Sounds and Colours Presents: Colombia

Sounds and Colours Presents: Colombia Collectable book and CD focusing on the incredible music and culture of Colombia This summer Sounds and Colours - a UK-based South American music and culture website - is launching it's first ever print edition, focusing on the music and culture of Colombia. http://www.soundsandcolours.com/ Keen to banish existing stereotypes, this collectable book and accompanying CD takes a fresh look at the country’s music and culture, with articles on established genres like cumbia and vallenato, as well as lesser-known folk rhythms and traditions. It also delves into the current music scene and the ways in which Colombian music has influenced artists worldwide. There will also be features on Colombian cinema, Circo Para Todos, indigenous culture, alternative tourist destinations, Barranquilla Carnival, and lots more. See 'The Contents' below for full details. We've been working on this content all year, doing research into some of the most interesting cultural aspects of Colombia, as well as speaking to collaborators and writers to work on the content, with the aim of bringing you something unique and insightful. Sounds and Colours Presents Colombia will be: • a thoroughly-researched, passionately-written 208-page book/magazine looking at the music, film, arts and culture of Colombia, • a valuable resource for anyone interested in Colombia and its culture, • a reflection on both alternative and popular culture from the country, • a multimedia publication incorporating articles, photographs and illustrations in the print publication, as well as online platforms featuring exclusive music and resources. Why Colombia? Colombia is the perfect starting point for what we hope to be a series of Sounds and Colours Print Editions. It's a country that seems condemned to sterotypes, yet if you've been to Colombia you'll know that it is one of the friendliest and most beautiful countries in the world. And - importantly for us - it is a country full of culture. What Is Needed Quite simply we are aiming to make enough money to print 1,000 copies of the book, all of which will come with an accompanying CD of new Colombian music produced by our good friends at Movimientos: listen to their Colombia radio special here. http://soasradio.org/content/movimientos-nuevo-colombia This accounts for $4,000 of our funding goal. The remaining $500 will go towards paying a number of Colombian artists and illustrators for their artwork. For more information: Sounds And Colour

Welcome to Medellin, Colombia

Discover the transformation of Medellin, Colombia
www.medellintraveler.com

New Video: This is Colombia

A great video to promote tourism in the wonderful country of Colombia.

Official Video: EXPEDICIÓN CÓNDOR DE LOS ANDES
Esto es Colombia
With Mary Hellen y Kiño
Directed by: Jorge Roldan y Felipe López "Pope"
4 Producciones -- Señalcolombia

La Colombiana Trailer

Zoe Saldana is la Colombiana

COLOMBIANA
A young woman grows up to be a stone-cold assassin after witnessing her parents' murder as a child in Bogota. She works for her uncle as a hitman by day, but her personal time is spent engaging in vigilante murders that she hopes will lead her to her ultimate target - the mobster responsible for her parents' death.



Colombian movie trailer

New Pablo Escobar Feature Takes Flight

The Life and Death of Pablo Escobar, Medellin Cartel Godfather

"This is the Latino 'Godfather'," producer Scott Steindorff tells THR.

A new take on notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar is on its way to the big screen.

Brad Furman, who directed the spring hit The Lincoln Lawyer, is in negotiations to direct the untitled feature, while Matt Aldrich, who made a big splash in May when his spec Father Daughter Time: A Tale of Armed Robbery and Eskimo Kisses sold to Warner Bros., is writing the script.

Scott Steindorff, most recently a producer on The Lincoln Lawyer, is producing via his Stone Village Pictures.

The life of Escobar, the charismatic and murderous Colombian blood lord, has long captivated Hollywood. In recent years there were two competing projects: Escobar, which Oliver Stone was developing, and Killing Pablo, based on a Mark Bowden book, with Joe Carnahan attached to direct. Both movies have since been put on hold.

The Hollywood Reporter (complete article.)

Colombian salsa singer Arroyo dies

Colombian salsa singer Joe Arroyo

Famed Colombian singer Joe Arroyo, composer of such salsa classics as La Rebelion and Echao pa'lante and Tania. died Tuesday after a monthlong hospitalization. He was 55.

The singer, whose given name was Alvaro Jose Arroyo, died at a hospital in Barranquilla, where he was being treated for hypertension and fluid in his lungs, his manager, Luis Ojeda, told The Associated Press.

Arroyo composed some 200 songs and performed with artists including Celia Cruz and Shakira.

He first appeared in the 1970s with the orchestra Fruko y sus Tesos, and formed his own band in Medellin in 1981 called La Verdad. Two years later, he moved to Barranquilla. (complete article.)

Colombiana Trailer 2011

COLOMBIANA - 2011
A young woman grows up to be a stone-cold assassin after witnessing her parents' murder as a child in Bogota. She works for her uncle as a hitman by day, but her personal time is spent engaging in vigilante murders that she hopes will lead her to her ultimate target - the mobster responsible for her parents' death.

Sony Pictures presents Colombiana, which stars Avatar's Zoe Saldana as a stone-cold assassin. It's directed by Olivier Megaton. Colombiana movie was written by the Taken team of Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen.

