Monday

Embracing the Urban Canvas

Explora el arte urbano de Medellín y practica español. Visita cafés, la Comuna 13 y Provenza, sumergiéndote en la cultura local y el aprendizaje del idioma.

Morning Activity

So you've decide to learn Spanish in Medellin. Let's start your week off slow. Let's take some time this morning to set some goals and plan your week whilst enjoying a cup of Colombia's famous coffee.

Pergamino Cafe in the Provenza district of the El Poblado neighborhood is one of the most popular cafes in town, with its casual traveller vibe, knowledgeable baristas, single-origin beans and vast food menu.

Open daily from 7am to 7pm, Pergamino Cafe has a 4.7-star rating on Google based on over 3,800+ reviews, praised for its excellent coffee, friendly staff, and relaxing atmosphere. It’s so popular that at peak times you might need to line up for 15 minutes to order, but it's worth the wait.

As you sip your coffee and plot out your week, take in the relaxed ambiance and friendly vibe that sets the tone for your time in Medellin.

Don’t forget to practice ordering your drink in Spanish! Try saying, “Quisiera un café con leche, por favor” when you place your order.

Take some time to reflect on how to get the most out of your week in Medellin, Toucan is your Medellin Spanish School and the city is your extended classroom.

Quiero un café, por favor.
I want a coffee, please.
¿Dónde está el menú? Necesito elegir qué pedir.
Where is the menu? I need to decide what to order.
El café aquí es muy aromático y fuerte, ¿lo prefieres con leche o sin leche?
The coffee here is very aromatic and strong; do you prefer it with or without milk?
Voy a pedir un espresso cremoso con poco azúcar, ¿y tú?
I'm going to order a creamy espresso with a little sugar. What about you?
La cuenta, por favor. Voy a dejar una propina para el barista porque el servicio fue excelente.
The bill, please. I’ll leave a tip for the barista because the service was excellent.

Simple Order:

Exercise: Order your coffee in Spanish. Try using basic phrases like “Quiero un café” or “Quiero un café con leche.” Pay attention to how the barista responds, and try to repeat a new word you hear back to them.

Goal: Get comfortable with ordering in Spanish and listening to simple responses.

Explore the Menu:

Exercise: Ask the barista for recommendations. Use phrases like “¿Qué me recomienda?” or “¿Cuál es la especialidad?” Listen carefully to their answers, and repeat any new words.

Goal: Practice asking questions and understanding responses related to menu items.

Describe the Coffee:

Exercise: Order a coffee and describe it. After you take a sip, try describing the taste to a friend (or even the barista) in Spanish. Use words like “fuerte,” “aromático,” or “amargo.”

Goal: Practice adjectives and sensory vocabulary related to taste.

Engage in Small Talk:

Exercise: Ask the barista or a fellow customer about their favorite coffee. Try asking, “¿Cuál es tu café favorito?” and follow up with “¿Por qué te gusta?” to learn more.

Goal: Engage in a short conversation about personal preferences and opinions.

Afternoon Activity

When you're ready to begin your exploration, head to the vibrant neighborhood of Comuna 13. Once considered one of the most dangerous areas of the city, Comuna 13 is now a symbol of Medellin's remarkable transformation.

You can get there by Medellin's clean and effective metro system, but it's probably easier to get an Uber, enter the destination Escaleras Electricas Comuna 13. Take the opportunity to ask the taxi driver what he recommends to do in Comuna 13 and ask him how he has seen the city change.

You can visit Comuna 13 without a guide however it’s much better to have someone explain the area's history and the stories behind the colourful murals that now cover almost every wall. You can book a tour online or on a less busy day it’s easy to find a guide waiting at the entrance to the electric stairs (official guides will show you their identification that has a Tourism Registration "RNT" number).

As you wander the streets, you'll get a firsthand understanding of how art has become a powerful tool for social expression and healing. These thought-provoking works of art depict the community's struggles with violence and its journey towards peace and resilience.

As you walk through the world's largest open-air gallery, engage with locals about their experiences, ask them questions like “¿Qué significa esta pintura?” (What does this painting mean?).

Arte callejero - street art
Mural - mural
Graffiti - graffiti
Comunidad - community
Transformación - transformation
Historia - history
Colorido - colorful
Cambio - change
Barrio - neighborhood
Guía - guide
Galería - gallery
Mensaje - message
Creatividad - creativity
Resiliencia - resilience
Interacción - interaction
Cultura - culture
Local - local
Paisaje urbano - urban landscape
Expresión - expression
Escaleras eléctricas - electric escalators

Este mural es muy bonito.
This mural is very beautiful.
Me gusta el arte callejero aquí; los colores son muy vivos.
I like the street art here; the colors are very vibrant.
El guía nos cuenta la historia de cómo la comunidad ha cambiado.
The guide tells us the story of how the community has changed.
Comuna 13 muestra mucha resiliencia y creatividad en sus murales.
Comuna 13 shows a lot of resilience and creativity in its murals.
A través de la expresión y el arte, los locales comparten sus experiencias de transformación y esperanza.
Through expression and art, the locals share their experiences of transformation and hope.

