Medellin Botanical Gardens
An April morning drizzle poses no threat to visitors at the Botanical Gardens. The jungle canopy keeps park benches next to the lily pond warm and cozy. Peaceful interludes get interrupted quickly in Medellin. Groups of inquisitive children in matching polo shirts emblazoned with school colors are everywhere.
Colombian youngsters like to test pink skinned strangers on their mastery of the English language. Hello. What’s your name? How are you? What time is it? I enjoyed the Botanical Garden’s bamboo forest, orchids and butterfly exhibit, but the entire place is a plant lover’s nirvana.
One of the water parks in Medellin is located next to the municipal airport. Parents watch Taca and LAN commuter flights leave while kids dive into the wave pool. Every barrio has a heavily forested block or two, usually fed by a stream cascading down from the Andes. And the birds of these woodlands display their colors proudly. Bright red, yellow and green feathers, even the pigeons look more fluorescent in Colombia.
After hours crowds congregate in the clubs and restaurants of Parque Lleras. Sports lovers watch soccer matches at the new stadium. The local taxis will take you wherever you need to go, but please don’t slam the doors. It is considered highly impolite.
Medellin offers accommodations for all budgets. I recommend the Black Sheep Hostel in Patio Bonito or the InterContinental in El Poblado if you’ve got some extra spending money. You can dine every day on white linen, at KFC or on a folding table in a one room tienda. But don’t leave without trying a glass of freshly squeezed orange and mango juice with a hint of lime. Scintillating.
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