Now Available: Exclusive Pablo Escobar Tours

The late kingpin of the Medellin Cartel, Pablo Escobar, gained notoriety in the 1980s as the world’s most successful drug trafficker, responsible for building a billion-dollar global drug market.


Pablo Escobar with his son in front of the White House while on a family vacation in the USA

At the height of his power, Forbes ranked him as the world’s 7th richest man in 1989. Thousands died on his orders: torture, drive-by shootings and car bombs were his favorite methods of terror throughout Colombia. Despite the gruesome tactics he employed in eliminating his adversaries, Escobar has remains a hero to many Colombians, considered by many as a modern-day Robin Hood who donated millions of dollars to the poorest population living high above in the hillside shanty towns in Medellín.

The Pablo Escobar Tour is authorized by the Escobar family

Our travel guide has been a long-life family friend of the Escobar family. Guest in Roberto's home will be able to ask questions as well as take photos with one of the last original members of the infamous Medellín Cartel.

Information on the Pablo Escobar Tours (click here)

"Pablo Is Gone" Documentary in Medellin

Director Paola Perez will present a free screening of her new documentary "Pablo Is Gone" in Medellin's Santo Domingo barrio.

The film was produced with the help of many of the local children who live in some of poorest areas in Medellin where the movie was made.

Event: Special Screening of "Pablo Is Gone."
Date: May 14
Time: 10:00 am
Where: Santo Domingo Savio - Auditorio Parque Biblioteca Espana
Contact: 385 75 99



"Pablo Is Gone" official trailer

Medellín's Architectural Renaissance

Young designers, encouraged by forward-thinking leaders, have created notable works in some of the city's poorest areas.

By Christopher Hawthorne, Los Angeles Times Architecture Critic



Over the last two or three years, a steady buzz has been building in architecture and design circles about developments in this city of 3.5 million, which through much of the 1980s and 1990s was infamous for its sky-high crime rate and viciously competitive narco cartels, including a particularly violent one led by Pablo Escobar.

Architects and urban planners who traveled to Medellín seemed to return telling some version of the same enthusiastic story about the renaissance taking place in Colombia's second-largest city, which has been driven in large part by investment in ambitious civic architecture.

After spending nearly a week in the city in late March, I'm happy to say I've joined the ranks of the Medellín evangelists. The city's commitment to public architecture, spearheaded by former mayor Sergio Fajardo, has — as advertised — produced a number of exquisitely designed libraries, schools and parks. Rising in some of Medellín's roughest neighborhoods, these projects are the capstones of a broader civic rebirth that has seen murder rates tumble nearly 90% from their highs of the early 1990s. Even the tourism business here has begun to make a fragile recovery.

It quickly became clear during my visit what contemporary architecture has meant for Medellín — for its civic identity, in particular, as well as for its long-battered international reputation. And yet the more of the city I was able to see, the more it struck me that an equally important set of lessons might be found by reversing that equation, by exploring what Medellín and its revival mean for contemporary architecture.

The architecture profession finds itself sharply divided these days into two camps, one concerned with experimental, often digitally driven design and the other primarily committed to social and environmental activism. The high-design architects sniff that the humanitarians are terrible designers, or at least unimaginative ones, while the humanitarians complain that the high-design architects are trapped in a hermetic onscreen world with little concern for the fate of overcrowded slums or a degraded planet.

Medellín is one of the few cities where these two very different sets of priorities have come seamlessly together — where buildings meant to uplift poor neighborhoods and offer residents a new range of social services are also strikingly inventive as works of architecture. In that sense its hard-won improvements are meaningful not just for its own residents but for architects and planners elsewhere, even if they never have the chance to set foot in Medellín.

The city's revival has its roots in the unorthodox approach of Fajardo, an energetic, charismatic former math professor who was elected mayor in 2003 despite a thin political resume. Not long after taking office, he and Alejandro Echeverri, the mayor's director of urban projects and an architect in his own right, pinpointed several districts in Medellín they thought would benefit from inventive and public-minded architecture. They were inspired, they've since said, by the way certain Barcelona neighborhoods were revived in advance of the 1992 Summer Olympics, as well some positive examples from Brazilian cities.

Their nascent efforts were aided by anti-corruption laws passed at the national level by the government of President Alvaro Uribe, including provisions requiring design competitions for nearly all sizable new public buildings.

Because the budgets for city projects in Medellín tend to be quite low by international standards, these competitions have drawn mostly Colombian architects, along with a handful from nearby Latin American countries. That fact alone is responsible for one of most unusual elements of the Medellín renaissance: In an age of globe-trotting celebrity architects, it has been propelled almost entirely by local firms. The city's new image has been sketched not by Zaha Hadid or Richard Meier but by small offices based in Medellín or the Colombian capital, Bogotá.

Under Fajardo's successor as mayor, Alonso Salazar, the city has continued to produce ambitious new architecture, including extensive new facilities for the South American Games, which were held in Medellín in March. A notable number of recent design-competition winners have been firms run by young architects; the impressive swimming complex for the Games, for example, was designed by a firm called Paisajes Emergentes, or Emerging Landscapes, whose founders are still in their 20s. Ctrl G, a local firm that in conjunction with Peruvian office 51-1 Architects recently won a competition for an eye-catching addition to the Medellín Museum of Modern Art, is run by a pair of female architects, Viviana Peña and Catalina Patiño, who also have yet to turn 30.

