½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

I will get this started.

I live in a small pueblo located at the north end of the Aburra valley of Medellin and love my 8 years here and it's my local Colombian friends who make this a special place for me.

We have my corner tiendas literally 3 doors from my home and every evening the atmosphere is like the sitcom "CHEERS" back in the day.

Locals come and go, stop to have a drink and chat, grab a piece of pork or meat from Julio who has a stand right there and has been there every evening for 15 plus years, a true local feel in my blessed pueblo.

I can't take 10 or 15 steps out of my home without getting and giving 5 hello's, how are you today, looks like it will be another warm afternoon in the Medellin valley, etc., etc.

Gawd I am a lucky man!

I shared the same sentiments.   I came to Medellin with my two French bulldogs from New York.  People congregate to tiendas for anything from watching a football game to chatting away over a beer or two.  Some foreigners come to tiendas to practice their Spanish with locals.    I feel that the tiendas are the hearts and souls of the Colombian culture. 

@South American Voyager

your experience; one can not buy not even trump as these happen to to be the corner stones that will make you a better man.  As we speak the interaction of another human being is more of value than " Sipping Chardy" [Chardonnay]on a deck of a liner as my cousin stated and  travels on,  so cherish it  it only comes maybe once in ones life  At 86 I should know! Alejandro