Day 19: Saturday, October 20th
Day 2- Medellin, Rango Hostel

Dear Obiwan,

Look at the beautiful street just where I grabbed a quick desayuno!(breakfast)

Welp, remember the medicine I took last night and then went out? Well, this was a bandaid, and today I really felt my Dengue Fever. And just stayed in all day and night, I really wanted to go out on SATURDAY NIGHT in Medellin, but I had to listen to my body. I also just assumed Sunday would be great too!

Day 20: Sunday, October 21st
Day 3- Medellin, Rango Hostel

Today I had breakfast at the hostel and it was amazing! Like, actual real amazingly delicious bread, tons of eggs, and coffee or juice or tea.

Here are the views from my hostel’s breakfast patio:

After breakfast I headed to the mall 🙄…because your wise mother only brought summer clothes Obi and then just thermals for Patagonia. So, I needed a jacket and some PANTS. I ONLY BROUGHT JEANS. No pants? I was distracted while packing, I’m gonna chalk it up to that.

Yes, here are some mall photos, there was this gigantic blow up tube that I really wanted to jump in and it was DOG DAY which happens twice a month, and legit, a million doggies and everywhere you step were doggie vendors!:

When I got back to my dorm, I didn’t really know anyone so I saw a guitar and started playing in my room. It felt so good to play music Obi for me. I mostly only play music for my patients, and while I love being a Music Therapist, I just sometimes only make music for my patients and that needs to change. So it did! I played a few songs I’ve always wanted to learn and then tried to learn Austurias, hahah, which was hilarious, but I slowly can play the first 4 bars! (Out of probably 4,000).

After this I was excited to go out! Then Miguel at the front desk informed me that NOTHING HAPPENS on Sundays!

Well, I headed down to the bar and ended up meeting great group of people who wanted to go out, including 2 French guys, Gregor and Jeffrey, who knew of some amazing party. The other three people were Laura, who’s in my dorm and is from Holland, and this awesome American couple!

Well, in summary Obi, we went to the supposed amazing rooftop party, and it was closed, or we couldn’t find it. We serached and serached, Gregor didn’t want to give up. But the group to began to divide into let’s find another place’ and ‘let’s keep searching!’ we eventually gave up, went to the main bar area, all closed! Then finally ended up making our own amazing party on the rooftop of our hostel!

Day 21: Monday, October 22nd
Day 4- Medellin, Rango Hostel

Welp Obiwan, due to staying up way too late, today was a tad rough. But, I HAD to explore Medellin. I had signed up for a tour one of my dorm mates told me about, ‘Real City Tours.’ Before doing this I had to change my rooms, due to staying longer than expected.

I met my new roomie, Leeva, who was chill and funny. We mesh well.

Then I left Obi, only with a few hours of sleep, for a 4 hour tour, honestly in hindsight what was I thinking? But I’m glad I did it!

I almost was late but I made it right on time. The tour was amazing. We went around the center of the city mostly and leaned so much incredible and powerful history. Our tour guide, Juan, was so passionate. I also met Jesus, this amazing guy from Venezuela who was hosting a German couple and joined them on their tour today. He leads tours to Guatape and helped me set mine up for tomorrow!

Besides me being a real struggle bus and almost giving up, the tour was amazing. Juan first blew our minds by knowing all of our 25 names after 5 minutes. He also spoke about Pablo Escobar at length but used nicknames for him and other hot topics so citizens wouldn’t get upset. He even shared about when he was 14 and just playing in the streets some of Escobar’s men drove over and shot at everyone, he was shot and was okay, but he lost 4 friends. He acknowledged how he did help the poor people but really focused on how many innocent people were killed due to him. And he ended the tour in this square with some Botero statues (they are all over Medellin!) and one of the statues was destroyed by a bombing from the Escobar time and Botero made another one and donated it for free. Juan talked about this representing many things, including Medellin rebuilding and recreating itself today!

Here are photos from the tour!:

After this I napped the day away and then me and my new awesome roommate Leeva ordered delivery and ate it on our beautiful roof! (Leeva has been solo traveling for about 3 years or something crazy! And she’s 25 or something!) The night ended with Ceasar and Troy coming to hang out before they left for America 😭. It was a wonderful evening, those guys are so funny and warm and Leeva was hilarious and laid back. We all had a great night!

Farewell guys! Till next time!:

I then went to bed very early so I would be ready for my adventures in Guatape tomorrow!

Goodnight my sweet Jedi, love you!

Your Mama,

Carly