Perhaps most striking of all, Medellín's new landmarks have largely been built in the city's most violent and downtrodden neighborhoods, reflecting one of Fajardo's simplest — and most provocative — policy goals.

"Our most beautiful buildings," he liked to say, "must be in our poorest areas."



The best known among those projects is probably the Parque Biblioteca España, or Spanish Park and Library. Designed by the Bogotá-based architect Giancarlo Mazzanti, it is perched atop a crowded hillside neighborhood called Santo Domingo, which was particularly hard hit by the violence of the 1980s and '90s. Made up of three chiseled, rock-like forms sheathed in black slate, the library is one of a half-dozen complexes initiated by Fajardo's administration that combine new libraries with substantial park space.

Another remarkable achievement is the open-air Orquideorama, or orchid center, which sits inside Medellín's Botanical Garden and was designed by Plan B Architects, which is led by 34-year-old architect Felipe Mesa, and the firm JPRCR. It creates a large, shaded plaza under a spreading, wood-lattice canopy and also includes a handful of small, spare buildings for the botanical garden staff. Rainwater collected atop the canopy is funneled down through each of the design's trunk-like forms to sustain small gardens on the ground.

Plan B also won a competition for the centerpiece of the South American Games, a connected series of gymnasiums beneath a roof made of undulating green panels.

These new landmarks are not isolated works of architecture. In many cases they were built in conjunction with new roads, schools and transit lines — and as a physical extension of social programs meant to draw families once terrified by violence in their neighborhoods back out into public life. Fajardo — who is now running for the vice-presidency of Colombia, with national voting set for May 30 — has called the approach "social urbanism."

Some of the poorest and most remote areas in Medellín, where public buses have trouble navigating narrow dirt streets, are now served by a pair of so-called metro-cable lines — essentially, an urban version of the gondola systems in operation at many ski resorts — that carry residents to and from the city's main light-rail line. It is incongruous, to say the least, to see the metro-cable's suspended gondolas, which we tend to associate with alpine scenes and high-priced lift tickets, gliding just a few feet over the handmade houses that cling to many of Medellín's steepest hillsides.

Medellín's new architecture has hardly been a cure-all. The poverty in the city's toughest neighborhoods remains extreme, and in recent months there has been a disturbing uptick in violence — so much so that some of the Medellín architects I met expressed concern about taking me to visit their projects in rougher areas, even during the day.

Still, by nearly all accounts, the libraries and other new public buildings remain popular and well-used by local residents. And for designers, critics and curators outside of Colombia, the Medellín story — and what that story says in a larger sense about shifting priorities in the architecture profession — continues to be an inspiration. Fajardo and Echeverri were winners last year of the Curry Stone Design Prize, a new award based at the University of Kentucky that seeks to recognize architects and policymakers "who harness their ingenuity and craft for social good."

When the National Design Triennial opens later this week at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York, it will include a pair of projects from Medellín: Plan B's Orquideorama and a science museum designed by Echeverri. The designs were selected for the exhibition by Matilda McQuaid, Cooper-Hewitt's deputy curatorial director, who traveled to Colombia last year. Medellín, she told me, "is a model of how a city can be transformed when architecture and social policy work in tandem."

In October, the Museum of Modern Art in New York will open an ambitious exhibition on similar themes called "Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement," which collects a number of recent examples of humanitarian design from around the world.

Medellín, in the end, is more than an isolated urban success story or an example of a city that has managed to bridge contemporary architecture's great divide. It also offers a timely model for Los Angeles and other cities that have long turned almost exclusively to New York and Europe for ideas about how architecture ought to look — and how cities ought to operate.

Just as Gustavo Dudamel, the 29-year-old Venezuelan conductor, has brought fresh energy and a new sense of social commitment to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, so Medellín and other successful examples of Latin American city-making have a role to play in helping Los Angeles reimagine its future.

For American cities and their leaders, what Medellín symbolizes most clearly of all is what we stand to gain by looking south as well as east — and to poor countries, when it makes sense, along with wealthy ones — for cultural inspiration.

christopher.hawthorne@latimes.com

Medellin Trip Report

Medellin Colombia — After I win the Powerball drawing tonight, I think I might just pack up my belongings and move to Medellin Colombia.

Though the city was being labelled as "the most dangerous place on Earth" just a mere 8 years ago, it's a totally different place today. Thanks to VERY aggressive action by the Colombian government against FARC rebels, narcotrafficking crime organizations, and various paramilitary splinter groups, Colombia has become a FAR safer place for its citizens and for visiting foreigners. Nowhere is that change more apparent than in Medellin.

Today, Medellin life is as tranquil as any good-sized city of 2.5 million inhabitants anywhere else in the world. The arts community is surprisingly strong and there's wonderful nightlife with live music clubs, experimental theatre groups in the city center, large glitzy modern shopping malls for the consumers of the world, and a remarkably clean, modern, quiet Metro system that makes getting around easy and affordable.

