Homo Viator

Arrived to Medellín today and fell in love with the place from the start. The city is surrounded by beautiful rugged peaks and offers spectacular views. The city is so green and with such gorgeous flora that you feel like it has been built into lush jungle. Of course we all know that the city has had quite a turbulent history and during the1980s and 1990s experienced immense crime levels, fuelled by armed conflicts and the presence of the world’s biggest drug cartel, which was led by the infamous Pablo Escobar. However, the city cleaned up its act and is now considered to be one of the safest big cities in Latin America. The Lonely Planet writes the following: “Forget everything you’ve read about Medellín – it’s probably old news by now. Yes, the city was the headquarters and principal killing grounds for Colombia’s drug cartels. But the world press forgot to report Medellín´s remarkable turnaround....Due to decades of past insecurity people have an obvious passion for life in the present and a sense of how to enjoy themselves in the here-and-now.”
Plastic surgery carries no stigma in Medellín and it has reportedly the world’s highest fake boobs per square meter ratio. People say that these are a lingering reminder of the profound influence drug lords long exerted on Medellín´s culture and aesthetic. Medellín is situated in the department of Antioquia and natives from that region call themselves Paisas. They praise themselves to be greatly different from other Colombians and love their region more than their country. Founded by small farmers rather than slave-owning plantation owners, Antioquia is renowned for its hard-working, entrepreneurial spirit. They are characterized by incredible hospitality, which is said to consist of three-parts warmth and one-part old-fashioned formality. The surrounding area is called the Zona Cafetera, the heartland for Colombian coffee growing, an area scattered with beautiful fincas and colonial towns. Viva Colombia! Below a promotional video on Medellín which will give you some idea of how the city looks like. Photos will follow.