After a relaxed start we set about driving south through the center of Medellin. Our goal was to at least traverse the city using the main north-south road to get a little flavor of the place. As a goal we set ourselves a Texaco station on the southern side of the town that we had heard about as a potential over night stopping place. It was hectic following the traffic and trying to read the signs, but we were helped by the GPS and the free Colombia map we got on the internet. We found the Texaco and also got stopped by some transit police, they gave us the most thorough review of any police so far but in the end we were on our way with no troubles.
On the return journey northwards we just happened to spot the Majorca shopping center and pulled in only to discover that the parking lot had a height restriction. But luck was with us and with the help of a passer by we found a park in front of a nearby, shop and the people in the shop offered to keep an eye on the vehicle while we went to the center. The center had free wifi so we updated whiteacorn and did some banking. The remainder of the drive back to Bello and the supermarket we visited yesterday was hectic, and we got off route - that means lost. But still managed to muddle our way to the correct place after weaving through many narrow bus infested streets.
After lunch at the water park we headed out on highway 62 towards Peurto Berrio and through Barbosa. For a while the road followed the flow of the Medellin river loosing altitude on a narrow twisting road, and then it headed up hill and became steep as well. We arrived in Porce and at the Estadero at about 4:00 pm, to find a bustling road side stop. The ritual of asking could we stay the night turned into a major production. There was no difficulty in getting a yes and even being shown where to park, but many people wanted to see into the Tiger, talk to us about what we were doing and chuckle at our lack of Spanish.
We had a lot of help getting dinner in the restaurant as well. All in all a very interesting and satisfying day.
Camping
Tonight we are at Estadero Punta Aparte, in the "town" of Porce a spot we found out about from the travelin-tortugas. It's a busy place with lots of buses and trucks pulling in. But the folks here are very friendly and put us in a place out of the flow of traffic.
The Texaco at location N06.09.487 W75.37.254 that we saw this morning south of Medellin was crowded with trucks but seemed like a workable over night stop.
