Sunday, May 12, 2013
About Me
My name is Elizabeth Martinez. I am a 19 year old college student at CU Denver. This blog is for my English final and is dedicated to the amazing aspects of visiting Medellin, Colombia, with the exception of my counter argument. I was born in Medellin and lived there for 8 years before moving to the United States. I am interested in persuading people in traveling to Medellin because of the great things that the city has to offer.
Violence in Medellin
Medellin is better known for its past violence. During the 1970s and ‘80s it was a major center of cocaine trafficking and was home to the once powerful Medellín Cartel led by the notorious Pablo Escobar. During this time, Medellin was an unsafe place to be. Parties full of innocent people got bombed, schools got shut down regularly because of kingpin activities, relatives of the rich were kidnapped and had their limbs cut off one by one until a ransom price was paid. At the height of its power, the Medellin drug cartel was smuggling 15 tons of cocaine a day, worth more than half a billion dollars, into the United States.
"Escobar’s ruthlessness was legendary. His rise was opposed by many honest politicians, judges and policemen, who did not like the growing influence of this street thug. Escobar had a way of dealing with his enemies: he called it “plata o plomo,” literally, silver or lead. Usually, if a politician, judge or policeman got in his way, he would first attempt to bribe them, and if that didn’t work, he would order them killed, occasionally including their family in the hit. The exact number of honest men and women killed by Escobar is unknown, but it definitely goes well into the hundreds and perhaps into the thousands." (latinamericanhistoryabout.com)If Escobar wanted you out of the way, there was nothing you could do about it. Even rumored to be responsible for the 1985 attack on the Supreme Courts, Pablo Escobar was ruthless. Death by him was not easy. He taunted and tortured his victims until they slowly died. He did not care if they were innocent bystanders. Nothing would stop him. His best years were in the mid 1980's. Even Forbes magazine recognized this listing him as the 7th richest man in the world. His empire included an army of soldiers and criminals, ready to take orders from his at the snap of a finger, a private zoo, mansions and apartments all over Colombia, private planes he used for drug transport, and of course his wealth.
Pablo Escobar was shot and killed by Colombian authorities in 1993. Even then, the violence in Medellin was not over. The Colombian guerilla group, the FARC soon came to power, doing basically everything that Escobar was doing. The FARC are notorious for kidnapping, drug dealing, bombings, and killings. With the FARC in power, it is extremely dangerous for any foreigner to travel to Medellin. They love kidnapping foreigners, especially Americans, because it is a way for them to rebel against the US government, who is continuously trying to stop their evil antics. As the LA times states,"The White House denounced the kidnapping this week of two Americans by suspected leftist guerrillas. The captors said they wanted to protest President Bush's visit for the drug summit Thursday."
Guerilla territory is one of the most inhospitable in the world, with reported surprising accommodations once inside their housing. This makes it nearly impossible for authorities to get a hold of them, and sadly, all of their kidnapping victims are within their territory. As of right now, the guerillas are responsible for most of the crime in Medellin. They are just as ruthless as Pablo Escobar, bombing, torturing and killing innocent people just to get what they want. They displace people out of their homes, turning them into drug houses.
The violence in Medellin is definitely the biggest concern of the Colombian authorities, but there is very little they can do about it because of the guerilla's shady locations. Guerilla activity has been decreasing slowly over time, but as of today, it still exists.
WORKS CITED
1."Biography of Pablo Escobar." About.com Latin American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. 2. "Medellin Cartel Gives Up 3 Cocaine Labs." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 1990. Web. 10 Apr. 2013..
