these sounds can get on my nerves as well, but it’s kind of comforting knowing everyday you will be reminded you are never alone in Medellin.
Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!
I’ve been working out at a small gym near my apartment in Envigado. Knowing I was dancer, Hermes, one of the personal trainers, invited me to go to a garage party up the hill from Poblado. The club is at a place called Auditorium Plaza. It is basically a warehouse that’s set up for huge parties. This night the club had a 20,000 COP cover and was invite only.
We showed up around 10pm, and we met up with Kelerman, the dance instructor from the gym, and some other friends. We decided on a bottle of tequila for about 80,000 COP for four of us at the table. I had never drank much tequila before, but it ended up all right.
The tequila and a sticker from my favorite band.
Soon, I realized that Kelerman had disappeared, but I never got around to asking where he might have gone. About 15 minutes later, I found out.
Kelerman...the performer!
It turns out that Kelerman was one of the performers for the night. Once they got on stage, the whole place turned into the most fun dance party I have ever been to. Most of us were dancers or dance teachers, so our whole group ended up looking like a music video. We all could just dance well together and pick up on when we were changing rhythms or style.
Kelerman back to normal...dancing the Macarena.
The DJ played a mix of techno, 80’s, and a few new hits. Most the night was spent with crazy-sexy dancing, tequila shots (sometimes body shots), and a few of us dancing on the tables.
Me and my trainer Hermes. When everyone is a dancer, things can get crazy.
Post by Holly. Currently living in Medellin, Holly is getting to know the Colombian culture through music, language, and base jumping!
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