Our trip from Manizeles to Medellin was by bus on the road with many many construction sites making the passage only one way. We had to stop and go at several spots. Overall, it took us more than 8 hours to travel 195 km. Yikes!
Moreover, the original plan to depart Manizales at 6am changed due to the burglary. We left the hotel at 8:30am, making us navigate heavier traffic. It was long and tiring.
But, the scenery we saw during the trip was stunningly beautiful! We journeyed through coffee plantations, running rivers, and majestic mountain ranges. It was majestic and breathtaking. We made three stops in total, including a lunch stop overlooking the river from a high spot.
After a long drive day, we finally arrived at a hotel on Poblado Avenue, the main road in Poblado Municipality in Medellin. Kristin did not want to go out for dinner, so I went out by myself and had Chicken Terriyaki at the food court at Oveido Mall and it was delicious!
Medellin is located in the beautiful Aburra Valley, surrounded on four sides by lush green mountains and rugged peaks. Medellin has been named the "City of Eternal Spring" because of its year-round mild temperatures due mainly to the 1500 meter in altitude while situated a little north of the equator. The city bustles with nonstop activities, attracting many retirees.
We first went to the Barefoot Park, a delightful zen-inspired public area that encompasses a small bamboo forest and sandy areas. Nearby the Barefoot Park was the head quarters of EPM, a utility company that the city owns and runs. This for-profit company has been providing funding for the City of Medellin billions of dollars. This enterprise has been a unique money supplier to help develop the city of eternal spring over the past two decades. It was refreshing to learn the city's approach. EPM covers the electricity, city gas and water.
The city has bicycle stations throughout the city where people can rent and return at will. It is energy-efficient transportation system.
We headed then to Botero Plaza accented by the artist's huge metal sculptures and home to the Museo de Antioquia with its outstanding collection of Botero's paintings as well as other famous international artists.
Botero depicted all objects, I mean all objects, as if they were seen in a convex mirror. They were voluminous and proportionally excessive in every sense. And, he has been consistent.
Colombia is reforming, but certain areas remain very bureaucratic. For example, around the Botero Plaza, I saw many men siting with typewriter to provide services for people who need them for the government purposes. Huh...!
On the plaza was Museo de Antioquia that exhibits a number of artworks of Botero and other international artists.
He has a tragic accident from which he lost his little son, Pedito. This little boy appeared on many paintings.
Medellin is well known for the birthplace of not only Botero but also Pablo Escobar, the chief of the so-called Medellin Drug Cartel. Apparently, Botero had a positive sympathy towards him as he drew the last moments of Escobar in his paintings - getting shots and dying on a roof.
Now abandoned, bull fighting was a pass time for Medellin residents.
Adam and Eve in Botero's eyes.
Botero's hand after the car accident.
Botero is still alive and still active in his artwork. He is well respected in Colombia, particularly in Medellin.
The museum had the artworks of other people, including the following:
Jesus with 12 disciples at the Last Supper.
We strolled around the upscale (Tier 6) and very chic El Poblado neighborhood known for its trendy restaurants and clubs
We took a Metro light rail and a Metro cable or Gondola to climb up to the low income neighborhood, probably Tier 2. It was amazing to learn that the city established cable cars as part of the public transportation system to connect the low income neighborhoods to the main public transportation Metro.
We climbed up to Santo Domingo neighborhood and walked around. The neighborhood that used to be the center of violence and drugs was bustling with merchants and vendors. We could witness the vivid transformation that has taken place in the city.
We continued our journey with another Cable Car ride, which is covered in a separate blog post.
When we arrived back at the hotel, Kristin and I went to the same restaurant at the food court at Oveido Mall. The meal was good, but I accidentally left my cell phone with credit cards, driver's license and other cards. Fortunately, I was able to recover it only after a bit of hassle with the security guard who insisted on waiting for his supervisor to collect my information before releasing it to me. My argument that my photo ID is in the phone did not fly. Oh well... It was my mistake in the first place. Obviously, they have their own procedure. - Jeffrey
Moreover, the original plan to depart Manizales at 6am changed due to the burglary. We left the hotel at 8:30am, making us navigate heavier traffic. It was long and tiring.
But, the scenery we saw during the trip was stunningly beautiful! We journeyed through coffee plantations, running rivers, and majestic mountain ranges. It was majestic and breathtaking. We made three stops in total, including a lunch stop overlooking the river from a high spot.
After a long drive day, we finally arrived at a hotel on Poblado Avenue, the main road in Poblado Municipality in Medellin. Kristin did not want to go out for dinner, so I went out by myself and had Chicken Terriyaki at the food court at Oveido Mall and it was delicious!
Medellin is located in the beautiful Aburra Valley, surrounded on four sides by lush green mountains and rugged peaks. Medellin has been named the "City of Eternal Spring" because of its year-round mild temperatures due mainly to the 1500 meter in altitude while situated a little north of the equator. The city bustles with nonstop activities, attracting many retirees.
We first went to the Barefoot Park, a delightful zen-inspired public area that encompasses a small bamboo forest and sandy areas. Nearby the Barefoot Park was the head quarters of EPM, a utility company that the city owns and runs. This for-profit company has been providing funding for the City of Medellin billions of dollars. This enterprise has been a unique money supplier to help develop the city of eternal spring over the past two decades. It was refreshing to learn the city's approach. EPM covers the electricity, city gas and water.
The city has bicycle stations throughout the city where people can rent and return at will. It is energy-efficient transportation system.
We headed then to Botero Plaza accented by the artist's huge metal sculptures and home to the Museo de Antioquia with its outstanding collection of Botero's paintings as well as other famous international artists.
Botero depicted all objects, I mean all objects, as if they were seen in a convex mirror. They were voluminous and proportionally excessive in every sense. And, he has been consistent.
Colombia is reforming, but certain areas remain very bureaucratic. For example, around the Botero Plaza, I saw many men siting with typewriter to provide services for people who need them for the government purposes. Huh...!
He has a tragic accident from which he lost his little son, Pedito. This little boy appeared on many paintings.
Medellin is well known for the birthplace of not only Botero but also Pablo Escobar, the chief of the so-called Medellin Drug Cartel. Apparently, Botero had a positive sympathy towards him as he drew the last moments of Escobar in his paintings - getting shots and dying on a roof.
Now abandoned, bull fighting was a pass time for Medellin residents.
Adam and Eve in Botero's eyes.
Botero's hand after the car accident.
Botero is still alive and still active in his artwork. He is well respected in Colombia, particularly in Medellin.
The museum had the artworks of other people, including the following:
Jesus with 12 disciples at the Last Supper.
We strolled around the upscale (Tier 6) and very chic El Poblado neighborhood known for its trendy restaurants and clubs
We took a Metro light rail and a Metro cable or Gondola to climb up to the low income neighborhood, probably Tier 2. It was amazing to learn that the city established cable cars as part of the public transportation system to connect the low income neighborhoods to the main public transportation Metro.
We climbed up to Santo Domingo neighborhood and walked around. The neighborhood that used to be the center of violence and drugs was bustling with merchants and vendors. We could witness the vivid transformation that has taken place in the city.
We continued our journey with another Cable Car ride, which is covered in a separate blog post.
When we arrived back at the hotel, Kristin and I went to the same restaurant at the food court at Oveido Mall. The meal was good, but I accidentally left my cell phone with credit cards, driver's license and other cards. Fortunately, I was able to recover it only after a bit of hassle with the security guard who insisted on waiting for his supervisor to collect my information before releasing it to me. My argument that my photo ID is in the phone did not fly. Oh well... It was my mistake in the first place. Obviously, they have their own procedure. - Jeffrey
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