Day 31: Paragliding, Botanical Garden

Has it really been 3 days since I last wrote? WOW.

Well, I'll tell you, I had a very unproductive productive Saturday and a productive relaxing Sunday.

First off, I decided to forego the gym Sat so I did not procrastinate on tours in Medellin since these are my last few days. I headed to the Museo del Castillo nearby here as there were rumored to be beautiful gardens and an interesting ancient castle. OK, so let's get this straight - a castle built in 1932 by a guy from Europe who died before it was really finished is not cool enough to praise as a 'castle'. It's a large house filled with old items and lots of expensive items from overseas. Apparently the dude spoke like 5 languages and travelled a lot (of course) so there were things from Germany, Italy, Spain and the States. The entire tour was in Spanish so if you aren't fluent, you (ie. me) missed the bulk of the story. I can grasp some concepts, but the topic is new so vocab is new. Anyways, the garden I thought was going to be this enormous full on event - for American standards, this fell short. For RHODE ISLAND standards where we created the US model for 'castles' and 'gardens' in Newport, this was like, huh??? I was like, ok there are some nice flowers that I have seen at many of the restaurants around town, and the lawn is kept nice, and OOOH a fountain (that didn't turn on until 11am when we had to go in the castle). But uh, I'm good. $18.000 and an uber trip.

Next was the botanical garden (of course, after a quick brunch at La Cruda, the last on my list of restaurants). Ended up at the wrong place and no one really helped me, and I understood the Spanish. But 'across the street' was an illusion. So across the street was a nice entrance with big bold letters of ENTRADA and so I go, where everyone pointed, and I pay $32.000 to get in when I knew it was supposed to be free. I asked about the 2pm guide (as it was 2pm now) and she said no guide just ask people on the way. I enter and start seeing an aquarium sign and science-like weight things for kids and a dinosaur exhibit. I ask where the butterfly house is and they say they do not have one, but the botanical garden does ACROSS THE STREET. SO within 5 mins, I'm gone- I don't like kids, I don't like zoos and aquariums, and I'm late. So across the SECOND street I go to a very unassuming area that finally notes its identity. I go in and a tour will start (free at 2pm as expected). TOTALLY in Spanish. Great, again. SO I can do it, right? Sure.... I'm in this dress - no arm or leg coverage and it's rainy, so guess what....you know those mosquitos that Medellin is NOT supposed to have - yeah well they live in that garden, which BTW is not a friggin garden!!!! It's a whole bunch of trees. I love trees, but not enough to view them. This place is pretty much central park (NY) in Medellin but enclosed and no skating rink or castle. No one in NY is giving tours! OK well so maybe some are and those are what, hobos on the side corners hustling tourists lol.

Anyways, 5 mins in and my ass is toe' up! We were hardly moving and I was so caught up on seeing them in drones, I could not concentrate. So I left and explored the bore on my own walking fast enough that the mosquitos couldn't keep up. This is a great place for like school gatherings and lovers picnics and weddings. Butterfly house was closed today. Otherwise, by pass.

The Actual Entrance:

I ended up walking across the street to a new mall so I can try to get these Colombian jeans which fit me so beautifully and the style is so amazing - short around the ankle - not super tight, some baggy around the hips but catch at the ankle - nice cuts in the legs - pockets make ass look amazing - high waisted and they fit people with curves and small waists!!!! The mall was supposed to be the highlight of this trip - and I enter, and there are 3 floors of food!! Food court on each and the stores on the other side of the escalators are empty. One of the ghost malls we see so much in the states, here in Colombia. I mean, the mall was filled with people....eating. That's it. SO I left again, upset. Home to just sleep this shyt away.

But this morning, I got up, ready for paragliding. I'll be honest, I didn't know what it really was, just flying in the sky. SO when they said the pilot had to postpone for an hour, I went frantic! A pilot for what???? There were 3 of us, a couple from Holland joined, and we had the driver Javier take us where we needed to go. Luckily I can speak, but they couldn't and the organizer did not come with us. That was super inconvenient. But nice drive up to an area I'd love to stay for a while - lots of campground like areas and nice restaurants. But our stay was just for a minute. Climbed a host of stairs that rivals Guatape to a cliff. After about 15 mins, they called our names and put a seat on us - yep , a seat. We choose the Go Pro experience so we don't loose our phones so got that in hand. I was smart enough to start recording before - but then the guide comes up behind me and says, just keep running. I'm like, what do you mean??? Just keep running. I'm like, well I can't run in the air, where are we going --- welp, we were off. With no warning, and here I am still trying to figure out 'just keep running'. And it's all on video! Lol. I'm such a retard.

Jumped off the cliff with the entire city of Medellin waiting for our arrival down. Windy with that slight fear mother nature may collapse the parachute. But off we go. And it was exhilarating - not something I know how to express in words. 15 mins in the air over the city and down to the bottom. Nope, I didn't get formal instructions on any of it - he just told me as we went. But I met the ground peacefully- literally, in one piece.

Weird thing was when I was told to go into a taxi with unknown men. I'm in the center with one on each side, the driver and another guy that was one of the instructors. Wasn't told much of anything, didn't know what part of the city I was in (just knew closer to Comuna 13), and the Holland couple weren't with me. Got dropped off 20 mins later at a random gas station overlooking the metro cable and Comuna 13 - and there was my driver Javier!

15 mins later, here comes the Holland couple. And back to El Poblado we went.

Although I would probably not do again unless another group wanted to go, but I recommend for everyone, including maybe my Serenity. Air quality isn't different out there so I think they'd be just fine. Now, I say I wouldn't go again, ONLY because I want to go bigger- like sky diving..... my late aunt's dream - gotta do it for her.

One day.

But that one day AINT today lol.