It doesn't end at 6:00 pm! / No se termina a las 6:00 pm!

Yes, we wrote down in the invitation that the celebration would go from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, but it doesn't end there! Don't plan on leaving at that time because you will miss a lot!

Si, nosotros pusimos en las invitaciones que la celebración iba a ser de 2:00 pm a 6:00 pm, pero no termina ahí! No planeen irse a esa hora porque se perderán mucho!

High heels and suits... No! / Tacones y cachacos... No!

If you are wondering how to dress for the occasion, this is our very complicated dress code: don't bother to buy anything, just wear something that you feel good with and look pretty for the pictures! The idea is to share a good time with you and not to make you worry about that type of stuff...

Si se están preguntándose como vestirse para la ocasión, he aquí nuestro código de vestido: no se molesten en comprar ropa nueva, usen algo con lo que se sientan cómodos y que queden lindos pa' la foto! La idea es compartir un buen momento con ustedes y no que les toque preocuparse por esas cosas...

Write down the coordinates! / Apunten las coordenadas!

Hi everyone!

Hola a todos!

The time is coming, so I think we must release the location of the celebration... 6.104839,-75.487062, look for this coordinates on google maps.

La hora esta llegando, entonces pienso que debemos revelar el lugar de la celebración...6.104839,-75.487062, busquen estas coordenadas en google maps.

The name of the place is "La Candelaria / Rincones y Colinas de Juanito Laguna /  Reforestación los Salados" (pic 1, 6.094155,-75.498074 google maps coordinates). It is on the km 27 vía Las Palmas. If you come from Medellín, you will find the entrance on your left side, 2.2 km after Los Salados park, 1.1 km after Fizebad entrance and 300 meters after Carabanchel mall. If you come from Llanogrande, it would be on your right, 2.7 km after Don Diego roundabout, 1.4 km after El Retiro roundabout, 750 meters after La Fé mall. You have to tell the doorman where you are going, house 6A of "Colinas de Juanito Laguna".

El nombre del lugar es "La Candelaria / Rincones y Colinas de Juanito Laguna /  Reforestación los Salados" (foto 1, 6.094155,-75.498074 coordenadas de google maps). Es en el km vía Las Palmas. Si vienen de Medellín, encontrarán la entrada a su izquierda, 2.2 km después del parque Los Salados, 1.1 km después de la entrada de Fizebad y 300 metros después del mall Carabanchel. Si vienen desde Llanogrande, estará a su derecha, 2.7 km después de la glorieta de Don Diego, 1.4 km después la glorieta de El Retiro, 750 metros después del centro comercial La Fé. Le deben decir al portero que van a ir a la finca 6A de "Colinas de Juanito Laguna".

1. Main entrance, coordinates 6.094155,-75.498074/ Entrada principal, coordenadas 6.094155,-75.498074

Get on the private road. Don't take any exit until you get to this point (pict 2), where you are going to take a right, towards "Colinas de Juanito Laguna".

Tomen la carretera privada. Sigan en la carreterita principal hasta que lleguen a este punto (foto 2), donde tomarán la carretera de la derecha, hacia "Colinas de Juanito Laguna".

2. Turn to "Colinas de Juanito Laguna" / Giro a "Colinas de Juanito Laguna"

Then you are going to see another gate (pic 3). Take a right immediately after that gate.
Luego se van a encontrar con otra entrada (foto 3). Tomen el camino de la derecha, inmediatamente después de esa entrada.

3. "Colinas de Juanito Laguna" entrance / Entrada a "Colinas de Juanito Laguna"

Keep going a little bit more, you will soon find the house 6A on your left! A piece of advice, plan to share your car with some other people, one, because parking is on the side of the private road, and it is kind of steep, and two, to have less designated drivers ;)
Sigan un poquitico más, pronto encontrarán la finca 6A a su izquierda! Un consejo, intenten compartir su carro con otras personas, uno, porque el parque es en un ladito de la carretera privada, y es algo pendiente, y dos, para tener menos conductores elegidos ;)

Here is the map (pic 4), the red star is the "Colinas de Juanito Laguna" entrance (just shown above).
Aquí está el mapa (foto 4), la estrella roja es la entrada de  "Colinas de Juanito Laguna" (acabada de mostrar arriba).

4. Map / Mapa

See you soon!
Nos vemos pronto!

Activities around Medellin

We will be arriving to Medellin on November 19th at 8:50PM. We will be staying at Marian's parents (pin A - Circular 75 39B # 35, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia) until thursday november 22nd. That day we will be heading to the country house where the celebration is going to take place (pin B - 6.094217,-75.498063, entrance to the country house, 10 min away from the actual place). The next tuesday, november 26th, we will be back in Medellín and stay at Marian's parents place until december the 2nd. Our flight leaves at 8:50AM.

