macdaddi

El Espectador is the largest newspaper in Medellín. Today they published an article that makes the case for 15 victims since the start of the year (Tweet below). The government and police have not agreed to classify these homicides as hate crimes. There is a lot of attention surrounding these cases as the city fills up with visitors for the Feria de las flores, the most important event of the year in Medellín. The link to the article referenced in the Tweet is here https://www.elespectador.com/colombia/los-peligros-de-grindr-y-lo-que-dice-la-ciencia/ Unfortunately El Espectador remains largely a printed paper, so the website contains only an extract of the full article.

Chatting with a friend in Bogotá today and there was another victim last week. That puts the count at 11. Sadly this victim was known to several his close friends in Medellín. Of note -- all of the men are believed to have "met" the killer through hookup Apps -- but there are inconsistencies as to which App was used. Food for thought.

Sadly the murders remain unsolved. The count is now at 10 men and likely to climb. The deaths are remarkably similar in the state the bodies were found, and it is believed that one man escaped a deadly situation with the possible serial killer. The Medellin police are very reticent to call these serial murders publicly. El Tiempo, the Colombian national newspaper is covering the story. However it is only available in Spanish. You can read one article per month or subscribe for 7000COP monthly (about $1.50USD currently). Here is the most recent article that I could find from 5 June 2022. There was another suspected murder in early July and there is concern over the Feria de las flores next week with so many events and gatherings taking place across the city. https://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/medellin/medellin-sigue-la-zozobra-por-muertes-de-poblacion-lgbti-677873

Sorry, I read your question incorrectly. The first massage was the Venezulan, Paulo who supposedly lives in Robledo barrio. The "second" massage, where he previously received a facial then a massage at a later date (near Parque Poblado) sounds suspiciously like Abybos Spa on Cra 43D which does advertise online but I have never seen them publish ads on Grindr FWIW.

Jajaja Carnival in Barranquilla is a BIG deal with the crowd at the main event reaching 3MM people. It is recognized generally as #2 after Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. https://www.newyorklatinculture.com/barranquilla-carnival/ Events go on for a week in total with different parties (burritos in local slang) (including a gay dance party) finishing with the big parade. The entire city is jammed (similar to Rio) with partying crowds going all out. There are some folkloric elements to Baranquilla's carnival (like this guy below) and also nods to colonialism and slavery unique to this event. The entire city sells out during Carnival so there are shuttle buses from Cartagena that run 24 hours during the major days. Nice way to visit then go home to get some rest and quiet

Updated schedule of events The Sillertero parade will come down Avenida del Rio to 59a where they will exit to enter the Giradot stadium. The 2022 Flower Festival Itinerary While the city is still working to get the final details published, there are a few things that we know for certain will be taking place. Check out the below schedule and events to know what’s coming up. Confirmed Schedule: Event Date Location Launch of the Flower Festival July 27 Aeroparque Juan Pablo II Obelisk Innaugural Concert August 5 Stadium Sector Ball de las Flores TBD Aeroparque Juan Pablo II Vasquez Building Flower Decorations August 5 – 15 Vásquez Building Music and Food in Pueblito Paisa TBD Pueblito Paisa Party in Parque de los Deseos TBD Parque de los Deseos Escenerio Colombia TBD Ciudad del Rio Todos Somos Uno TBD Teatro Pablo Tobón Uribe Parque de las Flores TBD Parque Juanes de la Paz Escenario Infantil TBD Parque Norte Bicycle Parade TBD The Whole City La Feria en Mi Corregimiento TBD Santa Elena, San Cristóbal, San Antonio de Prado, Altavista, San Sebastián de Palmitas Art Circuit of Medellín Barrio Colombia, Provenza, Perpetuo Socorro, Palacio Nacional Don Omar y Juan Luis Guerra The Kings Concert August 12 Anastasia Giradot Stadium Silletero Parade August 15 Avenida del Rio Feria de Flores Kick-Off Event The Flower Festival will kick off with a concert featuring national artists as well as local food stalls. There will be multiple fairground activities and experiences for you to participate in, too. Although the exact start time is still to be determined, the event is set for July 27th in the Aeroparque Juan Pablo II. With an expected turnout of 10,000 people, this is going to be one big event! Concerts If there’s one thing Colombians love, it’s dancing, and at the Flower Festival, opportunities to sway your hips abound. The festival has a ton of different concerts, all featuring different genres and musical styles. There are also a mix of paid and free concerts to attend, so if you’re not looking to shell out a bunch of money on tickets, you can still listen to some good jams.

