Thursday was the first day I had to check out Medellin. I was immediately confused because the layout of Medellin is exactly the opposite of Bogota. The rich section of Bogota is in the north, in Medellin it is in the south. I'm usually really really good with sense of direction, but it took me a day to figure out Medellin. The other thing that I noticed right away is that Medellin seems more sketchy. For example, the poverty is more visible (not saying there is more, just more visible), most shops still have bars or gates on the outside, Pablo and I had our bags search by the police, etc....
Pablo took me around town, showing me some of the famous buildings and art work. We also took one of the cable cards that runs up into the hills. Medellin is the only Colombian city to have a metro, and to make it even more extreme, the city built cable cars in order to reach the barrios in the hills. The cable cars provide for an interesting way to see the city.
After a day of sight seeing, we headed out for the night. The thing to do in Medellin is to drink in the parks. This is right up my alley. Anyone that knows me, knows that I'm not the biggest fan of bars/clubs. I really enjoyed the nightlife in Medellin.
The next few days Pablo and I just relaxed. The weather was extremely nice, except there was a constant haze over the city. I ended up not taking a ton of photos in Medellin because the lighting was flat and ugly the majority of the time.
There were many highlights in Medellin, here are a few:
- Meeting all of Pablos friends and going out every night.
- Driving around with his friend Maria, who owns a 1954 VW bug. So much fun!!
- Going to Maria's farm, which is up in the hills and overlooks the whole city of Medellin.
- Going to visit a friend in the village of Santa Elena, an hour outside Medellin.
- Going to a spot where paragliding is popular.
- Pablo's family taking care of me. His mom and dad were so sweet.
- Just hanging out and learning some spanish.
By far the best part of Medellin was meeting a TON of people. Everyone (and not just Pablo's friends) were extremely nice. I just want to thank everyone I met in Medellin, let me see if I remember names.... Thanks to Pablo, Maria, Ana Maria, Sara, Henry, Cristina, Andres 1, Andres 2, Andres 3, Chico, Paule, Juan, Pablo's friend from the coast who tried teaching me spanish at 5am, everyone at Otraparte, everyone at the universities, the girls from Argentina who were touring with films that we met in Santa Elena.... geez and thats probably only half.
The Medellin metro...
"Love and Peace"
Medellin was "shady."
Still lots of fresh fruit for sale on the streets.
A view from one of the Metrocable cars.
Another view from the Metrocables.
This street was full of street vendors selling bootlegged copies of porn videos (I shot this from the entrance of a church).
This mural had a very "revolutionary" feel to me.
Maria and Pablo and Maria's 1954 VW Bug.
A friend's house in the village of Santa Elena.
A popular spot for paragliding. This hill overlooks the Medellin suburb of Bello.
A family overlooks the town of Bello.
Otraparte - Medellin, Colombia
Attendees at the festival VOCES.
Otraparte had room for about 30 people, and we were happy to see all the seats were filled.
Screenings were also head at Politecnico Colombiano, one of the universities in Medellin.
Another shot from Politecnico Colombiano.
6am in Santa Rosa.
Pablo waiting for Jhonda.
Jhonda in the back of the pick up.
I'm not sure if we were in fog or a cloud forest, as they are called, but in either case we hit some interesting weather.
Pablo in the truck with the sun behind him.
The truck could only take us so far.
The first mining site we came upon. I got a few looks here.
Jhonda and Pablo over looking a site of large scale mining. Mining is one eco issues Santa Rosa deals with.
Effects on a small stream.
One of the many primitive tools.
The dirt road turns into a walking trail.
Two miners in Santa Rosa.
Gold miner in Santa Rosa. My favorite shot of the trip.
The miners extract soil from the local country side...
and then pan for gold...
by hand...
and also with this giant water wheel, which has been around for 300 years, or something crazy like that.
The miners build everything they need.
Every man in Santa Rosa seemed to carry a machete with them.
We continued our hike, but unfortunately the sun never came out.
A farmer we briefly chatted with. Once again notice the machete.
Climbing down one of the hill sides to a small valley.
A flier for the screenings in Santa Rosa's main bus station.
The festival VOCES had several screenings at Unidad Cultural Integral, Santa Rosa's main theater.
One of the animations in the selection of films.
Inside Unidad Cultural Integral.
Several school children watch from the balcony of the theater.
In order to inspire a whole new generation of "green" thinking, Pablo has scheduled a number of screenings for school children.
At each screening Pablo promotes an active discussion about environmental issues facing current day Colombia.
A school child gives his input.
School children in Santa Rosa watch a selection of short films.
School children listen to Pablo speak.
School children are entertained by various animation and creative "eco" themed films.
Lacking his own projector, Pablo screens the films on what ever means is available.
In just 20 screenings, the festival VOCES has reached over 2,000 participants, mostly school children. In total the festival will have over 30 screenings.
Pablo engages the students in Santa Rosa. Pablo believes "our process of modernization comes with responsibility over our natural resources and a better future for the next generation."