After breakfast and checking out, I headed off to the airport. About halfway along the 20 minute ride a batch of motorcycle cops with their lights on pass me, and them moments later about 6 SUVs, blacked out windows, no license plates, also with lights flashing pass as well. My Uber driver tells me it is the president heading to the airport. I guess every country is a bit excessive with the leadership travel plans. One would think, for security reasons, it would be smarter to go in a lone Hyundai.
At the airport, since I had done the self checkin, I go visit the lounge and await my flight. I only have one carry on, with the rest of my luggage waiting for me back at the Medellin hotel, but my one bag is overweight (and a half inch oversize). Seems rules aren’t really followed though and I make it on board without a hassle. This flight is my economy class one, but it seems I somehow booked premium economy when picking my seat and didn’t pay more. A bit of a bonus.
The flight is quick and I arrive in Medellin around 11. Leaving the airport for the city, I decide I dont want to pay for a cab or an Uber for the long drive and instead take the group bus. It holds about 20 people and charges $3.75 for the ride into town, stopping at one of the major malls where you can easily take an inexpensive cab to anywhere in the city.
I arrive back at the hotel Chris and I had been at and what a difference a few days makes. The hotel (and area in general) had been absolutely swamped with Colombian tourists the previous week but now was totally quiet. From Christmas until about Jan 10 is the busiest holiday season for Colombians. Even though I am early for checkin my room is already available and I find myself relaxing in it a few minutes later. I spend a little time walking around seeing if any additional souvenirs suit me before catching the metro to another area of town. At about 6 in the evening I head back to the hotel and meet up with Cash and his lady friend Angela. Cash has an apartment for the next month just down the road from my hotel. We watch the Seattle football game and catch up with what we have been doing, while poor Angela has to listen to two people talking mostly in a language she doesn’t understand (which is kinda rude of us), but we tried bits here and there in Spanish to include her. Cash, when switching to Spanish, seems to be a fair bit further along, a result of the amount of time he has spent in Colombia.
After Seattle loses, we say goodbye and I wander back to the hotel. A nice evening and great to see a good friend.
Colombia Motorcycle Ride 