Bogotá has incredible history and many sites to see. To get acquainted with the city, I would suggest 4-5 days including a Saturday night so you can attend Theatron, the largest gay club in South America. Know that traveling north-south in Bogotá takes time as the roads are congested so plan you time by neighbourhood-section of the city so you do not spend all your time in traffic. Day trips to the Salt Cathedral in Zipiquira or the sacred Laguito de Guatavita (the origin of the El Dorado legend) are exceptional. Medellín has a rich history (beyond what you see on Netflix) and is the centre of entertainment and film production, as well as being a rising tech centre (four universities) and tourism destination. I would suggest 3-5 days to get acquainted with the city and see some highlights. An overnight in Guatapé - El Peñol is also a great experience. Climb the rock to the summit and then explore the water on a boat tour before finishing up in Guatapé. There are tour buses continually between Medellin and El Peñol so you could make it a day trip. I would also suggest a day trip to coffee country (eje cafetero) to see traditional farming villages, but it requires a flight to Manizales or Pereira. Salento is the most famous coffee town and you can see the wax palms that are native to Colombia. For a day trip to the coffee region from Medellín, you can travel to Amagá where there are a dozen local coffee fincas you can tour. Cartagena is the gem of the Caribbean coast and is worth 2-3 days. Most find that they get bored of the tiny streets and plazas of Getsemani and El Centro (old city) so I would consider either a day trip to the beach clubs of Barú or Tierra Bomba. If you want to get completely away, take a few days in the Islas de San Bernardo where you have crystal clear warm water to swim in all day while you soak up the sun. Other cities to consider. Calí is on the pacific coast and is the home of Salsa music. Caleños love to enjoy life and have a good time. Go salsa dancing in Parque de los perros (free lessons each night) or hang out in Versalles neighbourhood. Santa Marta is another beach town at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain and the start of the trail to the Forgotten City. Barranquilla is a shipping port and home the second largest Carnival in Latin America and to Shaquira, for whom they erected the worst possible statue of her image. And I would also consider visiting Santa Crux de Mompox if you are a fan of Gabriel Garcia Marquez (hire a driver - the roads are brutal), or La Macarena to see the Amazon from the Colombian side and visit the famous Caño Cristales river and waterfalls. Hope that helps get you started.

He states Robledo which is north of the Giradot stadium in Laureles.

Agreed. It is easy to overlook the fact that inter-city flights in Colombia are cheap and rarely longer than 1 hour. There is a core groupof escorts that move between cities regularly (Bogotá - Medellín - Cartagena - Cali - Bucaramanga - Pereira). So yeah, many of the ads from the pros are just fishing for the next best work location. I know one poster who generally has 3 ad running concurrently in 3 cities (tattoos down torso to his thigh with the bubble butt) does exactly this technique. If you read each ad carefully, he is promoting "video" calls with the option to arrange something in person. There are other escorts mentioned here on this site that also take the same approach.

No problem.. You will need to register the guest with the reception and return together when he exits (guest cannot leave until they confirm your wellbeing).

I love Colombia during the holidays. The season begins with the Noche de las velitas on December 7 (a Wednesday this year) which may be my FAVOURITE Colombian tradition. Each city is lit by thousands of candles set out by individuals and families around their neighbourhood to "guide" and celebrate the Virgin Mary. Cartagena is particularly beautiful this evening, where families traditionally set out candles in the street, in courtyards and doorways, and in windows, and receive visitors while they are lit. Once the flames go out, people head to the street to meet up and enjoy the evening. Lots of impromptu gatherings and dancing in the streets. Each weekend following this holiday is treated as a holiday weekend, with gatherings, parties and events. So much to do and the cities are alive with so many out enjoying the season. There are lots of Christmas lights and decorations everywhere without the hectic commercialism of the North America. But I love being in any Latin country for the holidays for this reason. But yes, la capital is particularly beautiful (and festive) during this time, with much to see and do. The light displays on Monserrate are a delight and the excited children running from display to display...it is the very best of latin culture.

