MEDELLIN Columbia

MEDELLIN

The former base of the drug cartel headed by Pablo Escobar, this city is doing a great job of turning their reputation around with a very progressive local government. The Metro would be the envy of a lot of cities and makes transport around the sights a breeze. I stayed at the Astor Hotel right next to the Cathedral Square and I had a great meal at the Chinese across the road one night. There is a cable car to a very high position but was only taking locals who lived up there when I went to do it. May have been too late and there are some rough areas up there. Found another high hill at the other end of town that gave good views from much closer. Also went to the Botanical gardens which has a very impressive timber and steel structure over a large area that provides shelter and a place for events. Some good churches with the huge Metropolitan Cathedral said to have taken 1.2 million bricks to build and the beautiful Basilica de la Candelaria which still appears to be the crowd favorite. The Cultural Centre and some nice museums and galleries make for a great place to visit. I stayed for three nights and then took a bus at 5.30 am for Bogata because it’s a scenic trip but I was unlucky and copped a delay from landslip and some rain for parts of this 10 journey.