Miercoles 13 de mayo - Medellín
Today, me, Virginie and Joe head into the centre of Medellín via the metro to explore the city. First we head to Parque Berrio and then Botero Plaza, it is a slightly underwhelming experience after the beauty of the historical parts of Popayan, Cali and Salento. Here we feel slightly more unsafe.. we continue to Parque Bolivar, where we then have lunch.. and perfect timing to watch the first half of the 2nd leg of the Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Juventus. After lunch we decide to walk to the city's Botanical Gardens.. on route we pass by some questionable areas.. places none of us would be walking through alone! Close to the Botanical Gardens we stop for a beer... and to watch the 2nd half.. much to Virginie's delight..
The Botanical Gardens are the nicest place we have been today, where we enjoy a peaceful walk around. On our return to the hostel we buy food supplies for dinner in a large supermarket Exito. Earlier as were leaving the hostel Virginie bumped into a French girl from her University, she then joins us for dinner and drinks later in the evening. We head to the same venue as last night.. but to me and Virginie's disappointment the music is not salsa. This however doesn't stop us from dancing salsa to the modern music.
Virginie's flight is at 6am so she has decided that she'll be getting no sleep tonight! After staying until the venue closes, we head to Parque Lleras where we end up chatting with some very drunk locals who pay for the parque's musicians to come play! After Virginie heads off in her taxi, I head to bed. A great time travelling, I certainly have been lucky to have Virginie as my companion. Speaking Spanish well, making my life very easy which otherwise could have been a difficult trip on my own. Virginie will now head to the coast and then onto Brazil at the end of may where she'll be travelling for another two months with her sister, boyfriend and friend from Paris!
Jueves 14 de mayo - Medellín
After enjoying the left overs, of the previous nights meal, for lunch, Joe heads off into the city for a tour for tips walking tour. I have my first private spanish class later in the afternoon. The class is great, and my teacher, Lauren, is very friendly.. and very ocd when it comes to creating notes for me.. a perfectionist!!
In the evening me and Joe head out for dinner, finding a restaurant called Juicy Lucy, where we enjoy delicious hamburgers. Back at the hostel we play pool, and decide to stay in.
Viernes 15 de mayo - Medellín
Today it is Joe's last day in Medellin before flying to Cartagena later in the evening. We decide to take the metro to the cable car in the city, where we enjoy great views of the whole city.. seeing poorer parts of the city that are a complete contrast to the rich area our hostel is located in. After returning to Poblado, Joe heads off to the hostel before his flight, whilst I head to my second spanish class.
In the evening I drink with Kate and Emma in the hostel, and a group of others. We all head out for a big night.. slightly ruined by a second venue we head to around 4am.. we arrive back to our hostel at 6am.. and off to bed.
Sabado 16 de mayo - Medellín
No suprises here.. I spend the majority of the day in bed.. briefly arrising for a few hours to eat before heading back into bed!
Domingo 17 de mayo - Medellín
Today I will be heading to my homestay for the upcoming week in another part of the city, Laureles. I stay at the hostel untill late afternoon, and finally completing duolingo.. (how much I've learnt is questionable..). When I get to Gaby and Elias's home I am immediately made to feel welcome. I manage to get through some spanish to tell them about my travels so far in Colombia and before etc. I later meet their daughter Andrea as well. From now on I'll be immersed in spanish..
Lunes 18 de mayo - Laureles, Medellín
Today there is a national hoilday so I don't have my spanish classes. After breakfast, Andrea invites me out with her and her friend, to swim at one of the local universities. Here we are able to use the swimming pool, jacuzzi, turco and sauna.. not bad for a monday morning!! Although I spend the rest of the afternoon doing the homework from my spanish class!
Martes 19 - Viernes 22 de mayo - Medellín, Clases de Español
On tuesday I begin my group spanish classes for two hours each day in the morning at Toucan Spanish School, whilst continuing my private lessons in the afternoon. I take the bus from the road opposite la casa all the way to Poblado Station where I then walk for the final 15 mins. The others in my group are on the intensive course, so are taking 4 hours a day.. I join them at 11am, after they have had two hours since 9am. After classes there is a welcome meal, here I meet a few of the other students from the other groups. The ride back after my private lessons is long due to plenty of traffic through the city!
In my group and private lessons, I am learning a lot of new past tenses.. which result in giving me a headache from an overload of learning! I'm not sure my speaking is improving because I find myself now stumbling over which tenses to use when speaking.. but I can finally slightly roll my r's within some words.. words beginning with an r are the most difficult! Plenty more tarea each evening as well..
The week lessons proves to be very helpful but by the end of the week I am happy to have finished classes. I now understand a lot more.. but the key to having a conversation.. speaking.. still needs to improve! I am very glad I chose to continue my private classes with Lauren as these have proven to be extremely helpful.. with greater explanation and a new organised folder with notes to revise from in the future!
Schools out.. and it's time to drink and party! In the evening on friday I head back to Poblado with Andrea to meet up with Evan from my group classes. We first head to Casa Kiwi where we get chatting to a few others and Mark is still here from last week. We end up at the same venue as last week, another fun night in Medellín.
Mi último fin de semana en Medellín..
Sabado 23 - Domingo 24 de mayo -
Mis últimas días en Medellín. El sabado yo me despierto a las 12 del día después de una noche de parranda.. llegué a las 4! Hoy yo voy a cortarme el cabello, yo almorcé con Andrea y luego caminé a los barberos. El clima estaba muy caliente! Por el resto de la tarde me acosté a dormir!! Me levanté y comí con la familia Pérez Vásquez.
El domingo despierté tarde y salí con Elias y Andrea al mercado para comprar comida para la semana próxima. Cuando llegamos almorzamos y por la tarde me relaje. Luego salí con Andrea y Gaby a Laureles. Laureles es un barrio bonito de Medellin, cerca a mi casa. Es mi favorito lugar en Medellin. Nos quedamos un rato en Unicentro de Laureles, donde comimos sandwiches en Subway! Cuando volvimos a la casa tomamos una foto.. selfie! Por la noche escribí mi blog. Una buena experiencia con mi familia de Medellin! Mañana necesitaré despiertarme a las 3 y media, porque voy a viajar a Cartagena y encontrarme con mi amiga Iris.
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