Not everyday is a good day when you’re travelling for as long as I am, and the start of my Medellin journey was certainly evidence of this. I packed up my things and got the bus from Rio hostel to Santa Marta airport where I took a short flight to Medellin. I met up with a group of my friends for a pizza dinner and a few beers – so far, so good.
That night I woke up with a serious fever, almost drowning in my own body sweat. 4 days of fever, sweats, body aches and chills formed the basis of my time in Medellin as I didn’t leave my bed. What was Medellin like? Who knows? I could, however, give you a detailed tour of the next door pharmacy which supplied me with water, hydrolytes and paracetamol which only slightly eased my pain.
On the 4th day, I decided enough was enough and took an uber to a nearby hospital. I tried -and failed- to book a doctors appointment so, despite not being in a life threatening situation, I came to the conclusion that the hospital was my quickest ticket to relief, regardless of the cost ( thank you travel insurance). Dengue was the likely culprit, common in the area of Colombia I was in, where mosquitos thrived in the hot and humid conditions.
I was seen very quickly despite the waiting room in the hospital being full, no doubt thanks to some white gringo privilege. The doctor agreed with my google searched diagnosis of either dengue or malaria and put me on a drip whilst they awaited the results of my blood tests. Ultimately, dengue nor malaria was the verdict, but a parasite, likely contracted from the water in Colombia. The drip and medication I received made me feel better within hours and I was on my way home by the afternoon. Despite the medication helping with the fever and chills and making me feel somewhat human again, it took weeks to fully recover from (I’m writing this 5 weeks later). I could do activities and not be bed ridden but it took weeks for my appetite and digestion to return to normal. Not something I would wish on anyone!
In the following days, on the mend with the worst of it behind me, I made the most of my time in Medellin. A walking tour of downtown Medellin was interesting, albeit a little sketchy at times, and the Comuna 13 and cable car tour was an absolute highlight of the whole trip. The rise and transformation of Comuna 13 is well documented, formerly one of the most dangerous places in the world due to gang violence and trafficking to now: a celebration of vibrant street art, colourful murals, and community-driven projects.
You poor sausage!😒