Medellin

Medellin

It was a very long day stuck in the bus seats, trying not to notice the continuous bends and changes of direction that certainly didn't make the journey pleasant. Finally in the evening we reached our destination and, getting into the usual taxi, we headed to a hotel recommended by the driver himself. Our visit to Medellin would last only two days, since we already had unavoidable commitments waiting for us in Bogotà. For this reason too, although it was already late evening when we arrived, we nonetheless decided to take a little exploratory stroll, taking the opportunity for a dinner based on a super hamburger. On leaving our dinner the city was practically deserted and, with tiredness helping, we didn't need to be asked twice to stretch out on the soft little bed of the hotel.

The following morning the city seemed like another place: the deserted streets of the previous evening had given way to a river of people busy with the most varied activities. A bit disoriented by the continuous change we mustered our strength and plunged into the chaos, heading towards one of the main squares: Plaza Botero, adjacent to the art palace. From there, thanks to a series of tourist information gathered from a billboard located right in the centre of the square, we planned the rest of the day, heading immediately towards the Metropolitan Cathedral. One of the reasons that had led us to Medellin was the recent establishment of the metrocable, a sort of cable car that connected the lower part of the city with the upper part, inhabited mainly by the poorest people.

Against all our expectations, to get on the metrocable we found ourselves faced with an incredible queue which fortunately turned out to be fairly quick-moving and in about fifteen minutes we reached the top. Once at the top we also found a pleasant surprise: a city fair was taking place to promote the neighbourhood, nothing exceptional but still nice and full of local products. But the thing that impressed us most was not so much the little market as the panorama that could be enjoyed from up there: below us the city of Medellin stretched out in all its immensity, an expanse of houses and lights that seemed never to end, located in a valley closed off by high hills also packed with buildings. After lingering at the top and taking all the obligatory photos, it was time to go back down and head towards the heart of the city.

New ticket and new ride, this time in the opposite direction, and here we are again in the metro. Having exited the station we walked those few blocks that separated us from our hotel, then set off in search of a little place to have dinner. Unfortunately our time was up; we certainly hadn't been able to make the most of the city, but the following morning our march was to set off again in view of the capital.