Blogs from Medellin, Colombia, South America - page 27

Epa danoi, Colombiatik, Cartagenan lurreratu eta bertan herrialde ikusgarri eta zoragarri hontaz gozatu dugu. Bidaian ikusi ditudan emakumerik ederrenak, jende irekiena eta desfaserik handiena topatu dugu bertan. Gure hostala, kale jendetxu eta bizi batean zegoen, gamelu eta pertsonaiaz beteta. Juerga ederra egin genuen aspaldiko partez... Cartagenatik Medellinera joan ginen autobusean, heldu eta terminal ondoko errekan... gizon bat hilda aurkitu genuelarik!!! eskuak atzekaldean lotuta errekara bota zuten... Lehen impresio gogorra Kolombiako hiri famatu hontakoa, Pablo Escobarren gotorleku. Bertatik Honda herri txikira eta Bogotara joan ginen, prisaka. Andeetan gora eta behera, lehen bide bildurgarri eta arriskutxuak egin genituen, karretera ikusgarriak benetan. Kolombia, herri aurreratua iruditu zait, barnealdean ere kotxe onak, kristoneko bizikletak eta jendea garagardo... read more

The 30+ degree weather is over, and I can now walk the streets without looking like I just took a shower. We arrived here in Medellin yesterday, and could instantly feel the difference in temperature, and it was more than a welcomed change. The city is different than any of the other places we have been so far. Bogota and Cartagena were cities with narrow streets and bustling traffic. Medellin is a long, stretched out city that is based in a valley, and walking around, the city has a laid back feel which I find odd for the western appearance the city has. Before leaving Cartagena, we visited the Volcano de Lodo del Tolumo, which is a mini volcano that is now full of mud. It is supposed to be therapeutic like a spa, but ... read more

So another big city, and to be honest I have started running out of energy for this traveling lark (finally). My theory is that to properly get a feel for a city you either need friends there or at least 3 weeks. I had neither in Medellin so after a cursory look around the sights like the plaza de esculpturas.....actually that was it, there are lots more sights but I couldn't really be bothered....I took a trip up and down the metro instead. The metro in Medellin is elevated so you get a great view of the city without doing any leg work yourself. It looked like a lovely city and I was impressed by how green it was. Because the buildings are mainly no more than 3 storeys high you can see along way along ... read more

After leaving Salento in the early hours we headed off towards the city of Medellin. Again yet another endless windy road was our path and again we were witness to amazing scenery as we made our way north. It seemed today that the hills were even greener, steeper and more magical then I had seen before in Colombia. By this time my patience for taking long bus rides was waining and with 2 hours to go to Medellin I couldn't sit still in my seat, so when we did arrive on the city outskirts I was pretty damned happy. Medellin is situated in in a valley and surrounded by lush mountains that also harbour quaint pueblos or towns. The town was founded in 1675 and in it's early days consisted mostly of individual haciendas that later ... read more

The following day we took a bus to a small town outside of Medellin called Guatape. It was about 1.5 hour ride long. Guatape is a lake community with beautiful homes, small farms and big rock call El Penol, which is a 200 feet and it stands out. Guatape was once a home for Pablo Escobar and his whole Medellin Cartel. After Pablo Escobars death, the FARC spread their operations into this area. Later on the Colombian government sent troops to drive the FARC and the rest guerrilla forces back to the dense forest. There are soldiers around to keep the area safe for the people and tourists. We rode on horses, hiked up the El Penol. It was about 650 stairs. As you can see from my photos, the view was very beautiful. We had ... read more