We had only one full day in Medellin, which is otherwise known as the “City of Eternal Spring” and was once known as the most dangerous city in the world, but now it has received a complete makeover and is really safe to travel to. I was stunned when I discovered the real reason for these complete changes. Public transport. Yes, such a small thing as public transport can change the city from dangerous to safe. It started with the metro. The metro was the beginning of the revolution in Medellin. City residents suddenly realized that things could change, and they felt more connected to the city itself. Jobs in other parts of the town became easily accessible. I found it astonishing how clean and modern the metro is, with absolutely no graffiti.
The second improvement to public transport was the cable car. Medellin sprawls up the side of the Andes Mountain. The cable car connected the highest parts of the city that had been isolated for decades. Connection solved the geographic and economic exclusion of people in higher areas. Instead of walking to a city for hours, the gondola takes them down (and up) in minutes. Cable cars brought the future: work, education, and health.
Our day began in the morning with the walking tour. Our tour guide was amazing. The first thing she mentioned was we do not use HIS name. Who is he? Pablo Escobar. Dark past of Medellin, who still brings mixed feelings to the people of Medellin. Some find him good, some find him evil, and some find him both… But everyone wants to forget this dark part of history or at least don’t want to talk about it. Medellin is different now, and when in Medellin, his name should not be pronounced.
The tour itself was fantastic, with lots of stunning information. It ended with our tour guide giving us additional tips on where to go and what to see. We were looking for a restaurant surrounded by some greenery, and she recommended that we go to Jardin Botanico (Botanic Garden). The Botanic Garden was really nice for a short walk. It is a little green oasis in the big city. There we found a restaurant named In Situ. The food was exceptional. It is a bit more pricey for Colombian standard but well worth it.
We continued our day and decided to take a ride up by cable car to enjoy the panoramic view of the city. We were riding over slum areas, and it was interesting to see this part of the city. Slums are a harsh reality for many people around the world, and improving living conditions in these areas should be an important goal for governments. The cable car also goes all the way up to Arvi Park, which is supposed to be great for hiking, but unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do that.