Visiting Colombia with Marcela Restrepo – All about Medellín

Written
by
Jenny Butler
Writer
Jenny Butler
25th of May 2011

Today Marcela takes us on a tour of her home town; I guess we shouldn't be surprised to learn that it's a place known for design and creativity . We see some of the local talent and of course some of Marcela's own work, but the list doesn't stop there. - Jenny x

I was born in Medellín, the second largest city in Colombia but the top industrial city in Colombia.

Its elevation is 1,495m and it’s surrounded by peaks on the four sides. Medellín’s nickname is ‘City of Eternal Spring’ because of its mild temperatures (24° C average) all year round.

It has a big history of violence too as it suffered from the drug cartel fights back in the eighties. I had a very happy childhood but the violence touched everybody at some point.

But Medellín has changed very much since then, being considered today as a forward thinking place, full of great initiative and creativity.

Lately it has been noticed for a ground-breaking approach to urban planning and architectural design. Most notably new public state of the art libraries and schools as a driver for change in some of the poorest barrios. Also efforts to provide new public space community infrastructure, and sports halls accessible to all the community via innovative public transportation systems. I just love to ride the metro cable and literally fly low over the rooftops and the street space going up the steep hills.

From left to right, top to bottom- 1. Jardín Botánico (Botánical Gardens) 2. Parque Explora / sciences  and the Cable.park-museum 3. Biblioteca España / library 4. Coliseos construidos para los juegos panamericanos. Coliseums built for the Panamerican Games

Mural by artist Fredy Serna seen from the Metro train station.

Pony Malta and Chocorramo!

Daniel loves it as way to recover from his road cycling adventures up the mountain Roads. I hate it! It is very sweet malt drink. I love the Chocorramo though.

You can buy the Pony Malta and other Colombian products in Sydney at the Fiji Market and La Cumbia Restaurant.

Bonuar restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art. Each table graphics by a different local artist.

In Colombia nothing goes to waste. Sustainability is about using all that is available; everything is reused as a measure of economy!

Plaza Botero outside the Museo de Antioquia has sculptures donated by the Colombian born and one of the most celebrated latin-american artists Fernando Botero.

- Marcela

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