Medellin does something with their Metro system that I've never seen done anywhere else in the world --- they incorporate cable cars into the mass transit network. This makes sense, given that the city lies in a valley, with rugged mountain peaks on all side (and with communities up in the hills, and on other sides of the mountains). They call the cable car system "Metrocable" and the cable cars connect seemlessly to the Metro trains (no extra cost either). Metrocable is great for the locals, but tourists love it too because you get wonderful views from up on the cables, plus its one of those things you just can't do anyplace else.

I highly recommend taking a good half day to fully explore the excellent Museo de Antioquia. It's an art museum, and a darn good one, focusing on Medellin's favorite local artist: Fernando Botero. I just LOVE Botero's works because he's got an apparent innocence to his style that belies his ability to cut deeply to the core themes that make human beings human. He's sometimes dismissed as "that artist who paints fat people", but his focus on using fat people helps him avoid the insignificant attention paid to physical appearance while focusing more tightly on actions, emotions, and values --- things that are sometimes harder to do in a purely visual medium. Most of the 4th floor of the museum is dedicated to its collection of Botero works, and there are galleries on the 3rd and 2nd floors with international contemporary artworks (many collected by Botero himself). The first floor has a gift shop and special exhibits --- they're currently doing an exhibit on Spain, which is excellent.

Getting to Medellin is easy. There's 2 airports: MDE is the international airport, located about 30 miles from downtown in the town of Rionegro --- it handles all large jet traffic. The smaller domestic airport, Olaya Herrera (EOH), is just off the main autopista near the upscale Poblado section of town. It's mondo convenient but only handles smaller regional aircraft (lots of turboprops and regional jets).

For nightlife, you have many options. There's small, funky bars downtown where you can hear the most cutting edge music, though tourists will feel more comfortable in places like Parque Lleras, where the streets are chock-a-block full of upscale nightclubs, bars, elegant restaurants, and the HOTTEST women who ever walked the face of this planet. I had no idea there could be one spot on earth with so many women who looked like well-tanned, swimsuit models. Ssssss!

There's several festivals throughout the year. Medellin boasts about its fashion festival and its festival of flowers. During the Christmas season, drive along the road that parallels the Rio Medellin --- the city puts on the most elaborate lights display you can imagine, and the reflections off the water only intensify the effect...stunning! But if you've got a bit of blood lust in you, this time of year could be right up your alley because their Festivo Taurino Macarena is all about classic bull fights, and there's a bull-fight every weekend through at least the end of February. (One of these days, I'm convinced, the bull will win...)

Medellin today is a modern, attractive city with fun things to do and see, a blistering hot nightlife scene. I can't wait to go back!

Nice Place to Visit, but a GREAT Place to Live!

Report By mrkstvns from Austin, TX - USA

Colombian Travel Guide Forums: Sign Up Here

Medellín: Medical Tourism Destination

Medellín: The Spirit of Latin America
By Stephanie Falcone

The Medical Tourism Association hosted a Familiarization Tour to the everlasting place of spring time, Medellín, Colombia December 8th-12th 2009. Nine medical tourism facilitators, insurance companies and agents from the United States, Canada and the Caribbean explored the high quality of the healthcare system, accreditation, warmth and hospitality Medellín has to offer their patients.

Upon our arrival, after only a 3-hour flight from Miami we were immediately welcomed with open arms by representatives of the Medellín Healthcare Cluster. From the moment we stepped outside there was a sense of freedom and relaxation in the air. We came down through the forested locale to a breathtaking opening, where we were met by the astonishing view of the entire city of Medellín, revealing the radiant lights from the hillsides to the mountain tops. As we drove down the light-encrusted mountain it was easy to imagine how one might fall in love with this city.

The familiarization tour was sponsored by the Medellín Healthcare Cluster, organized with the goal of promoting Medellín as a competitive medical tourism destination. The Medellín Healthcare Cluster has set exceptionally high principles for applicants seeking Healthcare Cluster membership. All amenities must go through an intense application process and avowal to go through or apply for the Joint Commission International accreditation within the next two years to be accepted. The Familiarization Tour included visits to some of the top hospitals in Colombia such as: Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Pa l, Hospital General de Medellín, Clínica El Rosario, Centro Odontol g Congregaci n Mariana, Clinica Odontol gica Promta, Hospital Pablo Tob Uribe, Clinica Cardiovascular, and Clinica Oftalmolgica de Antioquia-Colfan. In addition, participants had the opportunity to visit State of the Art air-ambulance company SARPA.

The City of Lights
Colombia is located in South America bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama. Colombia is the only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and is persistently growing given the on-going development in domestic security since 2002. Medellín is the second largest city in Colombia, and Capital City of the State of Antioquia. With countless tourism activities for visitors, Medellín serves as a popular destination for international travelers. Medellín has breathtaking views of this magnificent city from every angle you may choose to look. During this time of year the city of Medellín hires 2,000 employees to string lights throughout the neighborhoods and countryside giving the city a magical feeling. The city gathers local traditions such as dancers, instrument players and multicolored characters as lights. Medellín created this project to attract international travelers, since most foreigners enjoy seeing unique places, food, and attractions while in another country. These lights are a tribute to the country demonstrating the most significant landscapes and icons from the region. Shortly after, the project was then implemented by other Latin American countries such as: Venezuela, Honduras, and Ecuador. Medellín began the renovation process in 2002, altering the aesthetic appearance of this beautiful city. Medellín is committed to position itself as one of the major players in the Health and Wellness sector of the Medical Tourism Industry. Between the years of 2005 and 2006, the number of foreigners visiting Medellín grew by 33.4%, from approximately 71, 000 to approximately 95,000 visitors, and grew another 20 % half way through 2007.

