Published: 21.12.2017
Since I wanted to learn more about this fascinating city, I booked a Free Walking Tour through the center of Medellin. For those who are not familiar, there is no set price for this tour. Everyone gives as much as they want at the end.
The tour lasted a total of 4 hours and we learned a lot about the city and its residents. It's best to look at the photos to get a feel for the city. Our tour guide was great and answered all of our questions. However, I personally expected more information about the time with drug lord Pablo Escobar. It wasn't until over 3 hours into the tour that his name was mentioned for the first time. Caro, our guide, explained that no one here talks about that time. It is repressed and they only look forward.
The Colombians are proud of their city, especially the metro. It is the only one in Colombia and one of the few in all of South America. The streets in Medellin are often dirty, littered, and smelly, but you won't find any of that in the metro or on the platforms. When a pregnant woman enters the metro, all the men immediately stand up and offer her a seat. In fact, you always feel guilty sitting down in the metro.
In recent years, Medellin has made headlines mainly with the cable car. Few people know that there are actually three lines spread across the city. This allows all residents to be in the city in about 30 minutes. This made previously inaccessible jobs possible for many and crime rates dropped rapidly.