Medellín, Colombia: Tour D'Horizon

no dar papaya

By Christina Nguyen

July 31^st, 2018

Month 10

Medellín is a stunning hillside metropolis situated in a valley with surrounding jagged peaks. A staggered skyline combined with high rise buildings among the clouds, and blue skies portrays heavenly views. It is nicknamed, "The City of Eternal Spring" because of its pleasant, and moderate temperatures. The Medellín River runs parallel to the Metro which connects various parts of the city that made it a great resource for exploring this month.

Views of Medellin. Photo by Xavier Lane.

Guataupe city center. Photo by Xavier Lane.

Experiences

THE FUN STUFF

Living in an amazing 4-bedroom apartment in El Poblado.
Working out of the artistically appealing, and spacious Selina co-working space.
Enjoying the regional flavors of Colombia with local food journalist Juan Pablo Tettay.
Heightening my senses at the Jardin Botanical Gardens, and Parque Explora.
Trying over 20 Colombian varieties of exotic fruit.
Soaking up the sun with impromptu pool days with the squad.
Watching countless World Cup games virtually in every single place in Medellin.
Celebrating with my RY friends who launched the Yarn App which was born out of startup night in Croatia 10 months ago.
Admiring the street art in the neighborhood of Comuna 8.
Visiting a Castle Museum (sorta lol).
Participating in a self-development workshop with Canadian entrepreneur, Jf Brou.
Having Xavier come visit me for the third time!
Creating, and orchestrating The Misses of Mangata photoshoot.
Climbing 740 steps to the top of El Penon de Guataupe, a massive granitic rock.
Landing a new role within my company who continue to be incredibly supportive of my goals, and digital nomad lifestyle.
Taking a side trip to the Colombian coastal city of Cartagena.

THE NOT AS FUN STUFF

Altitude was a little rough for the first few days upon arrival.
Air pollution is a problem, and my lungs felt it.

Stories

When I received my Remote Year itinerary many people had reactions about me living in Medellín. After all it was deemed as the most dangerous city in the world by Time Magazine in 1988. It's no secret that Medellín has had a troubled past. It was home to Pablo Escobar's notorious drug cartel, guerrilla warfare, a tumultuous political environment, and murder rates were off the charts.

After living here for one month I truly got to understand that it is a tale of two cities. Despite what you see on TV shows like Narcos, Medellín is far from what it used to be 20-30 years ago. From the most dangerous city in the world it is now named as one of the most innovative cities in the world.

The government has made strong efforts to implement modern designs of public spaces, transit infrastructure, and urban interventions to address the issues of violence, and inequality. The mayor recognized the need to unite the city. Some of the worst spots underwent renovations such as Plaza de Cisneros which was one of the worst drug dens, and is now a literal beacon of light, and gives hope for Medellín. The city developed its transportation by adding a cable car, tram system, bus system, and metro that connects the once separated impoverished hillside communities to the prospering city below.

While there is significantly less violence now there are still gangs, and street crime. The streets are often occupied with soldiers with guns, and police men with bright vests which indicate that the transformation is very much in progress, and still fragile.

Every person works incredibly hard to shrug off the legacy of a violent past, and to move forward towards a brighter future. It is now home to a thriving social entrepreneurship scene that is reshaping the character of the city. Digital nomads are flocking to this city with laptops in hand. Medellín's temperate climate, cheap cost of living, and a healthy dose of Latin American flare makes it an appealing place to work, live, and enjoy life. Medellín is frequently mentioned in the same breath as well-known hubs like Chiang Mai, Lisbon, and Bali. With an economy that is growing rapidly, it is one of the great success stories of Latin America in the 21st century.

David from Do it In a Van. Photo by Xavier Lane.

Connections

With Xavier visiting this month I wanted to co-produce a fun photo shoot for all the women in Remote Year. It was an awesome opportunity to collaborate with a talented traveling photographer, and a bunch of babes with vision, passion, and an eye for creativity. The full gallery can be viewed on Xavier Lane Photography.

This month's connection goes to each, and every woman who make up the Misses of Mangata. This tribe is made up of artists, designers, freelancers, teachers, scientists, entrepreneurs, producers, project managers, program leaders, consultants, PR specialists, lawyers, marketing gurus, sales rock stars, and corporate badasses. Beyond the skill, and talent every member of this collective is strong, independent, intelligent, ambitious, positive, kind, courageous, vulnerable, brave, and most importantly loving humans.

You are greatly influenced by who you surround yourself with most. I've never felt more grateful to have a concentrated number of women to live, work, and travel with. Through connection, and sharing of our inspirational stories, we've supported each other to live our fullest lives personally, and professionally. Befriend the bold. Love them hard, because your vibe attracts your tribe.

Owning the Unknown

I admit that I didn't feel completely comfortable upon arrival. People blatantly stare at you which at times can feel unsettling. I soon learned that they were simply intrigued by foreigners, and tourism for the locals is showing the positive change happening in Medellín. One of our Colombian guides told very vivid stories about what life used to be like in Medellín , and I couldn't help but be in awe of how this city has been able to transform itself. I'm humbled by how welcoming, and happy the people are. The way they speak about their struggles, and hopes for the future reminds me that we all have our own struggles that we are capable of overcoming.