Day 27: Escobar, Service in Restaurants

Today was my day off for Medellin tours. Decided to do a Pablo Escobar trip since that's what this country/city is known for.

Thing is, it is a very sensitive topic for many - you have to realize that Escobar held down this city from the 80s into the 90s and many are still alive and young enough to remember the craziness that he put many through. Also, many worked for him (including my guide today) and some have positive sentiments for him. So watch what you say and realize that there is still a cartel presence here, especially the Cali cartel which was their #1 rival as well as still some Escobar similarities around the city. Apparently the 'mafia' is in Envigado where Escobar made his living and so it's super safe now! Oddly enough. Anyways.

From what I hear, the community that he built, named Barrio Pablo Escobar, is not actually all that safe and there is nothing there to go visit. Also noting, they honor him - which isn't bad. To me, he did so much good for the city - great businessman, smart and forward thinking, sports advocate. For a man who came from nothing. But the terror and deaths, including the Avianca 203 - that shadows it all.

The museum is around the corner from my boxing gym, oddly enough and it's super small. As simple as it appears, the guide makes the best of it - if you get a lousy guide, sorry for you. I heard someone that got one and they were super unhappy. But there is the helicopter, the Benz, lots of photos and the jet ski. Again, seems super simple and boring right??? It would be, but I enjoyed the history lesson as I knew nothing about Escobar until today - was never interested. He was a little handsome thing though, heyyyyy.

The tour has his family up there too and it's just so interesting to see. I wonder what they thought about him and when he did bad things and when he passed. I like knowing those experiences, because I'll never know myself.

After the hour tour, we then got onto a tour bus and went to 2 different places - the hitman's prayer and the cemetery. Neither are actually all that spectacular, but if you do the museum, just do the tour. Like I said, my guide actually worked for the brother of Escobar, did time for like 20 years in the US for his hands in it, then came back to Colombia. No judgement from me, it was the life and no one knew better or could do better.

But there was a cartoon Escobar drew and it agrees with how I feel about the US government and their 'laws' against certain activities :) USA wanting to call Colombia the bad guys and locking them up, all while the US is sniffing and banking off the product themselves.

Finished up with the tour and headed back to La Matriarca for dinner - now, I told ya'll how you need to have patience with Colombians, especially here in Medellin. So I heard from a Dutchman that the US is like super service at a restaurant and in clothing stores, like, leave me TH alone lol. SO here in Colombia, they will welcome you in, but they will not stare at you. I've learned 1) push your dish or glass to the side when done as that is what they are looking for to do 2) take your time eating - Americans love to eat fast, it's our culture, we got somewhere to be or the next reservation needs to sit - Colombians don't care - take your time, eat and sit another 30 or 45 mins, maybe have a cappuccino or cafe then get the check. And 3) I'm still trying to figure out if CHICO, SENOR, or DISCULPE are the right ways to call attention - I don't get responses most of the time anyways, so I just wave my hand. And lastly 4) things are done in ORDER!!! Yes, so just because your muffin is right there and you are standing right there, if they had to put an order in or make someone's coffee, they are going to do that first.

I appreciate it, I do.

Then it irritates me lol. It's confusing. But it works.

Propina, or tip, is usually asked to be included in the 'cuenta' or receipt. That's super easy for Americans so we don't over tip etc. But then they ask you for a quota, and apparently in the country, you can say how many times your payment gets split on your credit card. For all Americans and probably EU too, just always say one. The questions come to you in that order so even if you don't know Spanish, the major words are : 1) incluye propina? 2) credito o debito? And 3) cuantos cuotas?

And as everyone ends their service with you (ie. Bar, uber, store) : con gusto (with pleasure).