Our initially planned two-week stay in Medellín got extended by an additional two weeks because of some bike repairs that needed to be to be taken care of before they became hazardous. One of these repairs was to the clutch which required a part to be shipped in from the USA. The part was stuck in customs for a week before it made it to the workshop, but everything worked out in the end and our baby was as good as new (somewhat). Besides, Medellín is not a bad place to be stuck in so no complains here.
Medellín has a lot of history and a number of museums to go along with all that history. Despite not being museum enthusiasts, we made a point to visit a couple of the most significant ones, the first of which was the Museo Casa de la Memoria (House of Memory Museum). This museum is a memorial for the victims of the armed conflict faced by the city over the last five decades and it showcases the history of the city’s inhabitants, their process of social fabric transformation, and their ability to overcome the most challenging circumstances. The museum was very insightful and moving, and it has earned our highest recommendation for anyone visiting Medellín.
We also visited the historic city center. It was nothing remarkable, especially compared to La Candelaria in Bogotá, but we did have some good trout for lunch so all was well 🙂
Whenever we asked a local of things they recommend for visitors in their city, the graffiti tour of Comuna 13 always came up. Being fans of street art, we knew this is something we had to do so we booked a free walking tour through Zippy Tour. We generally don’t favour tours since they require you to stick to someone else’s timetable and typically without adding value to the experience. But the same locals that recommended seeing the art of Comuna 13 warned us to not go by ourselves as it is a “slum,” for the lack of a more politically correct term. Besides, how bad can a free walking tour be, right?
Well, it turned out to be absolutely fantastic! Our guide, Laura, grew up in Comuna 13 so she provided us with insight on the community and the significance of each of the art pieces that we never would have gotten on our own. Comuna 13 was once Colombia’s most dangerous area and was rife with drug and gang wars. It was unimaginable for any foreigner to set foot in the area in those days. While issues still exist, Comuna 13 has undergone massive reinvention and welcomes tourists on a regular basis today. They even have escalators now to make the steep and hilly community more accessible. The artwork that adorn the walls are stunning with an inspiring story behind each.
Bear in mind that this was NOT a slum tour and we do not encourage such excursions. We are strongly against glorifying poverty and crime, and treating people like zoo animals. We did not go to see how “poor” people live, but to appreciate the talent in Comuna 13 and marvel at how communities can grow when people work together.
In Colombia, you are bound to stumble upon the work of (or work inspired by) artist Fernando Botero. He is a Medellín-born figurative artist and painter. His signature style, known as “Boterismo,” depicts people and animals in large and exaggerated volumes. He donated a large number of his works to the Museo de Antioquia (Museum of Antioquia) so we took out the time to get cultured in some Colombian fine art. For anyone interested in Botero’s work, the museum is impressive. Those who want to see some art, but prefer to save the 18,000 COP (~7.60 CAD) per person it costs to get in can enjoy the numerous Botero sculptures scattered around the museum’s courtyard.
On our last Friday in Medellín, we met up with Vince, a fellow Pan-American traveller from Ireland, for a nice dinner and some great conversation. He has a blog, Ride Live Explore, that he updates every now and then… when he’s not in a hammock 🙂
On July 24, we celebrated our first anniversary on the road and what an amazing ride it has been! I can say with conviction that the past year has been the best year of our lives as we truly got to live our dream. We have learned and grown more than we imagined we would, and we have changed a lot and for the better. Life has become less about material things and pretending to be someone else just to please other people, and more about experiences and having a positive impact, however small, wherever we go.
Travelling long-term is not without challenges, but getting to live life by our own rules, meeting wonderful people, visiting incredible places, and discovering new cuisines are just a few of the benefits that make the all the challenges we have faced worth it.
For those wondering how it has been for us to travel for a year as a couple and spending 24/7 together… imagine when you were a kid and someone told you that you’d get to be with your best friend all the time and eat all the ice cream you want go to Disneyland every single day. Yes, it really has been that full of awesomeness.
That’s it for Medellín! Here’s to hoping for beautiful sunset views from our next home 🙂