"Escobar’s ruthlessness was legendary. His rise was opposed by many honest politicians, judges and policemen, who did not like the growing influence of this street thug. Escobar had a way of dealing with his enemies: he called it “plata o plomo,” literally, silver or lead. Usually, if a politician, judge or policeman got in his way, he would first attempt to bribe them, and if that didn’t work, he would order them killed, occasionally including their family in the hit. The exact number of honest men and women killed by Escobar is unknown, but it definitely goes well into the hundreds and perhaps into the thousands." (latinamericanhistoryabout.com)If Escobar wanted you out of the way, there was nothing you could do about it. Even rumored to be responsible for the 1985 attack on the Supreme Courts, Pablo Escobar was ruthless. Death by him was not easy. He taunted and tortured his victims until they slowly died. He did not care if they were innocent bystanders. Nothing would stop him. His best years were in the mid 1980's. Even Forbes magazine recognized this listing him as the 7th richest man in the world. His empire included an army of soldiers and criminals, ready to take orders from his at the snap of a finger, a private zoo, mansions and apartments all over Colombia, private planes he used for drug transport, and of course his wealth.
Pablo Escobar was shot and killed by Colombian authorities in 1993. Even then, the violence in Medellin was not over. The Colombian guerilla group, the FARC soon came to power, doing basically everything that Escobar was doing. The FARC are notorious for kidnapping, drug dealing, bombings, and killings. With the FARC in power, it is extremely dangerous for any foreigner to travel to Medellin. They love kidnapping foreigners, especially Americans, because it is a way for them to rebel against the US government, who is continuously trying to stop their evil antics. As the LA times states,"The White House denounced the kidnapping this week of two Americans by suspected leftist guerrillas. The captors said they wanted to protest President Bush's visit for the drug summit Thursday."
Guerilla territory is one of the most inhospitable in the world, with reported surprising accommodations once inside their housing. This makes it nearly impossible for authorities to get a hold of them, and sadly, all of their kidnapping victims are within their territory. As of right now, the guerillas are responsible for most of the crime in Medellin. They are just as ruthless as Pablo Escobar, bombing, torturing and killing innocent people just to get what they want. They displace people out of their homes, turning them into drug houses.
The violence in Medellin is definitely the biggest concern of the Colombian authorities, but there is very little they can do about it because of the guerilla's shady locations. Guerilla activity has been decreasing slowly over time, but as of today, it still exists.
WORKS CITED
1."Biography of Pablo Escobar." About.com Latin American History. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. 2. "Medellin Cartel Gives Up 3 Cocaine Labs." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 1990. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
Fun In Medellin
Anyone traveling to Medellin should be prepared for never ending activities at any time of the day. From various parks, museums, and malls, to monthly fairs, weekly sporting contests, and countless nightclubs, Medellin has an activity to offer for everyone to have a good time.
Anyone wanting to save some money and go to a park that is free of charge has many options in Medellin. One park is El Parque De Los Pies Descalzos the name of this park translates to the barefoot park. This is one of the most popular family friendly parks in Medellin. It consists of different types of textures on the ground so that your feet will feel the difference. With every different texture of ground also comes a different type of fountain to soak your feet in. Overall, it is a great place to go with the family to spend a couple of hours. Another park is Cerro Nutivara as colombia.travel states "One of the seven hills of Medellin, offering spectacular views over most of the city. On top is a miniature replica of a paisa village. The vantage-points, restaurant and shops make this a perfect place to walk around and share." Cerro Nutivara is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Medellin to enjoy sight seeing, shopping, and eating Paisan cuisine.
Paisans love fairs and carnivals and almost every month of the year there will be a big event taking place. Tourists should consider taking their trip to Medellin in August solely for the purpose of visiting La Feria De Las Flores. Translating to Festival of the Flowers, this is the most important social event for the city. "Tourists arrive to the city from all parts of the world including the USA, Australia and Europe just to witness the special attractions that include a trail ride through town on horses, orchid competition, music festivals, and parade of silleteros. This flower festival is as much a part of Medellin’s cultural identity as the 4th of July is for the USA." (discovercolombia.com)
For the club goers, there is fun to be had all night long. "The Zona Rosa, or main nightlife district, in Medellin is called Parque Lleras. There you’ll find tons of bars, restaurants, and clubs. The music in any given club is usually crossover, which entails a mix of salsa, merengue, vallenato, bachata, and reggaeton music. There are a few rock bars and electronic music clubs if you’re not a fan of Latin music." (nomadicsamuel.com) Medellin is a city that never sleeps and although that neighborhood is the most popular one for nightlife, many other places in Medellin are great to party in.
