Medellin: what a great city

27 July 2009


After a rather painful 14 hour bus ride from Cartagena, we arrive in Medellin. To most the city is known for its infamous “narcos”, namely Pablo Escobar. How things have changed! This city certainly shattered our one-sided image of Colombia - drugs and guerillas. In Medellin, we found a modern, affluent, well functioning, clean and safe city. It is beautifully located within green mountains and is known as the city of eternal spring, in other words the weather is almost always perfect.




Public transport is fast and clean with an excellent metro, the only one in Colombia as the locals like to boast. The city also has very imaginative and inviting public spaces, a prime example being the Parque de los Pieds Descalzos where people take off there shoes and socks to walk around in the sand and put their feet in water fountains. All these public spaces come complete with official park wardens, who are there in case you have any questions and to make sure that the space is not misused.

The city has also introduced a very interesting concept to improve poor neighbourhoods: building very impressive public squares with extensive libraries in the middle of some of the poorest neighbourhoods. These serve as islands of knowledge and a community centre, and are actively used by the population. The impressive modern architecture of the libraries sends a signal: the improvement of the neighbourhood is meant seriously, and knowledge is important.

While in Zurich the most exclusive areas are up on the hills, in Medellin these tend to be the poorest neighbourhoods. To help improve these neighbourhoods they have been connected to the public transport system through modern cablecars. In addition to providing transport, the cablecar offers great views over the city!


Another highlight of Medellin is Botero, an internationally renowned Colombian painter and sculptor. We love the Botero plaza filled with his giant sculpture as well as the excellent Botero museum.

We are lucky in that Natasha's friend Juan Fernando invites us to stay with him and his sister (and their turtle) in the charming neighbourhood of Envigado. We have a wonderful time with Juan and learn a lot from him about the city and the country.


Medellin Fotos - click here.