Dear Barbara and Steve,
We have settled in to Medellin after being dislocated, disoriented, and unmoored for a while. We are living on the 10th floor of a 24 floor apartment/condo building that has a rooftop pool (rare) with an unsurpassed view of the stunning Aburra Valley (base 5000′) surrounded by verdant Andean ridges. Medellin and surrounding municipalities contain 3.7 million souls. The city has done a remarkable job of preserving its arbor and below the trees are myriad subtropical plants and flowers. Birds are numerous (Colombia has more species than any other country) and one morning two parrots landed on our lanai rail.
We have been busy taking care of things. We now have 5 year residency visas and cedulas (national identity cards), basic health and ambulance, and can earn points at the big supermercados! Things are proceeding with our remodel-tomorrow we meet with our contractor and architect at the design center to pick out plumbing fixtures, appliances, etc. We have had haircuts and dental care and have eaten well. We are slowly making acquaintances including some Jews. We went to a seder at the only (orthodox) synagogue in town.
Today I had my first injection of platelet-rich plasma (magical thinking) in an attempt to temporize until a knee replacement can be done in the fall. There was insufficient time to rehab prior to coming back to the U.S. in September. My knee is killing me as I write, with a big effusion that makes flexing my knee EXTREMELY painful. Fortunately I have weed and Vicodin to get me to sleep tonight. Hopefully I can get around tomorrow.
Espanol is coming slooowly but we get by and have not started lessons yet. We have needed only light dresses, shorts, tees, and sandals day and night since arrival, weather being a primary driver of our move. It truly is the city of eternal spring. Cam has taken up oil painting and begun lessons Thursdays at a beautiful castle (former doctor’s home). She is amazingly good and is really enjoying the creative outlet in addition to cooking (of course). We are growing to love this city.
Shalom, Philip