1. The weather here cannot be beat, and it ties with San Diego as being a perfect climate. Except in Medellin it really is perfect all the time. It stays 75-80 degrees 24 hours a day. Apparently there is a rainy season, but we are not here for it, so I am just going to believe that everyone here enjoys this perfection year round. And thanks to the perfect weather, the plant life here is like a tropical oasis everywhere. Since Medellin is almost 5000 feet above sea level, the city doesn't have the bugs that usually come with a tropical oasis. Win!
2. Colombians know how to make coffee. It really is that good. Juan Valdez is a genius.
3. Guess what is better than the coffee? The chocolate. Words cannot describe my surprise, then elation when I tasted my first piece of Colombian chocolate. I researched it, and yes, apparently the chocolate here is just as good as the coffee. Who knew? Our apartment is located right next to a chocolate/coffee shop, which we have been to three times already. Every day it is a mental battle debating on whether or not to stop in and show the owner how my Spanish is improving get more chocolate.
4. Surprisingly not that good? The food. It's not bad, it's just not good either. And Colombians really love themselves a deep fryer. Sooooo many things are fried. There is also so much pork! Which is good every once in awhile, but I was afraid that by the end of this trip I might actually turn into a pig. They also cannot get enough of ham (yes, I know it is a form of pork) and cheese. Instead of living on a diet of chocolate and coffee though, we have found some good restaurants and they do have a wide variety of different international foods to choose from in Medellin. We still like to try the different kinds of Colombian food, but at least we can find some other options too.
5. The women in Medellin are gorgeous. I have to give Jay some props for not getting whiplash yet from the parade of beautiful women that walk by every day. Our first few days were spent where all the beautiful people gather, but now that we have seen some other parts of Medellin (with more, ahem, natural women), it is still safe to say men have it pretty easy here.
6. They are not shy about the plastic surgery here. Like I said before, our first few days here we were staying in a part of Medellin where the beautiful people seemed to congregate. I had read and read that many woman get breast implants, so I am not surprised by the amount of boob jobs, but it is crazy how many butt implants there seem to be. It's like every woman took a picture of J. Lo's butt to the doctor and, well, that is what you see.
7. Colombians know how to dance. And they do dance, a lot and anywhere where there is music. It is obvious that everyone here has been dancing from a young age, moving those hips with their mom, dad, grandma, cousin, until it is time to go out into the world and show what you got. Here in Medellin they really like salsa, rumba, and reggaeton. Some crossover stuff too.
8. Malls are somewhat of a big deal here. Every place we looked at to live in usually had a description that ended with "and it's so close to _____ mall!" They are kinda like malls in the US, but they also have grocery stores, a soccer field, CASINOS, gyms, and many other things. So far I have managed not to go to a casino yet, but I am sure it is only a manner of time before I am yelling double down in Spanish.
9. No one speaks English. No one. Our real estate guy was one of the first people we ran into that was Colombian and spoke English. Then we learned that he spent K-8 in New York. We have also heard some English in the airport, and our hotel guys had a limited amount of phrases he knew. But if you are out and about, it is Spanish only. Which is good for us, it makes us practice more.
10. No one has blonde hair. Especially blonde curly hair. Sticking out like a sore thumb does not even begin to describe it. I have heard from a few that I look Argentine though, weirdly enough.
11. No one wears shorts or flip flops in Medellin, and if you do it looks weird. The ironic thing is that every window in the mall has a mannequin wearing shorts and flip flops. I am baffled by this, but apparently the people of Medellin refuse to fall for the propaganda the mannequins are displaying. I should have brought more jeans.
12. Guanabana juice is the best.
13. No matter the time of day, it is ok to eat an empanada and have a Club Colombia (Colombian beer) in your hand.
A diet of chocolate and coffee seems perfectly reasonable. I approve. If they don't wear flip flops and shirts what do they wear? I'm feeling as though there needs to be a video of this salsa dancing to really understand ;)
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