Local Cuisine
To start, one must sample the baked corn arepas (flat corn pancake) with butter and cheese alongside Colombian coffee. Colombian coffee is the ultimate desired beverage and is said to be the best in the world. Colombian coffee is primarily grown in Medellín, neighboring towns, and more mountainous areas such as Bogotá giving coffee a rich balanced flavor. Next, empanadas are a must have while in Colombia. Empanadas are typically made with shredded chicken, pork, beef, and ground meat but can be found filled with potato and vegetables; served with aji (hot sauce) and lime wedges on the side. In Colombia, empanadas are sold essentially everywhere in the city.

Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paul
Hospital Universitario San Vincente de Pa l is a non-profit private institution with 96 years of experience and great national and international recognition. Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Pa l offers 648 beds to the public and is a Colombian Leader in healthcare generating health research, specialists in high complexity care, and experienced leadership in transplants. The hospital has alliances with the main universities in Medellín for education and research purposes in the training of doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and social workers, management engineering and social communication schools. Some of the hospital specialties include Cardiovascular and Thoracic Unit, Oncology Unit, Bone Marrow Transplants and Orthopedics.

Oral Home
Oral Home is a 24/7 dental clinic catering to emergency cases and general services to the community. Oral Home is not only a dental clinic, but has integrated the wellness sector even into their basic services. Oral Home has a 24/7 emergency mobile service which assists many international patients in comfort and satisfaction. Oral Home is equipped with the most advanced technology providing excellent results.

Hospital General de Medellín
Hospital General de Medellín is the only public hospital in the entire Medellín Healthcare cluster. Hospital General de Medellín is equipped with 423 beds, which provides intermediate and adult critical care and pediatrics services. Among its many achievements Hospital General de Medellín has become the first public hospital of third level to achieve National Accreditation (accredited by ISQUA) by the Social Protection Ministry of Colombia. Hospital General Medellín was also ranked in the 20 best hospital and clinics of Latin-America, ranked by America Econmicas, and is also participating in the first phase for the International Accreditation with JCI Standards that was organized with International Quality Resources Health Accreditation. The mission of Hospital de General Medellín is a social enterprise of the state that provides health services up to high complexity levels. Such services focus on patient safety and provide affection, confidence and satisfaction while promoting high-quality and good environmental practices.

Clínica El Rosario
Clínica El Rosario is a prestigious non-profit institution of religious nature that belongs to the society of Dominican Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin of Tour. Clínica El Rosario is a 240 bed multi-functioning hospital with two headquarters in Medellín. Clínica El Rosario is a pioneer in healthcare with a mission to contribute to life and health recovery through a comprehensive secure, humane and differentiated service with specialized personal and excellent management that ensures value creation for the target social groups, economic sustainability and performance in time. Clínica El Rosario’s international specialty services consist of Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, Heart Value Surgery, and Radiology.

Centro Odontol g Congregaci n Mariana

Centro Odontol gico Congregaci n Mariana is a non-profit institution, with offices in the south and downtown areas of Medellín to provide general and specialized oral health to the public. Centro Odontol gico Congregaci n Mariana has a total of 16 rooms and three operating rooms. Aesthetic Dentistry, Oral Rehabilitation, and Dental Implants are the most sought after by international patients. Centro Odontol gico Congregaci n Mariana has a vision to consolidate in 2015 as the renowned oral health institution in the city for its technical quality and competitive pricing.

Clinica Odontol gica Promta
Clinica Odontol gica Promta has 21 years of experience providing the highest quality in comprehensive oral health services offering all dental specialties, with four clinics located strategically throughout Medellín. Clinica Odontol gica Promta serves 10,000 patients a month and has the capacity to treat 150 international patients, with 50 % of international patients being treated from the US and 35 % from Spain. Clinica Odontol gica is conveniently positioned only steps away from downtown hotels and only two blocks from popular international lodging.

Hospital Pablo Tob Uribe
Hospital Pablo Tob n Uribe is a non-profit institution with a mission to provide an incomparable complexity in the healthcare industry while contributing the most current scientific knowledge within a structure of Christian humanism. Hospital Pablo Tob n Uribe is the first and only hospital in Colombia to be both ISQUA accredited and receive the excellence institution certification of high complexity level of health in Colombia. Hospital Pablo Tob n Uribe is a 255-bed hospital specializing in Transplants, Advance Oncology, Palliative Care, Orthopedics, and Cosmetic Surgery.

