Beer Glorious Beer

Those of you who know me well know that I am quite the fan of microbrews, of which there are very few in Latin America. The best beer scene I've experienced was at the Largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany in Villa General Belgrano, Argentina. Througout my travels in L. Am, I've noticed a direct correlation between light beers and hot climates. I mean, when it's 90 degrees out with 90% humidity, a Stout or Porter isn't really your go-to beverage.


That being said, the lighter pilsner-style lagers that are ubiquitous in Colombia (and the rest of near-Equator countries) all begin to taste the same after a while. In Bogota, a BJ's Brewhouse-type restaurant has sprung up recently called "Bogota Beer Company." Their house beers are quite delicious, as well as having an impressive selection of European imports. 4 years ago, Medellín made its foray into the world of "cerveza artesanal" (microbrews) with the beginning of the 3 Cordilleras Brewery. These guys have quite an impact on the tourist-frequented areas, with most places having taps for the 3 types: a hefewiesen, a pale ale and an amber ale. As you can see below, we're putting the finishing touches on The Wandering Paisa bar and last week, were able to get 3 Cordilleras on tap:

The First Arrivals

 It all started with a phone call in mid-December. Manuel, the general manger of Palm Tree Hostel (the first hostel in Medellín) called to inquire of the status of The Wandering Paisa. I told him we had mattresses in the beds and a few other amenities but were still fixing things and with that, we began to collect the overflow of visitors from the surrounding hostels.

Our first official guest was Luis, a businessman from Bogota who was looking for an alternative to the pricey hotels on La 70. He had stayed in hostels before, but what sent him in our direction was our statement on “drugs in Colombia” Luis only stayed the weekend, but has since, referred other Bogotanos as well as returned for a 2^nd visit.

Our first group of visitors that we recieved had just finished an 8-day sailing trip from Panama to Colombia. The trip was only supposed to last 4 days, but bad weather had them stuck on an island for an extra 4, with no clean clothes and running out of food. The creature comforts of The Wandering Paisa were put to the test immediately upon their arrival. The group was initially a bit awestruck, having spent most of their time in Central American hostels, which are generally held to different standards than those of South America. We overhead exclamations such as: “Hot water! Oh my god!”, “They have hammocks!”, and my personal favorite: “Pillows!” (to whichever hostel in Central America that is depriving their guests of pillows).

Having arrived just before Christmas, these guests took initiative in putting together an Xmas party in our half complete bar, including a Secret Santa competition and a huge potluck dinner. And even a month later, I'm getting referrals from this original group (thanks Laura!)

Wandering Paisa: Now Open

If only it were as easy as clicking on a flourescent neon sign in the front window. Putting up the Christmas lights was almost as satisfying and completed none too soon as Medellín's Xmas Lights Spectacular is now in full swing.

See more pictures at The Wandering Paisa Webpage

 You probably can't read the writing, but we put a "Wandering Paisa" signpost up by the door, just to let people know. All that remains is a little painting and finishing touches throughout the hostel, but we are open to the public and taking reservations. The task of switching from a renovation/decoration frame of mind to logistics and operations is proving challenging as I'm weeding through lists of potential employees and budget projections. There's at least an air of relief having competed this portion of the project; although something tells me I may only have time to catch my breath before charging full speed ahead into the next chapter of the Wandering Paisa.