My Medellin flight was from London and the route was London to Bogota and then Bogota to Medellin. It took almost 13 hours of flight and I landed in Medellin around 8.30 am in the morning. in Bogota airport, I tried the first coffee and Bunuelos and it was tasty. After arriving at the Medellin a friend picked me up from the airport and we went to the hotel for check-in. On the road, I saw Medellin first and it was a beautiful city in the valley. After check-in, the first thing I bought a Simcard for the internet. I bought movil exito sim card.
On the first day, a friend from Medellin helped us to see around and we went to the Envigado area by car. In there I recognized many street foods and they sell nice fruits. We tried first empanadas there and I really liked the taste of them. The place name is El Portoncito Paisa for empanadas. Then we walked to the Envigado Marceliano Velez Barreneche Main Park. It was beautiful, and inside the park, there was a small bazaar and a big church, Parroquia Santa Gertrudis. We visited that places and took some photos and also there was some preparation for Christmas decorations.
After that, we went to the Viva shopping mall for late lunch and to try some Colombian foods. We ordered Bandeja Paisa and it was a really big meal with nice food. We saw some nice and famous food and drinks there. After the finished meal, we walked inside the center and drink coffee in the Juan Valdez coffee shop and which has a great taste of coffee. Coffee grows in Colombia and the taste of all coffee I drink there was so nice. After that went back to the hotel and rested a bit until another day.
The second day was Sunday and we walked to the Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe. That area was full of people and needed to be extra careful. The Museum of Antioquia and Palace of Culture Rafael Uribe Uribe was closed unfortunately that day but it was exciting to see the square and Parque Berrio. From there we called Uber and went to the Botanical garden area. That day there was a big screen and people were watching Colombia – Spain women’s football match all together. We watched a bit and the atmosphere was good. Colombians supported their teams but they lost 1-0. From there We found a nice viewpoint of the botanical garden of Medellin and city view. The last floor of the plaza was good for viewing photos. After taking some photos we went to the Botanical garden. Botanical gardens were huge areas and many different plants were there. I also see a big iguana on the bench and at first, I thought it is not real but then when it start playing I recognized a real one. There were also some nice birds around.
The same day afternoon we went to the Parques del Rio. That park was in the center of the Medellin and there were nice walkways and rest areas. After walking there with a group of friends we went to the Provenza area. That part seems the more tourist side of the city. First, we went to a pub and then we went to a restaurant for dinner. The food and place were nice. The name of the place is Belisario. In the late evening, we went to the Second Mirador De Palmas for a city view at night. The lights on the streets seemed so nice and I took some photos there.
I visited the Metro de Medellin and UNAL because of the workshop related to my research and after finishing the workshop, I visited Parque Arvi and used a cable car to go there. The cable car view of the Medellin was great and it is a long way to go to that park by that. When arrive at the Parque Arvi that park was also beautiful. We walked a bit around the park and sit in a small café place when walked a bit down. After that, we walked back to the station and used a cable car for back to the hotel but at the Santa Domingo stop, we stopped and walked in the streets. It was evening time and many people were going home from their jobs. We took some photos and continue back to the hotel by cable car and then by metro.
I went to the Communa 13 area. That area was famous in Medellin and now there are lots of graffiti and small local shops. The most important thing there for me I tried to contact many people and tried to communicate. I don’t know Spanish but I used google translate for that. I listened to some of the people’s stories and it was nice. I can say people are so warm-hearted there. Even one of the lady she gave me her wristband to me as a gift. I took many selfies with people from there. I took some nice city view images and graffiti images there and for almost 3 hours I stayed in that area.
After that, I went to the City museum (Museo de Ciudad) inside the museum there was a Medellin city view model and the area of the museum was nice. I saw Medellin from a nice view and there are many colorful shops around. After that, I went to the Marcado del Rio for lunch the food court was so big, and nice restaurants and cafes were inside. I choose them and eat my lunch. After I went to the Art Museum and that day there were some activities outside. I watched that a bit then went inside. I recognized many nice paintings and photos inside the museum. There were 2 floors open at that time and it was nice to see them. When I finish there I went to the Provenza area and I bought some coffee there and drink in a nice café as well. That area looks modern and well-designed. Some parts of there had some maintenance work and I walked through the parks and got an uber for going to the Uribe Uribe and Antiqua Museum. First I visited the Uribe Uribe and there were so nice items and paintings as well as a well-designed building.
When I finish there I went to the Museum of Antique quickly and that museum was so good and I definitely see many different things inside I had never seen before and it was nice to take some pictures of the square from there as well for me. When I finish there I walked to the Centro Commercial Palacio Nacional and there was a shopping center. The building itself was so good and well-designed. I visited all floors there and on some floors, I recognized painters’ studios and they were selling their paintings. There were many artists and paintings and also many shops with café and entertainment.
Another place in Medellin, I visited the El Castillo Museum and Gardens on the last day I went there that place was beautiful and has a huge garden. Inside the museum lots of artworks and stuff related to their life in there. There was a guided tour inside the museum and it was a nice place as well.
For food places, I went to El Portoncito Paisa, Hatoviejo, Belisario, Mondongo’s, Mercado del Rio, Chef Burger, and Lo Exquisito del Mar restaurants. I would suggest them as well.
I also visited El Penol and Guatape but I will write about that places in another article. That two small towns close to Medellin are also so beautiful.
Other places in Medellin you could visit if have time;
Mirador de San Felix
Cerro El Picacho
Parroquia de Jesus Nazareno
Memory House Museum
Plaza Minorista Jose Maria Villa
Lleras Park
Parque de El Poblado