When shopping in Medellin, the possibilities are endless. There are malls in every district of Medellin, most of them with movie theaters and amusement parks in them. Also, every February is a shopping season in Medellin. Every single store marks downs their items and there are great bargains on not just clothes, but even furniture, electronics, and even groceries. Citizens of Medllin sometimes save up all year just to go shopping in February.
Medellin also offers a great deal of outdoor activities such as rafting, wind surfing, rock climbing, and the most popular of them all, hang gliding.
Medellin has endless activities for anyone to enjoy. Any tourist coming to Medellin should have no problem finding things to do on a daily basis. From shopping at all the different malls, to enjoying the seasonal fairs that take place throughout the year, Medellin will definitely give any tourist an experience that they will not forget and will leave them wanting more of this magnificent city.
WORKS CITED
1."Activities in Medellin." Activities in Medellin. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr.2013..
2. "Medellín." Discover Colombia RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. .
Anyone wanting to save some money and go to a park that is free of charge has many options in Medellin. One park is El Parque De Los Pies Descalzos the name of this park translates to the barefoot park. This is one of the most popular family friendly parks in Medellin. It consists of different types of textures on the ground so that your feet will feel the difference. With every different texture of ground also comes a different type of fountain to soak your feet in. Overall, it is a great place to go with the family to spend a couple of hours. Another park is Cerro Nutivara as colombia.travel states "One of the seven hills of Medellin, offering spectacular views over most of the city. On top is a miniature replica of a paisa village. The vantage-points, restaurant and shops make this a perfect place to walk around and share." Cerro Nutivara is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Medellin to enjoy sight seeing, shopping, and eating Paisan cuisine.
Paisans love fairs and carnivals and almost every month of the year there will be a big event taking place. Tourists should consider taking their trip to Medellin in August solely for the purpose of visiting La Feria De Las Flores. Translating to Festival of the Flowers, this is the most important social event for the city. "Tourists arrive to the city from all parts of the world including the USA, Australia and Europe just to witness the special attractions that include a trail ride through town on horses, orchid competition, music festivals, and parade of silleteros. This flower festival is as much a part of Medellin’s cultural identity as the 4th of July is for the USA." (discovercolombia.com)
For the club goers, there is fun to be had all night long. "The Zona Rosa, or main nightlife district, in Medellin is called Parque Lleras. There you’ll find tons of bars, restaurants, and clubs. The music in any given club is usually crossover, which entails a mix of salsa, merengue, vallenato, bachata, and reggaeton music. There are a few rock bars and electronic music clubs if you’re not a fan of Latin music." (nomadicsamuel.com) Medellin is a city that never sleeps and although that neighborhood is the most popular one for nightlife, many other places in Medellin are great to party in.
When shopping in Medellin, the possibilities are endless. There are malls in every district of Medellin, most of them with movie theaters and amusement parks in them. Also, every February is a shopping season in Medellin. Every single store marks downs their items and there are great bargains on not just clothes, but even furniture, electronics, and even groceries. Citizens of Medllin sometimes save up all year just to go shopping in February.
Medellin also offers a great deal of outdoor activities such as rafting, wind surfing, rock climbing, and the most popular of them all, hang gliding.
Medellin has endless activities for anyone to enjoy. Any tourist coming to Medellin should have no problem finding things to do on a daily basis. From shopping at all the different malls, to enjoying the seasonal fairs that take place throughout the year, Medellin will definitely give any tourist an experience that they will not forget and will leave them wanting more of this magnificent city.
WORKS CITED
1."Activities in Medellin." Activities in Medellin. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr.2013.
Paisa Cuisine
The definition of a Paisa is someone who is born in the city of Medellin in Colombia. Paisas are well known in Colombia for their kindness and welcoming attitude towards foreigners. The traditional food in Medellin is something that everyone that ever visits the city should experience. It absolutely gives a flavor of what Medellin is about and every ingredient in the platter represents an aspect of Medellin. The most popular dish is called La Bandeja Paisa (Paisan platter).
