Archiv
CW 22 2003
26.05. - 03.06.2003
This week's predominant topic is the trip to Medellin. On Monday we
manage to buy a cheap package including the flight to Medellin, 3 nights
at a good hotel, as well as food and transport in Medellin for about 170
€. Well, if that doesn't make one happy … and on Saturday afternoon
we fly to Medellin - which is also called "Paisa" (meaning country
of mountains) by the locals - in a comfortable airbus. The airport is
about 35 km from the city center and driving there we have a beautiful
view of the city (housing about 4 million people), which lies in a huge
valley, surrounded by green mountains.  |
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| What a treat the climate is! 400m high with a pleasant 23°C - it
makes your body feel so relieved. We drive through a part of the city called 'Palmas' - and it really deserves this name. High face brick houses are situated amongst magnificent trees and flowers. Medellin is the center of flower cultivation and Columbia is one of the worlds largest flower exporters and the worlds largest orchid exporter. Our destination is the hotel "Nutibara", located right in the city center. It was built in 1940, has lots of style and even an elevator that is still operated manually. Medellin is a very clean city, and the only one in Columbia that has a metro. |
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Apparently there's a lot of money in this city …oh well, since
the metro passes right in front of our hotel we use it for a round trip
thru the city on Sunday. For the equivalent of 50 Cent we drive back and
forth through town, see monumental buildings and huge shopping malls,
but at the Rio Medellin we also see a large slum. The impressions could hardly be more contradicting. Back in the center we visit the museum Antique that shows numerous works by the local artist Fernando Botero. Botero specializes in large bronze statues that are big and fat in all aspects. A lot of his statues also stand on the square in front of the museum. |
Since there's a lot of clothing industry in Medellin, shopping here is supposed
to be very reasonable, but unfortunately all shops are closed on Monday because
it's a public holiday. So we decide to go on a tour into the surrounding countryside,
which is safe by now. We enjoy the ride through juicy meadows and fields -
and seeing the cows one could easily imagine to be somewhere in Europe.
| Our destination is one of the traditional villages, a so-called "publito
paisa". Beautiful and immaculately clean houses surround the village
center. The "Hacienda Cafetera" where coffee used to be processed
is also a magnificent sight. Early on Tuesday morning we have to say good-bye. We'd really like to stay a little longer, but SILVER BLUE is awaiting us in Cartagnea. More about her, next week … if you like. Until then, take care! TOM |
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