Medellin

We had no idea what to expect from Medellin, we had heard it was worth visiting so we decided to give it a try and Im so glad we did. It was surprisingly very tropical and at times it felt like we were living in a jungle. They have a saying that you can get all the season in one day and they are not kidding. It will be very cold in the morning by the afternoon you start to peel off your layers then your hit by a rain shower then hot again then cold again. 

I would definitely advise doing walking tours, if you dont know the area its very easy to get lost and end up in a very dangerous part of the city. 

There are many coffee tours and chocolate plantation tours offered, dont know

when we would ever get to do them again so we signed up for both. We went through Medellin Day Trips with Gilberto Gonzalez, he spoke perfect English and offered a lot of different tour option. 

walking tour where we could not say the name Pablo Escobar
we had to use code word Voldemort. There are still too many people that were hurt by him and dont like to hear his name. 

delicious fresh cane juice

This is Plaza Cisneros, once a derelict square which would have been avoided by locals now has been changed through art. 300 light masts that are over 72 feet tall were installed. It is still advised to hide your cell phones, purses and wallets.

old government building now a beautiful mall with loads of knock-off brands

                                  Iglesia de la veracruz where prostitutes stand in 

front of  church and wait for customers

local park, bird on left got bombed, artist sent another one, they kept both as a reminder of what they have been through

a must have souvenir 

Part of our coffee tour was a fruit tour, we were taken to a 

market where locals go to buy fruits

interesting blue powder, dont know what it was used for, our tour 

guide didnt even know

Tour of Guatape Rock where you climb 700 steps to the top. At the top there are some vendors selling water, ice cream, beer. All items had to be taken up the 700 steps!

view from the top

Next we were taken to the town of Zocalos which is the most colorful and picturesque towns in Colombia. 

On to a coffee plantation tour

We learned how to pick the berries

drying the beans

 

taking some home

on left is a guy from the UK who imports their coffee on right is their packaging

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Next day we went to visit a chocolate plantation

This is Oscar who is passionate about chocolate

I was surprised how delicious and sweet the white pulp is

we got to harvest our own bean

he roasts the old fashion way

we are getting there

be bought loads to bring home

Oscars wife cooked us a delicious treat, croquettes with hot chocolate