Medellin, Colombia
Ten Tips for Visiting the City of Flowers and Eternal Spring
By J. J. Scott
 If ever a city needed a public relations
makeover it is Medellin, Colombia. The 40-minute drive from the airport to the
city, up the hills and down the mountain, along the serpentine road offers
panoramic views of the countryside before reaching the city nestled in the
narrow valley. The city is growing and prospering with high-rise buildings
climbing up the mountainside. Located in the Aburra Valley in the Central Andean
mountain range at 5000 feet, Medellin is the “City of Flowers and Eternal
Spring.” Trees and flowers are everywhere. There is plenty to attract tourists.
 Turibus: Hop-on-hop-off the tour bus for
an introduction to the city. The four-hour tour stops at all the important
sites. The guide is multilingual. Get on at Park Poblado and start early to
allow for extended time at Park Bolivar, Barefoot Park, Paque de los deseos,
Cerro Nutibara, and Plaza Botero.
www.seditrans.com
Museo de Antioquia: While the museum is
home to movies, library services and art workshops the center focus of the
museum is the donation made by Medellin-born artist, Fernando Botero.
 On display
are his full-figure works plus selections from his international collection. The plaza in front of the museum is home to 23 Botero sculptures including “Adam
and Eve” and Botero as a Roman soldier.
Museo Interactivo: The EPM Interactive museum makes
learning about energy fun for all ages. Multilingual guides lead visitors
through the museum where most exhibits are hands-on. A Van de Graaff Generator
makes one’s hair stand on end, another gismo takes an image of ones aura, but
the most fun are the Disney-like rides. On the Future Floor, visitors pick an
animal to follow into the future and an attractive female robot explains what
happens to that animal without good conservation methods.
 A centrifuge ride
recreated the g-force experienced by astronauts. There are 22 rooms on four
floors and over 200 experiments.
Bare Foot Park: Parque de los Pies
Descalzos is an open sky space with a peaceful oriental atmosphere. It is a
delightful contrast to the noise of the city. A sand park, water fountains, zen
garden, guadua tree forests, and wooden tables are surrounded by business
buildings. Park attendants guide visitors through a series of relaxation
exercises. Truly one of the world’s most unique city parks.
 The Park of Wishes: The park includes Planetario de Medellin, which is not only a planetarium but a unique open space
area where people can observe the universe. Special benches and a large incline
are designed for people to lie down to look at the stars and to view movies on
astronomy. Eleven interactive scientific attractions are in the open area.
Little City: Atop Cerro Nutibara
which offers panoramic views of the city is El Pueblito, a replica of a rural
village complete with a school, church, chemist’s shop, barber shop, café, and
handicraft shops along with a sculpture of Cacique Nutibara, a native chief.  It
is the largest natural park within the city.
The Liberator: So important is Simon
Bolivar that every major city in Bolivia has a park in his honor. The fountain
and stature in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica represents the four
countries Bolivar freed. The Cathedral is the world’s largest baked clay
structure with a whopping one million, one hundred and twenty thousand adobe
bricks. Along with the imposing interior and religious art museum the Symphonic
Band of the Unversidad de Antioquia plays classical and folk music every Sunday.
 Beautiful people: In Medellin they say, “There are no ugly
women only poor husbands!” The city is the cosmetic surgery capital of South
America. Vacations that promise “Body Beautiful” transformations are promoted
by travel agents and plastic surgeons in Colombia.
Stoned! Today in Medellin that means
sitting around the beautiful pool of the InterContinental Hotel enjoying a
unique Hot Stone dinner. Besides the special Italian pizza cooked in
wood-burning oven the hotel offers a new way to cook your own dinner. A
sizzling hot stone is brought to the table along with thinly sliced fresh tender
meats and vegetable for the guests to cook on the hot stone. Not to be missed.
www.ichotelsgroup.com
 The countryside: There is plenty to do in Medellin but
there are also the green tours to the areas that are coffee and flower producing
along with tours that focus on the history of the area. So much to do, so little
time.
For more information check: Colombia:
www.turismocolombia.com,
www.medellininfo.com,
www.ichotelsgroup.com
Photos by Sandra and John Scott
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