As you wander through the leafy streets of Medellín at night, lit by the familiar orange glow of the city and brushed with the gentle breeze of a never-ending Spring, it can be hard to imagine that this city was once the stronghold of one of the most notorious criminals in modern memory.
Pablo Escobar and his Medellín Cartel once ran the streets of Medellín using a mix of intimidation, violence and bribery, resulting in the murder of hundreds of innocent civilians, and many police and government officials. Though he was eventually killed by Colombian police in 1993, his legacy can still be felt in cultural memory.
In cultural memory, however, it looks to stay. Medellín’s radical transformation from the days of terror that reigned in the 80s and 90s is not only indicative of Colombia’s progress, but a story unto itself. For a city to go from the murder capital of the world to one of the most sought after cities to live in over the course of little more than a decade is awe-inspiring, and gives hope to other cities in the throes of corruption.
It hasn’t come without hard work, of course, but it’s the hard work of the Paisa people that characterises the city. Industrious, forward-thinking and progressive, Medellín owes a great deal of credit to the general population who have sought to make their city somewhere to be proud of. The local government, for their part, have introduced schemes such as the Metro and MetroCable which have not only made communication in the city easier, but have brought vulnerable, disillusioned communities into the hub of the city and encouraged interaction between Medellín as a whole.
The result is something quite remarkable. Medellín typifies a modern city. It’s clean, full of impressive architecture and dotted with pleasant green spaces. People respect the city and care for it, the local government taking great care to engender a sense of shared pride and ownership.
There’s also, of course, plenty to do. The cultural options are endless (check out Jack Magazine for your heads up), there’s a great selection of bars and clubs and you can expect to find some of Colombia’s best food, too. All in all Medellín has dramatically moved on from the troubles some still associate with it, and it should be seen to be believed and enjoyed.
Paul