This dish is famously known for the generous amount of food that it contains and the assortment of food in it. In the book, Secrets of Colombian Cooking by Patricia McCausland Gallo, she describes the typical ingredients in La Bandeja Paisa: "red beans, pork, white rice, ground meat, chicharron, fried egg, fried plantain, chorizo, arepa, hogao sauce, black pudding, and avocado, all make for the delicious Paisan Platter, the most typical dish in Medellin." La Bandeja Paisa must have all of these 13 ingredients to be considered legitimate. Make sure you are very hungry before even attempting to devour La Bandeja Paisa. The dish has to be served in a platter, because of its large size, hence the word bandeja. This is because it contains so much food that it would not fit in a dish unless the proportions were cut down. Unfortunately for the picky eaters, that would be insulting to any citizen of Medellin. Colombians all tend to eat in large proportions, and will get insulted if a guest does not eat absolutely everything on their plate.
La Bandeja Paisa is influenced by several cultures that have been in Colombia throughout its existence. Some of these influences are the indigenous people of Colombia, Africans, French, and British, and of course, the colonial Spaniards. Something that makes the platter so special is the juxtaposition of Native American and European ingredients that display all of the different cultures that have influenced everything Medellin is now.
Most would probably agree that the most important ingredient in La Bandeja Paisa is the beans. The beans take the most work to prepare, considering that they have to be left overnight to soak."Leave the beans to soak overnight in cold water. Allow time for soaking the beans, cook them in the soaking water with a tablespoon of oil and when they are half cooked, season with salt to taste. Heat a tablespoon oil in a pan, add the mince and fry. Add half the hogao, stir with a wooden spoon and fry for a few minutes. Cut the bacon into pieces and fry in drippings until they become greaves. When the beans are cooked, add the remaining hogao and cook for 5-minutes." (Guiatodo.com) The entire recipe to La Bandeja Paisa throughly explained can be found on this website.Bandeja PaisaAs this website explains, the process of cooking the beans can be tedious work. Also, the beans are the biggest symbol of Paisan culture, because it is a dish that Colombians consume on a daily basis. Whether its added to La Bandeja Paisa or by itself, Colombians eat beans regularly, and when they are added to the platter they give a foreigner an idea of what Paisans taste everyday.
La Bandeja Paisa is obviously something that anyone traveling to Medellin has to taste. It gives an authentic experience to everything Medellin is. The various types of ingredients included in the platter portray all of the different cultures that have influenced Medellin, and the tremendous amount of food is seen as a symbol of Paisan hospitality because the people of Medellin are always willing to give a lot, even to foreigners.
Catrillon, Erika. Como Preparar La Bandeja Paisa. 2013. Photograph. Medellin.
WORKS CITED
1."BANDEJA PAISA." Mapa Turistico, Comercial Y Cultural En Bogota, Cartagena Y Medellin Colomb. N.p.,n.d. Web. 10 Apr.2013..
2. McCausland-Gallo, Patricia. Secrets of Colombian Cooking. New York: Hippocrene, 2004. Print.
This dish is famously known for the generous amount of food that it contains and the assortment of food in it. In the book, Secrets of Colombian Cooking by Patricia McCausland Gallo, she describes the typical ingredients in La Bandeja Paisa: "red beans, pork, white rice, ground meat, chicharron, fried egg, fried plantain, chorizo, arepa, hogao sauce, black pudding, and avocado, all make for the delicious Paisan Platter, the most typical dish in Medellin." La Bandeja Paisa must have all of these 13 ingredients to be considered legitimate. Make sure you are very hungry before even attempting to devour La Bandeja Paisa. The dish has to be served in a platter, because of its large size, hence the word bandeja. This is because it contains so much food that it would not fit in a dish unless the proportions were cut down. Unfortunately for the picky eaters, that would be insulting to any citizen of Medellin. Colombians all tend to eat in large proportions, and will get insulted if a guest does not eat absolutely everything on their plate.
