Day 7- Medellin

Since Erin has been blogging thus far, I thought it was time for my voice to be heard. First things first- I did not encourage the purchase of those pants....

Now on to our first full day in Medellin. The day started with Erin suggesting we do barre on the roof of our hotel at 6:45am

We lasted 10 minutes before we made our way to the breakfast buffet. This is why we need to pay people at bfit barre to make us workout.

Next it was on to Botero plaza via the metro (it's super easy and just like DC- minus the overcrowding, delays, and smartrip cards).

Fernando Botero is a famous figurative artist from Medellin. He has trademarked "boterism" which essentially means he makes everything and everyone he paints fat.

"I fatten my characters to give them sensuality. I'm not interested in fat people for the sake of fat people" - Fernando Botero.

Botero plaza has about a dozen sculptures of larger than life voluminous men, women, and even dogs. This all leads to the Museum Antioquia which displays quite a bit of his work that he generously donated.

This is titled "Pablo Escobar Dead(2006)"

Conveniently located next the museum is the Rafael Uribe Palace of Culture. It sounds cooler than it Is. It is home to Colombia's historical archives and an art gallery. Strangely there were what seemed to be students running through the building with wigs/weaves in their hands. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo, but here's a cute one of Erin in front of something historical looking.

We hopped on the metro again and then a cable car going up a giant mountain. Many of Medellin's poorer neighborhoods are located in the hillside. Until the cable cars opened, it could take people two hours to get to work. Today, it's only minutes. The houses are all made of the same pink colored brick and tin roofs, giving Medellin the name "the pink city."

On to the Parque Explora. We stumbled upon it when we were starving and saw people with food. We paid a $10 entrance fee, not entirely sure what is was for other than access to a cafeteria, and were pleasantly surprised. First off, there was a lunch option other than potatoes and meat! Lunch was pollo a la plancha and beans.

Since we've been in Colombia, we've met only 3 english speakers. While in the museum, someone overhears us and says "oh, you guys speak English?" We started chatting and ask him where he's from. "California." Where? "Los Angeles." Where? "Torrance?" I mean, fo' realz?!  

The whole museum was very interactive and turned into a competition between myself and Erin.

I beat Erin at the longest stretch

We tied for who could jump the highest

That's Erin in a giant version of that cool needle contraption that held your imprint.

There was some lesson about centrifugal force but it was in Spanish threfore lost on me. So much fun though!

The museum also had an aquarium.

Next was the botanical gardens. The highlight was Erin's purchase of mango strips with honey, lime, salt and pepper.

After an exhausting day, we came back to our glorious hotel, and we ate street empanadas so fast we forgot to take a picture.