I visited Colombia in January of 2009 and absolutely loved it! First destination: Medellin, the city of eternal spring. True to its name, the city has a temperate climate all year round and offers fresh flowers and fruits, like grenadines.
It was easy to get around the city with cheap cabs and a fairly new metro system. I stayed at the Dann Carlton hotel in the Poblado district, close to some of the best restaurants and nightlife.
Not wanting to waste any time, my first meal was Bandeja Paisa (national platter) at Mondongo's. It is a traditional brunch dish that consists of: Red beans cooked with pork, White rice, Ground meat, Pork rind, Fried eggs, Plantain Patacones, Chorizo with Lemon, Arepa, Hogao sauce, Black pudding and Avocado.
Warning: This platter is huge! Fortunately, I had someone to share it with. For dinner, I enjoyed some Chicharrón at San Carbon which is a dish made of pork rinds, seasoned and deep fried. Most meals in Medellin are served with arepas, flat, cornmeal bread that can be grilled, baked, or fried.
If you're thirsty and want to try some local beverages, there are soft drinks like Colombiana, Postobon or Pony Malta. Alcoholic drinks include Aguardiente (personally, I found this quite strong), Ron (aged rum, which I really liked), and refreshing cervezas like Aguila, Club Colombia and Costena.
I hope you get to experience this beautiful city and everything it has to offer. ¡Buen Provecho!
