27 November 2010

The highway to Medellin twists through the mountains. Along the road there are hoses spouting water. I’d imagine this is captured from rivers running down the mountains. Despite the dangerous mountain roads there are houses and people and towns. Yarmul is nestled high in the mountains with an incredible view of town as you approach and leave.

Congested is not the word to describe Medellín. It is absolutely cluttered and jam packed and nearly impassable in certain parts of downtown. Driving through the city is like navigating a hoarder’s house. You don’t know where you are and you have to make your own path. I parked my car and had a taxi drive me to the Black Sheep Hostel with the intention of walking back and driving there but it was so far out of downtown that I decided not to stay in Medellín, He took me to an ATM and then back to my car. I considered I should drive to the hostel since I did tell them I would return with my car but I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle.

Instead I drove through the even steeper and windier mountain roads out of Medellín towards Cali. It is dangerous to pass trucks on blind mountain curves but that is how I drove and with God’s perseverance I have survived. 

The hotel I stopped at is 45 pesos which is five pesos more than last night but there is an awesome panoramic view of the river and mountains and the kitchen looks better than the kitchen last night. Last night I ordered pollo la plancha and was told they didn’t have any chicken. Only thing is they open at eight which means I have a two hour wait.

View from my hotel

I went to get my binoculars to scope out the view but after turning my car inside out it seems someone has stolen them. I hope this is not the case. But it seems to be.

There are military checkpoints and police but I have not been stopped. Yesterday a cop motioned for me to pull over but I kept going. So he pulled over the car behind me. I thought the cops would follow me but they didn’t.

I got a call just before eight to let me know the kitchen was about to open. I told him I still wanted to eat and I asked about the moth problem in my room. There are moths everywhere on the wall near the light and on my bed. So he came back with a can of Raid and sprayed the windows and the wall.  This only served to leave dead moths on the floor and a faint insecticide smell all over the room. At dinner Christmas music was playing at a low level. Beeping like from a cheap toy.