There are some things hat you may consider to do while you are there...

• The botanical garden is a cool place to spend the afternoon in the city. There is a station of the metro right next to it (University Station). 

• Arvi park is a beautiful place that can be reached by public cable car. It offers guided trails, canopy lines that cross the park, canoes, butterfly green house, bug museum, ... Plenty to do!

• For those that are going to miss Thanksgiving, we have an even better option. Share an afternoon with the kids of the "friends of happiness" foundation! We are planning to go there on the 27th, have some hot dogs and ice cream and spend some time with them. 

• On november 28th los alumbraditos (Christmas lights) will be turn on. Christmas is big in Colombia and Medellin is well known for its christmas lights. We are thinking of renting a chiva (traditional bus) to drive us around the different places. A little sample of how the river that crosses the river looks like and what a chiva looks like (don't worry, we won't place you on the top!)...

• La piedra del Peñol is a huge rock, 1263 ft high. A stairway of 659 steps will take you to the top where you will get a stunning view of the lake. It takes about 2 hours to get there from Medellin. Maybe going for a day trip on the 29th...

Next post will have more info... And if you are planning to stay for a while and would like to get some advice of where to go, just let us know!

Lodging alternatives

There are various lodging alternatives depending on your preferences and budget.

In Medellin, there are 2 neighborhoods that we recommend for lodging: El Poblado and Laureles. Both offer a nice variety of restaurants but the first one has wider options for night life. 

There are small but comfortable hotels, the first 2 hotels are in El Poblado and the last one in Laureles:

• Las Rosas Hotel Boutique http://www.lasrosashotelboutique.com/english/
• Art Hotel Boutique http://www.arthotel.com.co/English/
• Hotel Bolivariana Plaza http://hotelbolivarianaplaza.com/

There are also bigger hotels in El Poblado:

• Hotel Intercontinental http://www.intercontinental.com/
• Hotel Dann Carlton http://www.danncarlton.com/
• Hotel Park 10 http://www.hotelpark10.com.co/
• Diez Hotel http://www.diezhotel.com/
• Four Points by Sheraton http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/index.html
• Hotel San Fernando Plaza http://www.hotelsfp.com/default.aspx?pg=home&lg=1

You can find hotels close to the airport, that is outside of the city:

• Movich Hotel Las Lomas https://www.movichhotels.com/
• Hotel Boutique El Cortijo de la Riviera http://www.hotelelcortijodelariviera.com.co/
• Lodge Siete Cueros http://www.sietecueroslodge.com/alojamiento.html
• Recinto Quirama http://www.comfenalco.travel/HotelesComfenalco/RecintoQuirama.aspx

And there is a hotel in a little town near La Fe dam, were the celebration is taking place:

• Hotel La Antigua http://www.hotelantiguacasona.com/index_en.html

We recommend to start making reservations if you want to spend november 28th and 29th in Medellin. Madonna is having 2 concerts on those days and people from all over Colombia is going to spend those days in Medellin. Some hotels don't have many rooms available...

You may also want to look in pages like expedia or venere for deals, sometimes you can find good rates there! And please, let us know if you need any help or further information!

Looking forward to seeing you in November!

Wondering where?

Just in case you were wondering where the celebration is going to take place...

Colombia, South America

Antioquia, Colombia

Medellin, Antioquia

Medellin (A) is the second largest city in Colombia. Jose Maria Cordoba (MDE) is the international airport that you will probably flight to (C) and it is about 40-50 minutes from Medellin. The celebration is going to take place in a country house near a dam called "La Fe" (B), and it is conveniently located between Medellin (about 30 minutes) and the airport (about 20 minutes).

The weather is nice, temperature can fluctuate between 60°F and 80°F, but be prepared for some rain and humidity around 70%.

Flights booked! Nov 19th - Dec 2nd (Medellin / MDE)

Hello Friends and Family - we wanted to send an update that we have booked our flights and will be on the ground in Colombia from the 19th - 2nd. (Final meeting w USCIS for Marian's paper's on July 12th - fingers still crossed but things looking good!).

Airport - MDE (Medellin)

The best way to arrange your flight is via Miami / Fort Lauderdale.  Orbitz or Expedia don't always give you the best option so investigate buying seperate legs ( X - MIA and MIA - MDE).  Houston is another routing point.

We will update this again soon with more information regarding lodgings.  The celebration on the 25th will take place at a private Finca/Ranch about 40 minutes outside of Medellin (20 minutes from airport).  We will provide a few hotel suggestions both in and out of town.  Renting a private home/Finca/Ranch is also an option.

Hasta Luego

d + M