|
By Nelson Alcantara l Special to eTN
 On that given afternoon in December last year, a stroll down Medellin, Colombias center provided a glimpse of how the city once referred to as the murder capital of the world has managed to lift itself up from the ruins of its beleaguered past to become the thriving city that it is today. Shops were bustling, the mall in front of Plaza Botero (Sculpture Plaza), which in itself is a tourist attraction for its 80,729-square-foot open-air space that holds 23 sculptures donated by hometown world renowned artist Fernando Botero, was crowded.
The streets were filled with passer-bys, spectators, traveling vendors with an inventory ranging from instant coffee to mango. A couple with two very distinct messages, however, stood out from the rest that afternoon--a singing preacher whose sermon seemed to captivate no ones attention and another man whose how to make love properly presentation drew a more sizable crowd.
Gawking over this crowd is a tall white building with the word Hollywood, which bares striking resemblance to the real Hollywood sign, though they vary in size and color. The real Hollywood sign (in California, USA) is much bigger and is in white, whereas Medellins Hollywood is smaller and is in blue.
From a spectators point of view, the streets of Medellin are amusing to watch. The crowd is an eclectic mix of fashionistas sporting the latest trends and those that could care less or may be too poor to have the means to care about fashion, though the city is generally well-to-do. Thanks to its textile industry connection, the city has always trailed Bogota, Colombias capital, in financial terms.
The peace process between paramilitaries and Medellin Mayor Sergio Fajardo, who is revered in Colombia as a strong symbol for peace, has made it possible for one to take what may be a lazy afternoon stroll down Medellins center to even be possible. In a not so distant past, people were held captives in their own homes because of the bloodshed that erupted after the death of Medellins most famous sonPablo Escobar.
Talking with residents, the government seems to have imposed an unofficial gag rule on Pablo Escobar. For Medellin residents, the name Pablo Escobar is taboo and should never be uttered unless in tourism context. Something that is a bit hard to do for some Medellin residents because much of the poor people of Medellin view the late drug lord as sort of their version of Robin Hood. To some of them, Escobar was (or is) a hero.
Ironically, the Colombian government, in what seems to be a paradoxical move, is helping fund a US$100 million tourism project that revolves on Escobars life. His famed Hacienda Napoles is being transformed into a luxury resort-type accommodation facility and an amusement park in the vicinity utilizing Escobars vision of a dinosaur-type park called Jurassic Park is closed to being finished. Before one can get to Jurassic Park, however, travelers (and Colombians, in general) will run into the governments not-so subtle warming on Escobar--a jail. That jail is being built as part of the US$100 million public-private project and it overlooks Hacienda Napoles.
Recognize it or not, Medellins past is so closely connected to Escobars life that his influence may forever be ingrained in Colombias history. From a psychological standpoint, Escobars impact is very much alive, even with the governments attempts to somehow mask it from Colombias history. Oscar Orosco, a key figure in the US$100 million tourism project, still has nightmares of Escobar coming after him. Orosco, whose father recently passed away, said he at times asks his dead father to apologize for him for taking on the tourism project.
Whether the Colombian government likes it or not, Escobar is one of Colombias biggest tourism attractions. The abovementioned US$100 million tourism project is enough evidence that the Colombian government, too, recognizes this impact. The project is situated some 100 miles east of Medellin (in Puerto Triunfo, Antioquia, which is where Escobar resided). Restaurants in the area proudly tell visitors, "Pablo ate here."
In Medellin, there are ample things for tourists to do; from nightlife to recreational activities during the day (the city has three world-class golf courses). The city now boasts the only public transportation in the world that connects its railway system to a cabl
[Back to Press Releases Main]
| 
