Jacaranda Journey

The city at dusk: lights reach up the steep hillsides as a Metro train streaks by in the center

Fernando Botero's depiction of the rooftop shoot-out which killed the feared narco lord in 1993.

World famous and award winning; even though the trains are older now, they are immaculate and well maintained. They look new.

This juxtaposition is still the most compelling image to symbolize the transformation of Colombia (and Medellín) from lawless violence to a safe, progressive country. When the original sculpture was damaged in a bomb blast, sculptor Fernando Botero donated a replacement but insisted that both be kept.

Looking from the Antioquia Museum across Plaza Botero with its many sculptures. Two iconic buildings - the domed Cultural Palace and the tallest Coltejer skyscraper shaped like a needle representing the important textile industry.

One of Fernando Botero's many public sculptures; behind it is the Palace of Culture.

Concrete sculpture by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur - one of many of his works that grace the city

William, our guide and newly made friend, is a good exemplar of a fiercely proud, passionate and exceptionally friendly Paisa (one born in Medellin)

“This youth wakes up everyday with a dream of being someone in a great city”

Cable car connecting the Santo Domingo barrio to the rest of the city. It is part of public transit.

In the Santo Domingo barrio; the famous España Library is the black structure, middle rear

A community garden sprouts where once a landfill, garbage dump, and slums once stood

As depressed and geographically difficult as the Santo Domingo Barrio

Community investment took the form of a public urban escalator

What was an arduous 2 hour walk up to their houses now takes an easy 10 minutes.

Spectacular orchid show and competition as part of the Flower Festival festivities

Dramatic wooden architecture of the display pavillion

At least 7 of them on public display at a major plaza

A carpet of flowers beneath a retractable ceiling during the Flower Festival

A member of the Londoño family constructing a silleta about child labor. The completed artwork is shown in a following photo

2014 award-winning entry by the Londoño family

National Monument

We walked the 649 steps stitched into a natural crevice

View of the islands and man-made lake from the top

Hearty heavy meal that is the unofficial national dish

We had a lot of fun with these four Paisa women who we sat next to at the Parade

Caribbean float, band, and dancers. Note the crowds lining the Pedestrian Bridge over San Juan Ave.

The ciy's proud sanitation engineers

The excitement on a boy's face shows when he was plucked from the stands to ride with this military man on his horse!

This internet photo gives you an idea of the crowded parade route from above with the exciting silleteros. We bought tickets to be able to sit in stands like you see on the left.

Silleteros finally began appearing in front of us at about 3 pm.

Silletero in traditional dress stops to show off his silleta to the crowds

Silletas sporting company logos

Silletero in traditional dress carrying the 100+ pound flower arrangement

Young silletero

Young silletero responding to the crowd's cheers

Silleta pays homage to Gabriel Garcia Marquez, beloved Colombian author, who was known for his magical realism

Flower display proclaiming "No More Violence for Colombia"