I left Colombia yesterday, a place that stole my heart with its vibrant energy, beautiful people, lush vegetation, and unique barrios.
If New York and the Rainforest had a baby it would be the city of Medellin, my primary home base for the month of February.
Once dubbed ‘the most dangerous city in the world’ (Can you say, Pablo Escobar?) the neighborhood of Poblado in the city of Medellín was my (mostly) safe haven during my stay.
I visited formerly rough, crime ridden neighborhoods – two examples being Comuna 13 and Comuna 8 – that have been transformed into thriving communities that now showcase local artists, talent, activism & collaboration.
I experienced first hand how the passion of a people impacts the direction of an entire group during a day of volunteering with a local organization run by tenacious, bad a$$ women of these communities.
Medellin is heralded worldwide as an urban metropolis of innovation, and this was apparent as I explored by foot or opted for any of the yellow taxi cabs that would drive by honking to gain my business.
I rode Metrocable cars up steep mountain slopes to previously isolated neighborhoods, visited science & library parks dotted around the city that aim to integrate previously alienated citizens, and experienced the progressive architecture that is awe inspiring in a country that is still ‘3rd world’ in many other areas.
Medellín is a city that attempts to give you all that you want and more that you don’t even know you need. And it so often succeeds.
Even if what you want is truly affordable healthcare! Medellin is well known as the center of medical tourism.
Need dental work? Come to Medellín.
Want a boob job, botox, or a BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift)?
Fly to Medellin.
Need serious surgery or medical attention that is typically financially exorbitant in the US? Medellin is the place to come.
I visited a dentist, a dermatologist and an ER hospital all in the same month for under $500.00!
Medellín is located in a bowl in the Andes mountains, meaning that wherever I would go in the city I was guaranteed a view of mountains and stunning, sloping landscapes.
Even when I left the comfort and affluence of Poblado, the hub where chic cafes, fashion boutiques, and high-end restaurants sat amid tall apartment blocks, snazzy hotels & hostels, clubs and bars abuzz at night, I enjoyed the low pressure way that this country called Colombia could hold my attention while bringing out a pure joy for living in the moment without judgment or regret.
And yet, in all of my privilege, I was reminded that for every exceptional experience I had, there are groups of people whose daily reality isn’t reflected anywhere near this existence I have.
People who struggle to put food on their table or who fight for equitable treatment. People who may even pray not only for a better livelihood, but for their very lives.
This is the reality of many Afro-Colombians, who don’t have a voice in a country that is as much theirs as their fellow non-black citizens.
I was honored to meet a group of young people who shared their stories and their passions and who are working tirelessly each day to educate and to make a change for the black people of Colombia.
What. A. Month!
I ate Sanchocha on a river, had chef prepared meals on a yacht Cinto, drank cocktails at a ‘Beach Club’ in Tayrona Park, and snacked on empanadas in more Barrios than I can count.
I danced and swam and flirted and laughed my a$$ off.
And I fed my soul with the abundant nectar of Colombia’s.
I had an absolute blast all month long.
Because that’s what this country has to offer.
A good time for anyone who is open and ready.