Centro Cardiovascular Colombiano Cliníca Santa María
Since 1966, Centro Cardiovascular Colombiano Cliníca Santa María has treated patients with cardiovascular diseases in areas of prevention, diagnosis, invasive and surgical treatment. Centro Cardiovascular Colombiano Cliníca Santa María is another leader in Colombia healthcare, completing the first heart and lung transplant in Colombia and is a national and international reference center. Centro Cardiovascular Colombiano Cliníca Santa Mar a is committed to offering specialized services to its patients specializing in areas such as Angioplasty without Stent, Cardiac Value Replacement, Coronary Bypass Surgery, Cardiac Transplants and Hemodynamics. Centro Cardiovascular Colombiano Cliníca Santa María offers a total of 140 beds, 73 specialists, and has proven to be a leader with the highest quality standards in medicine.

Clinica Oftalmolgica de Antioquia-Colfan
Clinica Oftalmolgica de Antioquia-Colfan is modernly designed for all patients to receive the most proficient care and specializes in Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery, Refractive Surgery and Corneal Surgery for international patients. Clinica Oftalmolgica de Antioquia-Colfan has a total of 59 specialist physicians, allowing this innovative facility to receive additional international patients.
Servicios Aereos Panamericanos “SARPA”

Sarpa is a charter airline company with offices in both Medellín and Bogotá that offers charter services, air ambulance services, domestic and international flights including load and passenger transportation. Sarpa is the first and only Colombian entity certified by the Colombian Civil Aviation Authority. Sarpa has attended to international patients in countries such as Aruba, San Marteen, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador and many more. This air ambulance group has 25 specialists, five anesthesiologists and 10 emergency specialists for all adult general illness, trauma, pediatric and newborns. Sarpa goes over and beyond expectations with safe and dependable transportation when it is most needed with revolutionary technology and human warmth.

About The Author
Stephanie Falcone is Membership Coordinator, and involved in managing the Social Media & Marketing Department for the Medical Tourism Association. Stephanie provides recruitment, coordination and retention support for members of the MTA. In addition, she supports the Health Tourism Magazine. She may be reached at stephanie@medicaltourismassociation.com or www.medicaltourismassociation.com.

Discover The Transformation of Medellin, Colombia.

THe BeSt Of MeDDeLin, CoLoMBiA 2 0 0 9 ! !

Hotel Dann Carlton in Medellin

The view from my hotel room during my month long trip to Medellin.

As the end of the year approaches I would like to share some of my favorite photos, videos, stories, adventures, and trip reports regarding my travels to Medellin, Colombia.


Orquestas Sinfónicas Juveniles de Medellín, Colombia

It was not only great to meet some of these talented kids, but a true joy to see their faces when I showed them the video which they saw for the first time.



My home away from home when I am in Medellin.


Extreme Sports in Medellin, Colombia

I had a great time participating in extreme sports with my Colombian friends ! ! !



Mondongo's typical Colombian cuisine in Medellin.

I eat at Mondongo's on a regular basis. The food is great ! !

MaRaViLLoSo EsPeCtáCuLo De LuCeS ! !

Spectacular light show in Medellín, Colombia ! ! !

PVC-1 CoLOmBiAn MoViE AvAiLaBLe On DVD

Shot from PVC-1 film which was made in Colombia.

PVC-1 is a heartwrenching story that will grab you from beginning to end keeping you on the edge of your seat while you scream out for bloody murder against the people responsible for these heinous acts against a Colombian family.

Shot in one continuous take, the movie is inspired by a true story of a rural Colombian family who is terrorized when the mother is turned into a human time-bomb after criminals secure an explosive made of PVC piping to her neck only to be removed after a hefty ransom of $7000 is paid for her freedom.

I higly recommend this movie to all film lovers around the world.



PVC-1 is now availabe on DVD in the USA as well as on NetFlix’s “Watch Now” option.

FeLiZ NaViDaD y PrOSpErA AnO NuEvO ! !

HaPPy HoLiDaYS ! FeLiZ NaViDaD y PrOSpErA AnO NuEvO ! !

MeRRy ChRIsTmAs ! ! MeDeLLiN StYLe ! ! !




Cuidad Luz: Alumbrado Navideño de Medellín

Alumbrado Navideño en Medellín

The wold famous Alumbrados de Medellin lit up the city tonight.



La navidad en Medellin

Más de 14 millones de bombillas conforman el alumbrado navideño en Medellín, cuya principal atracción es la iluminación del paseo del Río, que se extiende por cerca de medio kilómetro, entre el puente histórico de Guayaquil y la calle San Juan. Las Empresas Públicas de Medellín y la Alcaldía local invirtieron más de seis mil millones de pesos en este montaje, el cual es realizado en su mayoría por mujeres cabeza de familia y funcionarios de las Empresas Públicas.



La iluminación del Río Medellín para este año, consiste en un gran telón de luces que corre paralelo a las dos orillas del río, en los cuales hay representados diferentes cuadros que aluden al aire, a la tierra y al mar, junto a un tendido de flores de colores a ras de la corriente.



Los diseños integran paisajes, aves, árboles y otros elementos con movimiento basado en los cambios de las luces. En la margen oriental del río se acondicionó una galería de ventas al público, que permite que los visitantes puedan hacer el recorrido, tomar un descanso, y adquirir diversos productos, en su mayoría artesanías. La Alcaldía de la ciudad programó varios espectáculos para los días de navidad y año nuevo, siendo el más esperado el concierto de Juanes, para el próximo 19 de diciembre. De igual forma, el paseo del río es usado por diversos artistas de la calle para hacer sus presentaciones.



