Continuing our Medellín-themed week, we at Colombia Travel Blog have decided to plunge head-first into the murky waters of the ‘Top 5’ tradition by presenting you with our Top 5 Things About Medellín. It was hard to narrow it down, but we did our best.
The Weather
Notoriously there’s a rivalry between Rolos (those from Bogotá) and Paisas (Medellín folk), and although in many senses this does exist, it’s actually very common to hear Rolos singing the praises of Medellín. One thing they reserve particular enthusiasm for is Medellín’s weather. One of my good friends from Bogotá (with a strong taste for hyperbole) even described Medellín’s climate as ‘the best in the world’. Strong words indeed, but if you’ve been you’ll know she could just be right. Mid 20s the whole year round, almost always sunny and known as ‘The City of Eternal Spring’, it’d take a hard heart not to fall in love with the weather here.
The Pride
Something I’ve noticed about Colombians in general is how proud they are of their country and where they live and, yet, they never sound arrogant. This is particularly true of Medellín, where people go beyond merely calling it the best city in Colombia, and opt for the rather more hyperbolic title of ‘best city in the world’. Subsequently, Paisas are very prone to wanting to show you or tell you about every last detail of their wonderful city. Whether you agree or not isn’t the point, it’s the pride in what they’ve created, especially considering the city’s history, that is really special.
The History (and Today)
When I say the history I don’t mean we’re celebrating what happened, but rather what has happened since. Medellín was once one of the world’s most dangerous cities in the world and home to the infamous, ruthless Pablo Escobar and his drug cartel. It was a city in the throes of violence, fear, intimidation and corruption. Today, however, it is one of the fastest growing cities in the world thanks to the optimism and hard-work of its citizens. Its transformation has been as surprising as it has radical and, standing in Medellín and thinking of how far its come, it’s hard not to be moved by the strength of human spirit on show.
The Bars
Changing gears slightly, another thing we love about Medellín are the bars. The clubs are great, of course, but thanks to the climate and the modernity of the city the open-air bars you can enjoy are as classy as they are numerous. From the popular, youth-oriented bars at Parque Lleras, to the classy bars you’ll find in shopping centres, to the traditional vallenato bars found in the old Zona Rosa, there’s something for every taste.
The Day-Trips
From Medellín you can easily access the beautiful Santa Fe de Antioquia, which was once the capital of Colombia. Cobble-stone streets and whitewash buildings abound as people stroll lazily through the streets. As a special bonus, See Colombia Travel can give you access to a local house where you can relax in the on-site swimming pool, the perfect way to spend a day. Another day trip is to Guatapé and The Peñol. Guatapé is a beautiful village surrounded by lakes and mountainscapes. From The Peñol nearby you climb high above the lakes for spectacular views. Bonus points: you can also enjoy a beer.
Paul
