Medellin
Medellin was an unexpected pleasure on my spontaneous trip to Colombia. It was completely different from Cartagena. Nestled in luscious green hills at an elevation of almost 5'000 feet above sea level, this city is vibrant and bustling with life. Ultra modern pockets mix with impoverished barrios to give the impression of a city still trying to shake off the vestiges of its violent past.
In downtown, you will find fascinating sculptures lining the sidewalks by Fernando Botero, and street vendors filling the alleys. The people are mostly friendly and exude a sense of genuine appreciation that you have chosen to visit their city. There is plenty here to entertain people of all tastes, from museums and galleries to boutique cafes and restaurants to night clubs and bars.
I stayed at Parque Lleras, where all the nightlife seems to congregate. My hotel room seemed to literally share a wall with a dance club, so I had to ask that they switch me to a different room, which was still loud, but at least I did not feel like my bedroom was inside the discotheque.
On my arrival at the city, I took a free walking tour called Real City Tours, which I highly recommend! The afternoon tour meets at Alpujarra station. The guide imparted so much knowledge about the rich culture and the violent history of the city.
Plaza Cisneros is a great place for a photo. It is a forest of 300 light poles which symbolizes hope and renewal.
In the evening, you will see thousands of lights twinkling in the distance, and you might wonder if the stars have decided to descend from the heavens. Actually, these are the lights of thousands of homes in the distance, staggered endlessly upward upon the surrounding hills. Modern metrocables link the city to these barrios. If you take these cable cars, you may be shocked to see how impoverished some of these people are and their conditions in the hills.
When you are Medellin, make sure you take a day trip out to Guatapé, an Andean resort town east of Medellin, to see: (1) the most colorful town in Colombia, (2) the giant granite rock which you can climb called the Piedra del Peñol, and (3) the Peñol-Guatapé reservoir.
View from atop the Guatapé rock is unsurpassable! But be ready to climb, as there are 740 steps to the top. Worth it!
This was one of the most unparalleled views I have had in my life.
Boat ride through Guatape Reservoir. It was nice, but a little bit too long!
The designs on the lower half of the buildings you'll find in the town of Guatapé - called zócalos - are unique to each building and represent a story of village life and the people who live there.
At the center plaza of the town of Guatapé, you'll find this colorful church.
Finally, while you are here, make sure you try their local dish, called Bandeja Paisa. While it is pretty heavy, it's likely not something you're going to be eating back home!
What's a trip without some night life? I found Medellin to have a great nightlife, especially in and around Parque Lleras.