La Bandeja Paisa is influenced by several cultures that have been in Colombia throughout its existence. Some of these influences are the indigenous people of Colombia, Africans, French, and British, and of course, the colonial Spaniards. Something that makes the platter so special is the juxtaposition of Native American and European ingredients that display all of the different cultures that have influenced everything Medellin is now.
Most would probably agree that the most important ingredient in La Bandeja Paisa is the beans. The beans take the most work to prepare, considering that they have to be left overnight to soak."Leave the beans to soak overnight in cold water. Allow time for soaking the beans, cook them in the soaking water with a tablespoon of oil and when they are half cooked, season with salt to taste. Heat a tablespoon oil in a pan, add the mince and fry. Add half the hogao, stir with a wooden spoon and fry for a few minutes. Cut the bacon into pieces and fry in drippings until they become greaves. When the beans are cooked, add the remaining hogao and cook for 5-minutes." (Guiatodo.com) The entire recipe to La Bandeja Paisa throughly explained can be found on this website.Bandeja PaisaAs this website explains, the process of cooking the beans can be tedious work. Also, the beans are the biggest symbol of Paisan culture, because it is a dish that Colombians consume on a daily basis. Whether its added to La Bandeja Paisa or by itself, Colombians eat beans regularly, and when they are added to the platter they give a foreigner an idea of what Paisans taste everyday.
La Bandeja Paisa is obviously something that anyone traveling to Medellin has to taste. It gives an authentic experience to everything Medellin is. The various types of ingredients included in the platter portray all of the different cultures that have influenced Medellin, and the tremendous amount of food is seen as a symbol of Paisan hospitality because the people of Medellin are always willing to give a lot, even to foreigners.
Catrillon, Erika. Como Preparar La Bandeja Paisa. 2013. Photograph. Medellin.
WORKS CITED
1."BANDEJA PAISA." Mapa Turistico, Comercial Y Cultural En Bogota, Cartagena Y Medellin Colomb. N.p.,n.d. Web. 10 Apr.2013.
2. McCausland-Gallo, Patricia. Secrets of Colombian Cooking. New York: Hippocrene, 2004. Print.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Medellin: The most innovative city of the world
In 2012, Citi and the Marketing Services Department of WSJ. Magazine teamed up with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to determine which city— wherever in the world— deserved the title “Innovative City of the Year". Medellin, the second largest city in Colombia won the contest, managing to beat New York City.
Medellin has been best known for the progress that it has been making throughout the years. The biggest innovation Medellin has seen is the unique system of public transportation. Gondolas, and a giant escalator now transport Medellin's citizens everywhere they need to go, cutting travel time by hours and reducing air pollution. In addition to the magnificent system of transportation, the city has built new libraries, cultural centers, parks, and schools in some of the poorer neighborhoods, promoting social equality. Medellin managed to accomplish this through the support of its citizens. Transportation projects are financed through public-private partnerships; engineering firms have designed public buildings for free, and most importantly, the city has participatory budgeting, meaning that the citizens get to decide what the priorities are for the city, and how the budget should be used on them. Medellin's innovations are definitely all due to its citizens, who want nothing more than to improve their city.
According to the Huffington Post,"When Colombians come together there is little they can do." Judging by the tremendous effort that the citizens of Medellin have put forward in order to make the city a better place, this statement is completely correct. Medellin has come a long way throughout the years, and this would not be possible without the support of everyone living in the city. Known by Colombians as ‘The City of the Eternal Spring,’ Medellin was chosen for its progress, potential, rich culture and impressive strides in urban development. This is something that all of the citizens of Medellin can be proud of, something they all accomplished together.