FYI Bank transfers as payment became very common in Colombia during the pandemic. There are many scort in Colombia that now accept this form of payment. The challenge is finding a payment service that can facilitate a transfer between a foreign country and a local account. In Colombia, I use Remitly to transfer funds directly to a recipient in seconds. PayPal also works, but takes more transaction time. Credit cards, while rare, can be accepted by some that have set up payment systems like Stripe. It has been 10 years since my last visit to Brasil so I won't speculare on their situaation. Do consider any additional fees associated with the transfer and whether it is worth the additional effort to set up the recipients' details in your payment system. But once set up, these electronic funds transfer systems can work very well.

Yes, the office of El Alcaldia includes a tourism office on the main floor. The Alcadia is located at the corner of San Juan (Calle 44) and Cra 54. The building is set back from the street, but the architecture is noticeable as the build has a slanted front. The main entrance is accessible via el Parque de libertad. Note: I did not ask, but no one offered service in English so be prepared to practice your español. Their online list of tourism materials can be found at https://www.medellin.gov.co/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/pcd!3aportal_content!2fMunicipioMedellin!2fPCM!2fadmin!2fEFP!2fiViews!2fprtMedellin!2fcabecera The official tourism website of the Alcaldia is here (spanish only) https://www.medellin.travel/

Glad to see that you found a trainer you are happy with, congrats! I guess no one has really talked about the free outdoor workout equipment found in parks across Medellin, but they are present all around the city, there being two large equipment set ups in Parque lineal and in Parque bailarina around El Poblado. Great option for a free workout when in town. just look for the distinctive yellow workout machines in green spaces.

Agreed and thank you for pointing that difference out. My observations are strictly about Colombia, in many other spanish-speaking countries there are implications when your information is recorded.

Quick update on this topic as the issue of how Colombia manages security and "guests" comes up a lot. I have been doing some investigation of the Medellin rental market and am seeing a LOT of listings (Vrbo, Booking.com) state their guest policy up front. It is usually the registration of the cédula and some state that they charge a small fee (30K COP is less than $10USD). So discovering where you can bring a guest is becoming easier in Medellín. For local Colombians, providing their cédula information is completely normal and very, very few will take exception to being registered with an establishment as a guest. I would suggest any Colombian that does have an issue with this process is probably more trouble than it is worth.

That is a lot of the major sites; I might add a few notes: Parque del Rio Medellin has spectacular lights at night. El Segundo Parque de Laureles has just been redesigned and re-opened and is a great spot for exploring night or day. The Estadio Giradot and the surrounding sports complexes (6 pools!) is a good afternoon stroll and popular workout spot. Parque Arvi is enormous and contains 5 distinct zones. I would recommend picking just one to hike as the trails can be fairly long (60-90 minute for most). You can download the app to your phone to get an interactive map as well. Cemetario de Belén is a nice option and more interesting architecturally During the Fiesta de las flores, it is traditional to visit the town of Santa Elena where many of the silleteros are designed. it is the heart of the flower industry in Medellin. Finally, you have not mentioned Guatapé and El Peñol which are 90 minutes away and worth the trip. I usually spend a long weekend there (you can rent a luxury finca for nothing) to chill out and hang with friends for a few days. No shortage of things to do. Good luck with your planning.

I only know Hotel 61 Prado because there is a custom bicycle shop around the corner. It looks nice enough and has an upper terrace (i think) which would give you great views of the city. However, keep in mind this neighbouhood is hilly. Everything will be up a hill or down a hill, which can be a turn off for some. The Prado barrio itself (and neighbouring La Mansion) were once the most prosperous neighbourhoods in the city, so they are filled with beautiful homes and lots of mature trees. Great for walking and exploring if you are good with hills.

Yes, absolutely. La Setenta (Carrera 70) is the heartbeat of Laureles and is loaded with bars, restaurants, vendors and pretty much everything you expect in a Latin American city. At the end of the La Sententa is the Giradot stadium which the two major Medellin fútbol clubs call home. It is also the finishing spot for the parade of Silleteros during the Fiesta de las flores in August. You willl find that La Setenta is busy all of the time, but on weekends it is packed with people looking to get out and socialize. As a result, there is always a police presence on this street. Walking in Laureles at night is very safe in the zone you described. Be certain to take a GPS enabled phone if you are walking down to Sillón Rojo from Laureles, as the street change from the circles (Circular) to the grid pattern below the Universidad Pontificía. You need to navigate across the Diagonal 66B to Avenida 33 which can be tricky as both are very busy traffic thoroughfares. I have always understood Avenida 33 to be the north-south border between Laureles and Belén barrio. There are several gay bars along this avenue between Carrera 78 and 80 (Purple, Happy, and Rainbow). Sillón Rojo sits very close to the intersection of Avenida 33 and Carrera 65, however it is located on the south side of the Avenida 33 where all of the moto shops are located, not on the North side as shown on Google maps, so grab a picture from the web and maybe have them on WhatsApp just in case they need to send someone to find you (crazy, but I have seen them do this). There is also a special Uber service some nights for pick up and drop off at the club so maybe check ahead before you go.