Identify Art Elements:

Exercise: Point out features of the murals and say them in Spanish. Use simple phrases like “Este mural es colorido” or “Me gusta este arte callejero.”

Goal: Practice vocabulary for colors, style, and simple descriptions.

Ask About the Community:

Exercise: Ask your guide or a local about the history of Comuna 13. Use “¿Cuál es la historia de esta comunidad?” or “¿Cómo ha cambiado este lugar?” Listen for key words related to transformation.

Goal: Practice forming questions and listening for responses about history or community transformation.

Interpret the Murals:

Exercise: Describe what you think a mural represents. Use sentences like “Creo que este mural representa la resiliencia” or “Esta obra expresa creatividad y esperanza.”

Goal: Express interpretations and opinions, connecting vocabulary to ideas.

Engage in Deeper Conversation:

Exercise: Ask a local or the guide about their favorite mural and why. Try asking “¿Cuál es tu mural favorito y por qué?” and listen for their response. Follow up with more questions to keep the conversation going.

Goal: Practice active listening and engage in a meaningful exchange, using expressions of opinion and description.

Evening Activity

In the evening, explore the trendy Provenza district, where Medellin's casual dining scene serves as a perfect introduction to the diverse culinary offerings of the city.

Stroll down the main street of Provenza (Carrera 35) touted by Time Out magazine as one of the top 33 Coolest streets in the world. Colombian artist Karol G also made the area famous with her song “Provenza” which has almost a trillion views on Youtube.

This street offers something for everyone and for every budget, starting with empanadas, hotdogs, hamburgers, kebabs and street tacos though to a wide variety of gastropub style venues serving anything from wood fired pizzas through to amazonian influenced dishes. Some popular and recommended options include Chef Burger, Burdo, Gato and Belisario, Guzman y Mezcal. Dress code is generally relaxed on weekdays and starts to get busy about 7pm.

Although the majority of Provenza is concentrated on one street, take a wander around as you might find some hidden gastronomical gems on surrounding streets, such as Animal Cocina, La Causa, Romero and Relato.

When you sit down at a place you like the look of you might say to the waiter something like, “¿Cuáles son sus platos más populares?” (What are your most popular dishes?).

Restaurante - restaurant
Carta - menu
Entrante/entrada - appetizer
Plato fuerte - main course
Postre - dessert
Bebida - drink
Especialidad - specialty
Reservación - reservation
Ambiente - atmosphere
Cena - diner
Servicio - service
Recomendación - recommendation
Sabor - flavor
Mesa - table
Chef - chef
Comida internacional - international food
Opciones vegetarianas - vegetarian options
Elegante - fancy/elegant
Cena - dinner
Propina - tip

Este restaurante tiene una carta muy variada.
This restaurant has a very varied menu.
¿Podemos pedir una bebida mientras esperamos el plato fuerte?
Can we order a drink while we wait for the main course?
Me gustaría una recomendación del chef para el postre.
I’d like a recommendation from the chef for dessert.
Este lugar tiene un ambiente muy elegante, perfecto para una cena especial.
This place has a very elegant atmosphere, perfect for a special dinner.
La especialidad del restaurante es comida internacional, con sabores únicos y un servicio excelente.
The restaurant’s specialty is international food, with unique flavors and excellent service.

Order a Simple Dish:

Exercise: Choose and order a dish from the menu in Spanish. Use “Quiero…” or “Me gustaría…” to request an appetizer or main course.

Goal: Build confidence ordering in a restaurant, focusing on basic food vocabulary.

Ask for Recommendations:

Exercise: Ask the server what they recommend for dinner or dessert. Try “¿Qué me recomienda para cenar?” or “¿Cuál es el postre más popular?” and listen to their suggestions.

Goal: Practice conversational phrases to ask for and understand recommendations.

Comment on the Atmosphere:

Exercise: Describe the restaurant’s atmosphere to a friend in Spanish. Use words like “elegante,” “cómodo,” or “animado.” You could say, “Este restaurante es muy elegante, me gusta el ambiente.”

Goal: Practice adjectives related to environment and atmosphere.

Have a Short Conversation with the Server:

Exercise: Ask the server about the chef’s specialty or their favorite dish and why. Try “¿Cuál es la especialidad del chef?” or “¿Qué plato le gusta más a usted y por qué?” to learn about the menu.

Goal: Engage in a longer exchange, practicing both questions and listening skills while learning about local flavors.

Monday

Morning Activity

Afternoon Activity

Evening Activity

MONDAY: Embracing the Urban Canvas

TUESDAY: Art, Nature & Science

WEDNESDAY: Market, Salsa & Language

THURSDAY: Artistic & Culinary Experiences

FRIDAY: Local & International Influences

SATURDAY: Nature’s Wonders & Nightlife

SUNDAY: Recovery & Reflection