When Medellin is mentioned around the world, most people think of the past violence and drug history. They fail to think about how far Medellin has come since then and think things are still the same. Hopefully now that Medellin has been named the most innovative city of the world, people can look past that, and see that Medellin is an amazing city full of decent hard working people who are sick of the stereotypes and want the world to experience Medellin the same way they do. This is recognized by the International Business Times who states, "Colombia’s second-largest city, Medellin, is aiming to overcome a lingering reputation as a center of drug trafficking and is billing itself as a modernizing and increasingly safe place." Medellin has long begun its' transformation, making people recognize that the city has potential for long lasting success. The city has been putting in hard work to regain its reputation and recover from the past, and it is very evident that they have achieved this. "Medellin’s homicide rate dropped nearly 80 percent between 1991 and 2010, a statistic which it cited as proof of the city’s progress in public security." (IB Times). Public security has also improved because of the gondolas, which take your picture the minute you step inside. This has helped authorities see who exactly has been in certain places, helping to stop crime and drive out gang activity. The fact that Medellin built most of its new buildings in the poorer neighborhoods also helps to stop the crime, and secure the people living in poverty. Medellin having been named the most innovative city of the world not only strengthened the city. It bought the community together as a whole, ensuring that no neighborhood was left out in the transformations. Medellin is now an even more beautiful city, making it an appealing place to outsiders.
Dale, Steven. Gondola Revolution. 2013. Photograph. Medellin, Medellin.
WORKS CITED
1. "City of the Year." WSJ Magazine. Citi, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013..
3. International Business Times. Ryan Villareal. 05 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2013..
3. Moreno, Carolina. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 02 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2013..
Medellin has been best known for the progress that it has been making throughout the years. The biggest innovation Medellin has seen is the unique system of public transportation. Gondolas, and a giant escalator now transport Medellin's citizens everywhere they need to go, cutting travel time by hours and reducing air pollution. In addition to the magnificent system of transportation, the city has built new libraries, cultural centers, parks, and schools in some of the poorer neighborhoods, promoting social equality. Medellin managed to accomplish this through the support of its citizens. Transportation projects are financed through public-private partnerships; engineering firms have designed public buildings for free, and most importantly, the city has participatory budgeting, meaning that the citizens get to decide what the priorities are for the city, and how the budget should be used on them. Medellin's innovations are definitely all due to its citizens, who want nothing more than to improve their city.
According to the Huffington Post,"When Colombians come together there is little they can do." Judging by the tremendous effort that the citizens of Medellin have put forward in order to make the city a better place, this statement is completely correct. Medellin has come a long way throughout the years, and this would not be possible without the support of everyone living in the city. Known by Colombians as ‘The City of the Eternal Spring,’ Medellin was chosen for its progress, potential, rich culture and impressive strides in urban development. This is something that all of the citizens of Medellin can be proud of, something they all accomplished together.
When Medellin is mentioned around the world, most people think of the past violence and drug history. They fail to think about how far Medellin has come since then and think things are still the same. Hopefully now that Medellin has been named the most innovative city of the world, people can look past that, and see that Medellin is an amazing city full of decent hard working people who are sick of the stereotypes and want the world to experience Medellin the same way they do. This is recognized by the International Business Times who states, "Colombia’s second-largest city, Medellin, is aiming to overcome a lingering reputation as a center of drug trafficking and is billing itself as a modernizing and increasingly safe place." Medellin has long begun its' transformation, making people recognize that the city has potential for long lasting success. The city has been putting in hard work to regain its reputation and recover from the past, and it is very evident that they have achieved this. "Medellin’s homicide rate dropped nearly 80 percent between 1991 and 2010, a statistic which it cited as proof of the city’s progress in public security." (IB Times). Public security has also improved because of the gondolas, which take your picture the minute you step inside. This has helped authorities see who exactly has been in certain places, helping to stop crime and drive out gang activity. The fact that Medellin built most of its new buildings in the poorer neighborhoods also helps to stop the crime, and secure the people living in poverty. Medellin having been named the most innovative city of the world not only strengthened the city. It bought the community together as a whole, ensuring that no neighborhood was left out in the transformations. Medellin is now an even more beautiful city, making it an appealing place to outsiders.
Dale, Steven. Gondola Revolution. 2013. Photograph. Medellin, Medellin.
WORKS CITED
1. "City of the Year." WSJ Magazine. Citi, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.
3. International Business Times. Ryan Villareal. 05 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
3. Moreno, Carolina. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 02 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
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