Medellin day 3

Today eggs were back on menu. Nice.

The mornings I typically spend updating this blog.

The plan for today: 

• Go to the Encicla office to get a card so I can use the public bikes.
• Possibly take the cable car up to Andulucia neighborhood 
• Revisit the Centro Palacio Comercial Nacional

After breakfast I headed out to go to the Encicla office to register for the bike system. I took the Metro to the same station that I went to to meet the walking tour yesterday.

I had to walk another 4 blocks to the Encicla office. But once there, I was assisted in completing my registration. I couldn't have done it by myself. After about 15 minutes, I walked out, registration complete. It is not in my plan to ride today, but I will tomorrow.

Today, I want to ride more on the Metro system which includes busses, the train and also cable cars that carry residents up the mountain sides. Once you board, you can transfer as many times as you want, as long as you don't exit, for one price. 

I should backup a little hear. One other thing that Milo told us about yesterday. The Metro system is the pride and joy of the city. It is spotless, no graffiti, no scratches, no tagging. there is plenty of that around the city, but everyone knows, Hands Off the Metro, and they do.

So I went back to the Metro Station to board a train to the first of 6 cable car transfer stations.

When I arrived to transfer to the K line, I was told it was closed for technical difficulties with no tim6e line when it would reopen. I was a bit disappointed, but then referring to m6y handy pocket metro map. I saw that I could walk to the other end of this station, without exiting to take a cable ride on the P line. 

I walked to the other end, up several flights of stairs and boarded the P line cable car. Amazing. Each car holds up to a maximum of 10 people, but the cars never stop,there are no attendants. The doors open and close automatically, and slow way down for people to easily board and get off. Cars are only about 5 seconds apart, running continuously whether they are full or emtpy.

Up the mountain we go. On the P line there are 3 or 4 stations where people can exit or board. I stayed on all the way to the top. Passing over housing areas, several cattle feed lots and commercial areas. A few small parks, put not many, this area was very densely populated.

At each station the cars slow down and group together for people to get off and others get on. Then as the car exits the station, it picks up speed again.

On the way down the mountain on the P line. I was talking to a young Colomian teen. I must have m6entioned that I tried to take the K line cable car. He pulled out his phone and showed me a news blast that one of the cars had fallen on the K line.

Later I read more learning that 1 person was killed and 20 injured. It happened near a station, if it happened away from the station, the drop would have been greater and more serious injuries could have happened.

If I had arrived to ride the K line 30 minutes earlier, I would have boarded before the accident.

I again boarded the Metro rain back to the city center. 

At Berrio station, there is this fabulous mural on both sides of the walkway. Unfortunately in behind glass so it doesn't photograph well. As with sculture I mentioned earlier, this mural depicts the history of Colombia.

On the way back, I saw this small eating place offering Ricos Chorizos, Lechona, and Ricos Tamales and  Tamal y Lechona. Some ladies already there eating recommended the Ricos Tamales. That was good enough for me. I ordered that.

The Ricos Tamales is a rice mixture with vegetables and pork wrapped in a banana leaf. All I can say is, Wow! It was really delicious. 

I told the owner (who I think also enjoys his food, maybe a little too much) that I would be back another day to try the Lechona. The Lechona is in the fore ground of the picture.

Back at the hostel, yes, it was siesta and rest my legs time.

It is very unusual for me to go out the evening when traveling, but Ivan asked if I wanted to go bar hopping with him and a couple others, Angel from Bogota and Janine from Austria. At first I said no, but then realized that this is a great opportunity to see some local hangouts, safely. They were ready to go, I just had to change my shoes and shirt, and then I was ready to.

We went to 3 very different places. The first a very small bar that would only accomodate about 10 people. There we all had a "Pipilongo".  Here is one description from the internet: 

"Maceration of Piper Tuberculatum. Is is a recognized anti-cancer, is used to maintain the prostate in healthy conditions and is considered a natural viagra. Drink with spicy and woody tones." 

Well, if that's the case, I better buy some! Not of the viagra affect, but for the prostate and anti-cancer benefits.

We didn't stay long and we were off to the second stop.  It is starting to rain a bit, but not too much. 

This was a larger venue with a performance area. Ivan tells us they have different things going on every night. Tonight it is a couple guys talking about disco, it's popularity in early gay disco bars, and playing various cuts of disco music. 

It started raining a bit harder outside, so we ended up having a 2nd round of beers here before moving on to stop three. Ivan is the guy on the right side of the photo.

The third place is totally different to. Very hard to describe. Ivan had to call from the door to have someone to open the gate to let us in. The place was partly inside, partly outside with discarded patio tent covers hanging here and there to protect from the rain. Small makeshift seating areas scattered around.

On my third beer now, it was time to relieve myself. I found a urinal along one wall, not in a room, the view of the urinal only slightly privatized by a piece of artwork and sink. I had to go back to where the group was to m6ake sure this was really a urinal to use, or if it was just another art installation. It was a urinal 

It is past my bedtime now, it is still gently raining outside, but we decided to stop to get a snack on the way back. Chaneen and I had surprisingly good and sloppy hamburgers.  Angel had a hotdog.  I was amused by this sign there. In Spanish, perro is dog and caliente is hot. So the sign is advertising the Hot Dog Festival.