We have been in Medellín for almost 6 months. Next week we head to Ecuador to continue our adventure in a new country.

We expected to miss our family and friends, but there are other things we found ourselves missing that we didn’t anticipate.

As we planned for the trip, we spent a lot of time deciding what to take and what to leave behind. All in all, we planned very well and have had no major issues with clothing and items that we brought. We will see whether we have what we need in high-altitude Quito and Cuenca, Ecuador where the weather is cooler.

So, after 6 months there are some things that we wish we had. Of course, we could always purchase the items in South America, but we would have to leave them behind when we travel to Ecuador since we can’t carry them in our suitcases.

Bicycles

Initially, we were going to bring our bikes with us. Knowing that Medellín and other South American cities encourage cycling, we wanted to take advantage of the cycling culture.

At the last minute, we decided not to bring them because it is quite expensive to haul a bike on an airplane and the thought of dragging the bikes along with us as we traveled throughout South America felt overwhelming. So, we gave them away or sold them.

However, there have been many times in Medellín that we wish we had bikes. Medellín has so many dedicated bike routes and more are being created. It is relatively safe to bike on these routes and they allow you to go anywhere in the city.

As we posted in previously blogs, bicycles are a major form of transportation for some. Most of the time hopping on a bike for a 2-5 mile trip to our destination would have been so much easier than walking to a bus stop or metro station or taking a taxi.

We have always enjoyed riding and I (Marc) really miss not taking advantage of this bike-friendly city. It is the number one thing we wish we had here in Medellín. However, as we prepare to fly to Ecuador next week, we are glad that we don’t have to carry our bikes along with our luggage.

Printer

To prepare for our trip, we did everything we could to go ‘digital’. We use Dropbox on all of our devices to sync between devices and for storage in the cloud. All of our important documents are digitally stored. Our mail is now scanned and transmitted to us digitally. All of our financial information, statements and records are electronically communicated and stored. Seems perfect. But there are times a printer would have been very handy to have.

We’re have not totally migrated to ‘paperless’. I miss not having that piece of paper or document in my hand; something about it makes me feel more comfortable.

Kathy and I have been taking Spanish classes while staying in Medellín. I prefer to print the lesson and study them on paper rather than on the computer. I like to print out the Spanish vocabulary I am learning, plus I have created several files on Spanish grammar that are easier for me to study on paper rather than on my laptop

Of course, there are many neighborhood shops that offer printing services, including a shop right across the street from our apartment. But saving a file to a jump drive, walking across the street and asking for a printout is not as convenient as printing whenever and whatever I want on my own printer.

Expresso Maker

Yes, I know we’re in one of the best coffee regions in the world, and there are endless coffee shops. Coffee is served all day long in restaurants, bars, parks, plazas and from small carts in the streets. Everywhere we go, coffee is available. Café lattes from our favorite neighborhood coffee shops are pictured below. Some are a little creamier than others, some are a little stronger than others, but we enjoy all of them.

However, I like to get up early and have a fresh café latte to start out my day. For the past 15 years in Minneapolis, I made my own latte and started my day out right. I’ll admit I was probably hooked on expresso. We all have our vices, and coffee is mine. Even after I made my own latte, I went to Caribou or Starbucks later in the morning.

Here in Medellin, I still have my daily coffee fix. Now, I go to one of many coffee shops in the neighborhood. Typical cost is $1.50 to $2.00 for a latte served in a nice ceramic cup on a saucer. I have had a few “coffees to go” (para llevar) but here you sit down and savor the coffee. As they say in Medellín, relax (relájate).

Diet Coke

After a hard work out at the gym by our apartment, we were walking home when Kathy said, “I would give $100 for a Diet Coke right now”. That’s how much we miss drinking an ice, cold Diet Coke. I do not miss it as much as Kathy. The cold, sparkling soda does quench my thirst but now I rely on sparkling water after a workout. It’s not the same for Kathy.

Coke products are sold here, including Diet Coke (but the artificial sweetener tastes too sweet). American Diet Coke (with whatever artificial sweetener is used in the U.S.) has the perfect blend of sweetness and carbonation to quench our thirsts. Unfortunately, it is only available in the United States.

Of course, we drink fresh fruit juices here almost every day. There are so many types of fruits and the juices are made fresh while you wait. But they just don’t quench our thirst like Diet Coke.

Pillows

Anytime we travel, we need to adjust to sleeping in a strange bed. The mattress is too soft or too hard, the bed is too small, or the sheets are old or scratchy. But for Kathy, having the right pillow is most important for a restful sleep.

We have purchased many pillows over the years to find the best pillows for us. We each had several pillows that when they are positioned just right, we get a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, all of our pillows were left behind in Minneapolis. Now, every time we stay in a new hotel, hostel or apartment, we need to adjust to the new bed and pillows.

Swimming Caps

We were surprised when we swam for the first time at our high-rise apartment in Medellín that ALL swimmers must wear a swimming cap. In talking with locals, this is the general rule at all swimming pools; public and private.

Over the last 15 years, I collected many swimming caps from triathlon races only to discard them when we moved to Medellín. Why didn’t we throw a couple of them in our suitcase? We bought swim caps at the mall and now fit in with the locals.

As we thought about items we wish we had, we realized that there are so many other items or things that we had at one time that made our lives easier and more convenient.

Moving to a different house, location, city, state or country can be bittersweet. While we looked forward to new adventures, meeting new people and learning about the culture of a country, we also left behind friends, family, rituals, convenience, and comfort.

We feel it is important to remember and cherish what we had in Minneapolis but we are ready to start a new adventure in a new country. We are looking forward to new experiences in Ecuador.