MEDELLÍN

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A city that has been pulling itself from the rubble and devastation of its brutal historic past and is now blossoming into one of the greatest cities on the planet. Driven by Colombian people with true pride, passion and determination—to not let previous decades of suffering that seemed to define their country continue into their future. It has become one of the most highly visited places in South America, and for good reason. The rolling hills that it stands on, despite being chaotically crowded by bunched together buildings that are seemingly overlapping one another, are now home to opportunity, creativity and happiness.

Before I arrived in Colombia, it was hard to ignore the stigma that surrounds the country, the majority of which comes from the mouths of people who have never visited it. There is no denying the tragedies that happened during Pablo Escobar's reign as the Druglord in the 80's and 90's, which made Colombia one of the most dangerous places in the world at the time. That being said, it's incredibly unfair how undeservedly deformed its reputation remains because of the misunderstandings of certain idle minds.

Luckily for myself and the majority of people who explore the world, we fly to new places with wanderlust-tinted glasses and few expectations, ready to be surprised and mesmerised. Rumours, bad vibes and stigma don't scare me or put me off. In fact, if I hear that a country is 'dangerous' or 'difficult to travel' —I'm more curious to get there and find out for myself!

This is why I fell in love with Medellín. The city is overflowing with life and personality whilst the locals are welcoming, entertaining and helpful—I never felt unsafe or unwanted. In truth, most of the Paisas that I met were always encouraging me to stay longer and delve deeper into the culture that they have grown. There is an infinite amount of ways to spend your time here, options are forever changing, businesses are forming, events begin and end in a heartbeat, the city is breathing and the people flow through it like oxygen. The people, Paisas, they are the reason that this city is no longer just surviving; it's thriving. Maybe the aftermath of the terror is still in the minds of the people who live here but there is no sign of it in its streets.

COME SAY HELLO!

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