También fueron iluminados parques en los diferentes barrios de la ciudad, vías del centro, como la Avenida La Playa y otros sitios turísticos de la ciudad, como el Cerro Nutibara, donde se encuentra el tradicional Pueblito Paisa. Las luces de navidad en Medellín estarán prendidas todos los días hasta el próximo 12 de enero de 2009.

Pablo Escobar (Dec. 1, 1949 – Dec. 2, 1993)

On this date in 1993, Pablo Escobar was gunned down in Medellín.

Above photo: Members of Colonel Martinez’s Search Bloc celebrate over Pablo Escobar’s body on December 2, 1993, in a photograph taken by DEA agent Steve Murphy. Pablo’s death ended a fifteen-month effort that cost hundreds of millions of dollars. It was the deathblow to the Medellín cartel–it became fragmented and the coke market soon became dominated by the rival Cali Cartel, until the mid-1990s when its leaders, too, were either killed or captured by the government.

At the height of his empire’s power in 1989, Pablo Escobar (1949-1993) was estimated to be the seventh-richest man in the world with a personal wealth of close to $4 billion, while his Medellín cartel controlled 80 percent of the global coke market. A hero to many in Medellín province (especially the poor people), he was a charismatic man who worked hard to cultivate his “Robin Hood” image. He built football fields, multi-sports courts, houses and churches for the locals. The locals provided him with necessary eyes and ears to elude CIA and international efforts to arrest him.

On December 2, 1993, the Search Bloc triangulated him using the radio signals. How Escobar was killed during the confrontation has been debated but it is known that he was cornered on the rooftops and, after a prolonged gunfight, suffered gunshots to the leg, torso, and the fatal one in his ear. It has never been proven who actually fired the final shot into Escobar’s head, whether this shot was made during the gunfight or as part of possible execution or suicide.

Great Time Magazine time capsule article

Medellín: The Heart of Colombia

Welcome To Medellín, Colombia

When I booked my first trip to Medellín I did not know what to expect based on all the negative reports in the U.S. media regarding the dangers of traveling to Colombia. It seemed that every time I informed my friends, family and colleagues regarding my future trip to Colombia, they all thought I was crazy for risking my life.

For a few days I thought about what everyone had to say about the dangers of Colombia which was based solely on what they knew from the 10 o’clock news. It was too late to for me to back out now, my flight was booked, my hotel room reserved, and I had already told everyone I knew that I was going to Colombia. So despite a few reservations, there was no turning back. I was going to Medellín, Colombia.


La cuidad de eternal primavera

The City of Eternal Spring

The city of Medellín is nestled between several mountains in a narrow valley originally inhabited by the Aburra Indians. It is the second largest city in Colombia and 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Bogota, the capital of Colombia. It is home to Colombia’s biggest retail, banking, and textile companies, as well as fast becoming the business hub for all of Latin America.


The metro cable cars moves high above the metro system

Medellín's weather is more characteristic of a humid subtropical climate rather than that of a tropical climate. The city's average annual temperature is 22ºC (72ºF) and because of its proximity to the equator, its temperature is constant year round with minimal temperature variations. Average temperatures range from 15ºC (52ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF) throughout the year, which is the reason Medellín is known as “the city of eternal spring.”


El Museo Castillo

The Paisas

Upon landing in Medellín’s José María Córdova International Airport (MDE), my initial reservations quickly disappeared after I was greeted with a big smile and a warm welcome by several airport employees once they noticed that I was a tourist traveling from the U.S.A. I must admit that I was overjoyed that I did not come across any kidnappers upon my arrival in Colombia.


The Planetarium by University of Medellín

I have traveled to multiple countries around the world and have had many great and memorable trips, but what separates Medellín from other travel destinations are the generous and friendly locals affectionately known as Paisas (pie-sahs). In terms of hospitality and warmth there is no comparison. The Paisas go out of their way to make you feel like family.

Though I traveled to Medellín alone, I never felt so much at home in a foreign country due to the fact that ever Paisa I met was very eager to show off their great city. I was overwhelmed by all the generous invitations I received by everyone I met on my trip. The Paisas are warm, hospitable, proud of their city, and love showing all tourists alike what makes Colombia such a beautiful country.


The Paisa welcome party in Medellín

A City Transformed

After 24 hours in Medellín, I decided it was time for me to call home to inform my family that I was safe, being well fed, but more importantly, I wanted to tell everyone that all the news reports they had heard about Medellín was all old news. Sensing that a few people were somewhat reluctant to believe me, I decided picked up my camera and take a long walk around the city to take a few photographs to share with everyone back home.


San Fernando Plaza on Avenida Poblado

Medellín is not a third world country, as some people would like many of us to believe. I must admit, I was not prepared for what I was about to discover. The city of Medellín is a world-class metropolitan city which can easily rival any first rate city around the world. It is truly a wonderful and magical city, with interesting juxtaposition of traditional colonial architecture blended with ultra modern facilities. It also has one of the best metro systems I have ever had the pleasure of riding, not to mention it offers some stunning views of the city as you travel on one of the many sparkling train cars. Another great part of the metro system is the popular metro cable cars which takes riders high above the Andes mountains leaving you breathless at the sight of the most spectacular panoramic views of the city.


