Medellín

The murder capital of the 1990's, not so any more. We have spent two days exploring the city centre(yesterday) and Comuna 13 (today). The neighbourhood where we are staying, Poblado is an upmarket neighbourhood with shops, bars and restaurants and close to the metro station for the city centre.

Medellin, in the 80's used to be Antioqula's murder capital with 3000 murders a year and was the epicentre of the cocaine trade. Since then the city has been regenerated. Tower blocks dominate the skyline, a modern metro network runs throughout the city, a cable car serves those living high up the mountain and connects them to the city for work, education and socially.

Museums, gardens and parks with sculptures are found in the city centre. The work of the Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero, feature in open areas and Museums.

Parque San Antonio has 4 of his sculptures, two of which are bronze birds, one of which was destroyed in 1995 when a bomb was placed under it during a festival killing 23 people. Its replica sits beside it.

The Plaza Botero has 23 of his sculptures, typically chubby people and animals with very cute faces. Here are a few.

All cultured-out and a bit hungry we stopped to eat a traditional Medellin dish, Mondongo, ie tripe soup. I admit to feeling a bit unsure myself: my Granny used to feed my brother and I tripe with vinegar when we were small. However, I was wrong and it was delicious, served with rice, plantains and avocado.

We seemed to walk miles and round every corner were more street vendors, more graffiti art and more music.

On to today. Comuna 13 was the home of gangs associated with Pablo Escobar and narcotics. In the 1980's 70-80 tons of cocaine were being shipped from here to the USA every month. Now, since its regeneration, it is a colourful and vibrant neighbourhood. Six flights of escalators were installed in 2011 to help residents to get up and down the mountain. The people have such pride in their neighbourhood.