Homo Viator

Let’s put one thing straight from the beginning: What I do not seek to do here is to glorify this criminal. I would rather like to try to explain and uncover the myth that still surrounds the richest and most notorious Mafiosi of all times. Why does even today almost everyone that I have a conversation about Colombia with, sooner or later want to talk about el patron? Why do many Colombians, especially in the Medellín area still admire the man that has caused widespread violence and death? Why was I so intrigued by this character that I made my way to his grave in Medellín?
I guess that of these questions the simplest one to answer relates to the love by many of his fellow paisas (people from the Medellín area). Pablo Escobar had helped thousands of them escape poverty. Not only by giving them the chance and protection to participate in the highly lucrative drug trade, but also by sharing part of his wealth with them directly. Sharing is caring, remember? He built large housing projects, football fields and social institutions for the underprivileged.
Of course internationally he is better remembered for terrorizing his people and being partly responsible for the country’s blood tainted image. Many bombs targeting civilians, including the bombing of a passenger airline, carry his signature. At one point he had put a 100$ bounty on policemen that left hundreds of policemen dead.

Pablo Escobar´s grave in Medellín:

So why then did I go to visit his grave? Maybe to find out if he really was dead. No, I did not dig him out. But my taxi driver to the cemetery told me what many Colombians believe: that the CIA/Colombian special unit had shot a double. I believe that I just went in order to be able to say that I have stood close to the most notorious and ruthless criminal of all times. A man that Forbes had listed as the seventh richest man in the world. His cartel made up to 30billion dollars annually. His power trip went so far that he even offered the Colombian government to pay for Colombia’s total national debt in return for a non-extradition treaty. Furthermore, he must have been the only criminal who has ever built his own prison, the infamous La Catedral.
The following video gives you an idea of how this man lived. Since he had never been too secretive about his business and lifestyle, he had invited journalists to his finca in order to portray him and his family.