Medellín: Passionately Paisa

Pre-Caveat to the Caveat announcement

Since writing the blog below, we encountered even less internet connectivity in Galapagos. We were fully expecting this and in a way are grateful to have been disconnected so we could amply enjoy our time in San Cristobal. So please note that I'm publishing these from Santa Cruz. Upcoming Blogs include Medellin, Bogota, Cotopaxi, Cuyabeno Amazon Reserve, and of course, Galapagos.

Caveat announcement

Writing has gotten a bit difficult these past few weeks due to limited internet connectivity paired with unpredictable travel between hostels, buses, and secluded sites. It's worth noting that I'm sharing upcoming reflections on our past travels en route to the Galapagos Islands. Not sure what the connectivity will be like there, but Paul forewarned me that our slow internet will persist on the islands as well. We shall see. Luckily, we'll be in Galapagos for the next three weeks and will have some downtime to devote to the blog. I imagine the beauty of the islands will also help activate my creative juices for deeper insights. For those itching for updates (Hi Laura and Mom), I will share our experiences and reflections in the upcoming days about Medellin and Bogota, Quito/Cotopaxi, and our transformative Amazon experience in the Cuyabeno Reserve. After a week or so, I think I'll be ready to share more about our time in the Galapagos since activities will be low-key at first while I finish my PADI scuba certification in San Cristobal. I'm sure we will have stories about the islands afterward.

Medellin

Now with the caveat out of the way, let's dive right into our reflection and experiences in Medellin back in mid-November. Let's use the metaphor "dive in" quite literally here because Paul and I indeed dove off a cliff and paraglided in the City of Medellin shortly after arriving. It was perhaps one of the most breathtaking things I've ever done. Worth every second. All thanks to the contiguous motivation and courage shared by two female pilots that happened to be coordinating flights that day, they invoked a great sense of empowerment and pride towards the sport. The opportunity to navigate the skies based on their own technical training, a strong sense of independence and a deep passion for adrenaline was so exhilarating. So much so that after hearing their cheerful and uplifting stories we became enamored by the sport making our experience much more meaningful. After learning about the perseverance they had to endure, their respect for nature and surroundings, and the intentionality of the process, all of our worries melted away, and couldn't wait to catch a glimpse of what they love. In fact, I was so eager that upon running off the cliff I took down the "windsock flag." Watch the video on Instagram if you haven't already, it makes for a good laugh. After the initial shock of running off a cliff subsided, flying and soaring with the birds was such an indescribable sensation not to mention the wondrous beauty below.

Even though Medellin is a large city, it is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and lush forests. It was a city oasis of the jungle that could take back at any time. Paul and I were quite impressed by it. Everyone seemed so connected to nature. Even more fascinating, we could access many parks and activities thanks to the impeccable metro system. Seriously friends, the metro system and public transportation in Medellin are one of the best, perhaps even better than NYC and DC. It was so easy for travelers to use and visit many neighborhoods in a short span of time. As a side note, a stark contrast to Bogota but I'll get to that later. We had the opportunity to even hike in Parque Arvi, a protected nature reserve, and escape the city all by using the metro cable. Other places worth mentioning include the infamous Comuna 13, which is a neighborhood with a transformative story of resilience and optimism. The area went from being one of the most dangerous neighborhoods to one of the safest and culturally connected. It was inspiring to connect with "Paisas" and hear their love for their city, their culture, resilience, and adoration for Colombia. Even seconds after arriving our shuttle driver was so welcoming and friendly and offered guidance on the best attractions and places to eat. Because of his recommendation, we visited a small town off the "tourist path" called San Antonio de Pereira. The small town is known for its abundant desserts. It was incredible and my sweet tooth was tempted at every corner. Alas, my loving husband helped me from falling into a sugar-high abyss.

Another place that really captivated us was Guatape, in particular, its history and adaptive residents. Originally Guatape was a central location for farmers and merchants to trade goods like coffee, grains, and vegetables but over time due to the construction of a dam, the town was propelled to tourism and thereby transforming the town to focus on watersports in the reservoir, Piedra del Peñol, and featuring traditional colorful wall paintings on homes known as Zocalos. The craft has made Guatape a colorful and cultural paradise. As with any municipality that solely depends on tourism, the pandemic was quite hurtful for the people of Guatape and many lost their jobs. Sadly, this town primarily catered to tourism, and the lack of it during the pandemic was a strong reminder of the importance of sustainable livelihoods for these communities. Even amidst all the hardship, this community is really united and their resilience and warmth towards travelers were very obvious to us. We appreciated learning more about the origin of the town and were grateful for the opportunity to visit the region. At Piedra del Peñol Paul had the opportunity to test his Achilles Tendon by climbing all 715 steps to the top of the rock. It was also a hefty test for my thighs! Similarly, we rented a small boat for about $12 USD and explored the tranquil water and soaked all the nature around us. Although we were only in the Medellin area for 3 days, we were able to pack many activities, eat delicious meals, and drink tons of tintos, all of which felt so unique to us. We started high above the clouds and concluded low on the water - every second worthwhile.