Colombia (February-March 2018): Medellin and Santa Fe de Antioquia
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Medellin has been the capital of the province of Antioquia since 1826. It was built in a deep narrow valley (the Aburra valley), but it is now sprawling high, much above the valley floor, on the valley′s eastern and western slopes. It is a modern city with an extensive Metro network. In contrast, Santa Fe de Antioquia, the former capital of the province until 1826, is a sleepy colonial town somewhat frozen in time.
Medellin:
Some of the bronze statues of Fernando Botero displayed in Plazoleta de las Esculturas.
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Musicians (Paisas playing bambuca, traditional Colombian folk music) in Central Medellin.
Street vendors in Central Medellin.
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As Medellin is built in a narrow valley, traffic can be extremely slow. Not surprisingly, its modern Metro is highly popular.
The Metro runs an unusual sequence of three cable car lines (Metrocable) that service neighborhoods on the eastern slopes of the city. The last line gives access to Parque Arvi (a natural reserve with a network of hiking trails) far above the valley floor and its pollution.
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Streets outside an intermediate station.
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Further up.
Santa Fe de Antioquia:
Typical facades and windows.
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Plaza Mayor Simon Bolivar with the fountain Fuente de la Garza (first two photos below) and the cathedral (second and third photos).
People on Plaza Mayor Simon Bolivar.
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Pictures of famous people when Santa Fe was the capital of Antioquia displayed on a wall of Calle 10.
Poems of Jorge Robledo Ortiz, a famous Colombian poet born in Santa Fe de Antioquia in 1917, displayed on a wall near his birthplace.
Iglesia de Santa Barbara, built by Jesuits in the mid 1700′s
Templo de Nuestra Senora
de Chiquinquira, built in the 1860′s.
Tantos dulces...with the famous pulpa de tamarindo.