This sounds more like Parque Duque where the Quebrada Santa Barbara river flows down underneath the neighbourhood (Medellin has hidden part of this river many years ago). The Parque Bicentenario is the park along this river in east Medellin which is a very popular place to chill out on the weekends

There is only one Parque del Periodista on Cra43. You can Google the history and how the park came to be. It is a sliver of a city street where people congregate to smoke up and consume other substances. There are four convenience stores along the park where you can purchase soda/beer/rum to consume. For extra you can get a cup with ice. There is a heavy police presence and you are completely safe while people watching. The park is located at the intersection of Calle 53 (Giradot) and Carrera 43 (Maracaibo). There used to be the infamous Tabu Video cabanas across the road, but that was closed the last two times I was there, so I assume that it is gone forever.

I love it -- but it's all about perspective. I have pointed out here in other posts that the Parque Bolivar is a tourist attraction because a pivotal scene in Narcos was filmed there. So that is what brings in the tourists. But it is (as you pointed out) an open-use drug zone. Parque del periodistas is another. So if one is not comfortable in that environment then probably best to steer clear. There truthfully is nothing of note in this area, unless you must see all the churches in Medellin or need to update your fish tank (all of the aquarium shops are on Cra47 in this corner of La Candelaria -- no idea why)...

I have stayed at Laureles Factory Lofts on the Circular 1 which are a nice, open concepts room with basic kitchen in the room. New building and clean, operated by Caracol Investment group Laureles Factory Lofts 6C Cra 69 Medellin, Antioquia The largest hotel on La Setenta is Hotel Dorado La Setenta 7C26CP Medellin, Antioquia and there are at least a dozen hotels along Circular 5 on either side of La Sententa. Most will be small hotels (under 30 rooms) with a small breakfast room and sundeck. It is normal to include breakfast with your stay at all Colombian hotels, and many of them put out a massive morning spread of food each day.

To be clear, I want anyone who decides to visit this tiny corner of Medellin to understand what they are walking into. If this is on your bucket list, then by all means head on down to Calle de los Pecados. Poor Angelo 25cm has seen his discussion forum hijacked @12is12 Here is a map of the area. Most will enter from the Metro station which is directly to the west (left) of this region. The area I have discussed sits in the upper right hand corner. Now if you need to refresh your aquarium, then you will need to visit this part of town as that is where those businesses exist. Otherwise I think it is prudent to skip this area, there are so many other places to visit in this city. The area with the tourist highlights -- and I do recommend that you visit during the day -- are in the Green Zone. So lots of buffer between then. Walking down Calle 57a during the day is unlikely going to start an incident, but after dark this neighbourhood is a very different place.

You can navigate this area reasonably well in the daytime. Issues with drugs/dealers/homeless are still there, just less obvious as they are not hanging around in the sun. The pickpockets do not take days off so me mindful about who is around you. Sundays are especially busy as many will stop at La Cadelaria for the crafts markets, to see the Botrero park statues and tour the landmark Palacio de la Cultura Uribe Q: Actually, why wld a tourist want to b there at night anyway? Not my place to question motivation. For some this is a real thrill, and I can appreciate that perspective. Just know that there is a darker side to this neighbourhood. Q: BTW, "locals r going to have many questions..." - why do they care? This neighbourhood once served as the centre of commercial life in Medellin and was once the only option for gay men and women (and non-binary) to meet up and socialize. So there is history to this tiny street as it was once the only place in Medellin for openly gay gatherings. As a result, there is still a draw for some locals for historic reasons and because these bars are at an approachable price point. They will be curious why you, a foreigner that can easily afford the more affluent options in El Poblado, Laureles, and Envigado have chosen to spend your time in these tiny (and I mean small, many of these bars hold only 3 tables) establishments that are off the beaten path. Basically they will want to know why the hell you are slumming it when you have many other options available. Want to add here that I have referenced La Cantina de Javi several times on these forums, but I am not certain that the business survived the pandemic. Will need to check into that...highly recommend their lively cantina to get a glimpse of Paisa living.