I had no idea what to expect when we landed in Medellin, Columbia where our travel guide booked us for several days of sightseeing and making photographs.

The second largest city in Columbia with mild climate, it was once considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world. It is now one of the safest and has won awards for innovation.

Comuna 13

I’d like to share the story of Comuna 13 as an example this transformation. 

Comuna 13 was once the epicenter of violence and Medellin and now it is a major tourist destination. More than 120,000 people died during the violent times. 

 I’m not going to  go into the history of the political transformation other than to say that the government jumped in when things got really bad and took control away from Cartels and nasty dictator. 

Then they developed some pretty creative solutions to the transportation problems. A series of gondolas transporting people to hillside neighborhoods started things in a positive direction. People who had settled on the mountain sides were able to get to town to work.  Then came the escalators.

In the neighborhood called Comuna 13, series of escalators were installed to connect people to the gondola, adding to the existing and often colorful steps. It is 1,260 feet long divided into six sections. That drew folks to see it and as a result the neighborhood has been transformed with street art, great places to eat, shops and galleries. You can enjoy hip hop and break dancing on the streets. 

I hope it doesn’t get over touristed impacting the quality of the life of the residents. 

Artist Fernando Botero and Plaza Botero

Every country needs a famous artist, right? Columbia has one and his name is Fernando Botero. The Museo de Antioquia has a large collection of his work, but what caught my eye were the 23 large bronze sculptures in a plaza named for the famous artist.

Yep. He seems to like heavy people. I’m not sure what to make of that. I think I need to study his work to understand the message. Thoughts, anyone?

Rafael Uribe Palace of Culture

Another interesting venue to see in the downtown  area of Medellin is the Rafael Uribe Palace of Culture that was built in the 1920s to house government and cultural offices. Gothic in style, it is a predominate feature in the area. 

I am interested in the fact that the back side, even though it is on a Plaza, is very plain while the front is elaborate. Some say that it was done on purpose, others say the city ran out of money. What do you think?  

Palacio National Mall 

From a photography standpoint the Palacio National Mall was great fun.  Also built during the 1920’s, it deteriorated in the 1980s and 90’s at a time of great difficulty in Columbia. 

Originally built to house government offices, it is now a shopping center with art galleries and an odd mix of t-shirt and athletic shoe shops. I found the architectural elements with mirrored escalators riveting and spent my time trying to capture with my camera. 

Upon leaving, I created a self-portrait in a metal sculpture in front of the building.  

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