Medellin, the capital of the state of Antioquia, located between mountains in an attitude of 1500 meters above surface. The city has a total of 1,8 million inhabitants, and is also called ?The City of Eternal Spring?, because the temperature varies between 21-26 degrees all year around.
Medellin is mostly known for the Medellin Cartel, lead by Pablo Escobar. Fortunately this Cartel does not exist anymore and the city has changed since. The drug traffic have ever since moved to Cali.
Today, Medellin is a highly developed city with a Metro, which the Paisas (the people in Antioquia) is very proud of. It is the only Metro that exists in Colombia.
The Paisas are known for their skill to create profit and their skills in the business world, especially in the Textile industri.
Though, Medellin is not only known for its ability to create money. Probably the most famous present artist in South America is from Medellin, his name is Botero, and you find his work in the Museum of Antioquia, in the center of Medellin.
The Paisas are also well known for their family bonds and their "Finca" concept. A "Finca" is like a summer house located outside the city as an example in Rio Negro or in Santa Fe de Antioquia. The Paisas love these "Fincas", which is still a mystery for me why? By this reason you will find Medellin totally empty between Christmas and 2 weeks into the New Year Everybody goes to their "Fincas" or to the Caribbean Coast. Nearly all bares and nightclubs are closed New Years evening as the celebration is done in the families, which is totally different from the way we celebrate it in many other parts of the world.
On the 10th of January 2001 a bomb exploded in Poblado, the rich part of Medellin, in a shopping center called El Tesoro, not fare from my home. Fortunately, only one person died, while about 50 persons were injured. This terrible happening made me think about the serious situation Medellin and the rest of Colombia is in, The situacion in Colombia is really complicated and a lot of innocent people are killed, people that have nothing to do with the political situation.
The event also made me think about, it might as well have been me that was visiting El Tesoro. Suddently it stroke me what security means in a country like Denmark. Denmark is so safe and calm, but I never think about it, because I take it for granted. In addition to this I really learn here in Colombia to appreciate things that I before took for granted. Maybe one should not take anything for granted in order to be able to enjoy everything? Why shouldn´t you appreciate the small things in life? Why shouldn´t you just enjoy and see all the positive things? Maybe try to pretend that everybody and everything are new elements in your life? I mean why not? In the end everything is a game, right?
|
