Copa Airline Horrors, Lost in Medellin, Comuna 8, Tipping

Well. Yesterday was a semi-disaster. So Serenity seemed uncomfortable on the last flight that was a 3 hour delay and then I realized later, which I kind of figured, she had to pee. Although I withheld water, she got some chicken tenders for lunch and still had a full bladder. Not her fault but 13 years of NEVER urinating outside a box. She did- and she clearly looked embarrassed. Any poor baby. Luckily it was by the time we got the luggage and I was able to keep her clean pee pad in there.

Cats can walk on a leash - well, some can/will

So yeah-3 hour delay. I'm upset because Copa really didn't communicate well during it.

When we got to the gate, the weather clearly wasn't appropriate so the airport "shut down". Well, 30 mins later, planes were landing and taking off. Then an hour passes by and there is no crew. They were stuck in the air.

Ok- so weather is good now, flights are landing and we still have no crew?

Well, if it wasn't for my cat and the Orlando mom and daughter I met, it wouldn't have mattered all that much. Sidebar: So the daughter was in her 30s I'd say and her husband was in Colombia. Apparently, he had 'an incident' that was severe, 'an accident' and was struggling in the hospital. So I felt for them- delayed and distant from what was important. We got on the plane, finally- and THEN sat for another 45 mins! Not even taxiing. Ugh.

Less than an hour later, we arrived in Medellin.

My driver had waited 2 hours for me. But got my luggage and to the Air BNB I went.

Very nice! At the front was a security guard and a second key card entry. But similar to what happened when I went to El Poblado last year, no hot WATER!

At least in El Poblado, it lasted enough to lather and rinse in 2 mins. Last night, I just got in the bed dirty. Woke up to bathe in the sink with heated up hot water. Not new to me- I did it for 4 weeks when I visited India. Literally: if you survive India- you can survive anywhere.

India is NOT for the weak.

But guess what. All that isn't the biggest issue. I'll save that for tomorrow. Let me wrap my brain around it.

In short: Serenity is currently stuck in Colombia.

This morning, after conversing with family and friends, I walked down to Del Muri Cafe.

It's election weekend so anything alcohol and play are closed! So I postponed the rooftop bar idea and will just go shop.

Del Muri:

Cappucchino

Blueberry Pancakes 3/5

Well, the events after breakfast really show how this trip may continue to go.

So after looking at Google stating the malls are closed on Sundays, I found Blogs that say No! I don't ever remember malls closed on Sundays last year- I also don't know if I even went or tried to go on Sundays. But I'm like, why would they be closed? It's a great time to shop! So I load into a sketchy Uber who drives me to downtown Medellin which starts looking crazier and crazier. Besides the obvious crackheads injecting in the street when cops are literally on the next corner, we went deeper in and now to an area where all the stores were closed but trinky vendors lining the streets. I arrive at the CLOSED National Palace mall and my driver did not want to take me back home!

So I stroll the streets, and I'm not directional savvy. If I take 2 turns in either direction: I'm lost.

So now I'm here and end up without any phone service to hail an Uber back home,

but I'm ultimately dodging into corners of vendors so people don't see me "LOST" and on my expensive phone.

Finally, I noticed a metro overhead! I followed it to the closet station where I could get out of the street crowd and find corner to cry. Lo and behold- there is free limited wifi.

Ugh. But I need a Colombian number!

So I used one of the tour guide's and luckily, they did not verify it and I called an Uber!

While waiting, I realized I was at the San Antonio Metro!

The same metro I received photos of for a Comuna 8 tour that was leaving from there in 2 hours.

Since I had nowhere to shop, guess I'll join! But what we weren't going to do is sit there for another 2 hours waiting. Especially when there were no restaurants to hang out nor alcohol to drink/enjoy.

So 15 min drive back to my neighborhood in an even MORE sketchier UBER.

He dropped me off 5 blocks from my apt and wouldn't go further. I happily jumped out. Went to see Serenity and tried to grab a snack and water from the local grocery store - damn thing is closed! Seriously.

Ended up with a coffee and absolutely nasty pineapple pastry somewhere else and UBER TAXI 'D back to the San Antonio station.

This 'is sounding like a horror travel story. Well, it damn near is.

Arrived at the metro to meet a very young DAVID and 3 other guests.

La Sierra Tours: Comuna 8.

$150.000 for 4 hours.

I'll rate it a 3/5. TripAdvisor and Viator rate it higher.

The guide was good, had to translate everything for us. There were two English speaking folk although I generally can follow Spanish guides. Today, it fell off after an hour- my brain hurt.

We took the tram to the metro Cable to Comuna 8. Apparently this was a free 'coffee' tour. We walked through a questionable neighborhood, took a bus up the mountain (I think we'd walk if it wasn't for the older lady with us) and got off to meet a Rosa. She spoke about how her family got in the coffee business and started the " Revolution". Well, they way she talked about her influence came off like she was.

We walked up to the top of the community dressed in a poncho and sombrero and picked coffee beans. Brought them back and received an in-depth experience on making coffee- including filtration, dark v. medium roast, coffee wine, etc. Good notes-but in the end, you will leave drinking coffee as you've been back in the states. The kids in the group were cool and I don't even like kids.

The bathroom was: super poor. Basically a metal hose sticking out the wall for a shower that had no separation from the toilet.

But I'm American- we like luxurious bathrooms with heated toilet seats 🙂 Anyways, let me end this rant. As soon as we got on another bus- it started downpouring. No biggie since we are inside, but traveling down Comuna 8's narrow roads that really should be made a one-way isn't fun. That drive gave me a headache as well as the tram.

The bus probably gave me COVID. I'll find some vitamin C tomorrow.

But it was about a 30 min ride on public transportation to the drop off point. David waited until everyone got in their taxis to be safe, even asked us to check the plates.

I UBER TAXI'D to dinner. Unbeknownst to me, the liquor hold was lifted.

Jack and Roll Burger Laureles:

Sausage, Corn, BBQ and Bacon 3/5

I've finally met a burger that was too MUCH! The sauce was eh and the Burger tasted like chicken. The sausage I ate alone after.

Tipping Etiquette: around 10% and they generally ask if you want to include it in the final bill. Say YES.

QUOTAS: If you missed last year's note, this is always ① if you are from the states (and likely the EU). In Columbia, they can kind-of "break up" payments so that's what that's reserved for. TIME: take it. Colombians are not in such a rush so they WILL NOT come to ask how you are. And when your table is cleared, they will not ask you to leave. Obviously, be polite. If you know it's crowded, mosey on over somewhere else.

Best UBER TAXI home! I should ask if he could have been my own private driver. Let's see

if I can message him.

Side note: Still trying to figure out how Serenity and I are leaving this country!

But I still haven't told you that yet.

I'll say, this is my liveliest Blog yet. Good? Bad? Well, as long as we make it home on time, healthy and in one piece.

The healthy part is questionable.

**Apparently I lost a lot of photos - will upload when I come across them