#3 - Pablo Escobar

If you come to Medellin, or just visit Colombia, you will definitely hear the name Pablo Escobar. The most powerful drug lord of all time built his cartel here, conducted business, committed murders, but also helped the poor. We won't go into his story in detail, as there is plenty to read about him on the web. Today we have visited the most important places related to his life and have gathered many fascinating impressions.

Of course, one can think and judge whether it is good or bad to make money from him. He brought immense suffering through his power, but also helped the poor. That's how it is for the locals too: the Robin Hood or the mass murderer. Whether it was just a facade and a means to an end for the Congress, only he could answer that. We have the impression that there is much more behind it and so there is "money to be made" here. However, it is beyond question that he was a highly intelligent and talented man.

We visit the Monaco building, where he lived with his whole family, but it is completely destroyed inside due to a car bomb detonated by the Cali Cartel. You can't tell from the outside, as it has been neglected for many years and only a security guard stands there all day to ensure the safety of tourists.

We enter a very dangerous neighborhood, where Pablo had his own community. He never lived there, but he financially supported the construction of houses, built schools, and helped the poor. He is still celebrated as a hero, Juan tells us. He is our driver again and also tells us that we cannot get out to take pictures here. So let's quickly get out of the car.

At the Montesacre cemetery is his grave. He is buried there with all the family members who have already passed away. His father and mother have a quote on their tombstone. There is apparently one missing, it seems to have been stolen. Isn't it ironic that he earned his first money by stealing tombstones? Otherwise, it is a very extensive cemetery with no system. Anyone can choose where someone should be buried, so the tombstones are widely scattered.

We also come to the house where he was officially shot. The unofficial version and the one from the family is that he shot himself in the head, as he always said he would do. Better a grave in Colombia than a prison in the USA. The authorities and the police do not want to admit this version of events out of pride.

After a long drive through the diverse and overgrown forest, we arrive at the "prison" of Pablo, which is now used as a retirement home. Prison is really the wrong word, because here he was allowed to build according to his wishes through a deal with the state. Equipped with a fitness center, disco, and billiards room. He himself landed by helicopter on the helipad with a magnificent view, from where he could continue to observe the flight path. He stayed here until his "escape".

The highlight of the whole tour is the visit to the Escobar Museum. It is the house where he spent his last days before his death. The brothers Roberto, who led the cartel and were responsible for the finances, sit outside and drink coffee. Inconspicuous with a cap and pants, almost blind and deaf due to a letter bomb in prison. We have a private tour with Caleb in English. He was in prison in Miami for drug trafficking. He tells us about the zoo that Pablo built for everyone, because he wanted to make the animals accessible to people who did not have the opportunity to see them. Including two black parrot species for 2 million dollars. We see jet skis that he bought from the James Bond film, cars with bullet holes, and much more. You can touch and use everything here. In one room we see a man who is introduced to us because we are from Switzerland. It is Nicolas, Pablo's nephew. We talk to him for about 10 minutes and it becomes clear to us how much he knows about Switzerland. He spends a lot of time there, especially in Zermatt and St. Moritz. Otherwise, he travels worldwide and shows us photos on his phone. A likeable man with a special way about him. It's hard to grasp what it is. We are impressed that there is so much more to it and that it leaves an impression (a longer explanation is better given orally). We then break off the conversation and are guided through the house. Past bullet holes, secret hiding places, and the table where he last ate. We can ask Roberto and his daughter questions. We are a little overwhelmed by this and therefore afterwards, more exciting things come to mind. But they told us a lot, she leads a very good life with houses here and on the Caribbean coast.

Of course, it is a tourist attraction and a special experience for us.

Roberto wishes us all the best with a warm handshake...

...and so we shook hands with a cartel boss.