Espania Library in the Santo Domingo barrio

The local government of Medellín has been busy investing in social programs as well as building new libraries, public parks, shopping centers, roads, affordable housing, and promoting entrepreneurial programs to help the local economy by giving citizens the opportunity to contribute to all the changes happening in Medellín. I must admit I was truly amazed not just by the amount of new construction around the city, but happy to see that it was not confined to any one specific area. The transformation was taking place in every neighborhood that I visited as I walked about city.


The Paisa relaxing in the park

One of my favorite spots was the public parks where the locals meet to socialize and talk about their daily lives as well as current events. Old men sit on park benches snacking on fresh fruit, sharing crumbs with the birds, which also seem to enjoy mixing with the locals. Young mothers busy taking care of their babies while the older children where running around chasing their fathers around the park


The future genereration in Medellín

The Future of Medellín

The most amazing thing I witnessed was how curious the children I met on the streets where about me. They were not shy, to say the least. The children always approached me with big smiles on their faces, eager to share with me their personal stories. Lucky for them, they were born long after all violence had ended. It definitely showed in their faces. It was obvious because they were all full of hope with big dreams and plans for the future. I held many impromptu English lessons on the streets as the children pleaded with me to teach them English. “Juan, Tu, ThwrEE, FO...” the kids would all repeat after me.Every time I think about the children on the streets trying to count out the numbers in English, it always brings a big smile to my face.


Background: Parque Explora Interactive Children's Museum

Good Times in Medellín

The culture, the food, the music, the warm weather, salsa clubs, vibrant nightlife, lots of modern and interesting architecture throughout the city, amazing views from the metrocable, a much superior metro system compared to the one back home. And a pleasant surprise that was not mentioned in any of the trip reports I read before my departure, an incredible expansive water park to rival anything in the states. I spent a whole day relaxing at "El Parque de Aguas" and found it to be a very enjoyable experience which divided my trip. I had a great time watching the locals spend their weekend running around the park with friends and family enjoying the beautiful weather and experiencing the various water rides available. There were many families who brought blankets and picnic baskets filled with typical Colombian dishes along with treats for the children to enjoy.


El Parque de las Aguas

The city, the culture, the weather, the energy and the Paisas will all capture your heart after just one day in this wonderful city in Colombia, known as MEDELLIN!


Parque Norte

Travel Tips

I would strongly suggest anyone interested in visiting Medellín to brush up on their Spanish because there are not too many people who speak English.

No worries, an English program has been recently added as part of the regular student curriculum. Medellin takes pride in providing an educational system which now promotes English courses in all its educational institutions as part of its transformation into a world class city welcoming tourists from around the world.

Medellín Travel Guide
Map of the city, news, activities, hotels, and much more.
Juan Manuel Uribe
Tel: (57) 311 333 98 74
www.medellíntraveler.com

Where To Stay
Dann Carlton Hotel
Cra. 43A No 7-50 Avenida El Poblado
Tel: (57) 4 444 51 51
www.danncarlton.com

Where To Eat
Mondongo’s (Traditional Colombia Cuisine)
Calle 10 No.38-38 Conm.
Tel: (57) 4 312 23 24
www.mondongos.com.co

Where To Shop
El Tesoro Parque Comercial. Loma El Tesoro con Transversal Superior
Cra. 25A # 1A Sur – 45
Tel: (57)4 321 10 10
www.eltesoro.com.co/es

Empresas Publicas de Medellin

Empresas Publicas de Medellin Headquarters

It is not often or expected of State Owned Utilities Companies to commit their resources to helping improve the lives of their customers by dedicating their resources to developing social programs within the communities that they serve, Empresas Publicas de Medellin invests in the future of the people of Colombia.



Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM) is an integrated state owned Utilities Company, which is property of the Municipality of Medellin, administrative entity of this city, capital of the Department of Antioquia, Republic of Colombia.

It provides electricity energy, natural gas, water, sanitation and telecommunications services with the highest international quality standards in order to meet customer needs, while implementing business practices that guarantee long term sustainability and company growth.



Since it’s creation in 1955, EPM has strived to generate enough resources to finance its activities and promote growth, without receiving external contributions. Every year it delivers dividends to its owners to invest in development programs for Medellin. At the same time EPM holds a wide Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy that benefits the communities in which it operates.



It currently projects its growth in the Latin American market in order to escalate its knowledge and experience, offering its social responsibility focus and efficient project management, in technical, commercial and planning operations, both in the water and energy business.

For EPM, Medellin and the metropolitan area of The Valle de Aburra. are its two major markets, with 3.6 million inhabitants. In Colombia, EPM is present in Antioquia, Bogota, Manizales, Armenia, Pereria, Bucaramanga, Cucuta, barranquilla, Cartangena, Cali, and Quibdo.



This is EMP, a modern company that evolves and every time moves closer to the people, and with its dynamism goes beyond its normal business boundaries, attributes that have characterized it throughout its history and have given EPM world wide recognition for it’s investment in the people it serves.