Colombia’s City On A Hill

I was born in Medellin, I live in Medellin... and every day I have the wonderful experiencie of living my new city, enjoing it and being safe while doing it.... Thank you for showing the world the truth about my city, and I invite you to visit this beautiful place.

Thank you for describing today's reality in Medellin....I am originally from Medellin but have lived in the United States for about 26 years...from August 2006 to Sept. 2007 I had the wonderful experience of going back to live in Medellin and Llanogrande (part of the extremely beautiful Medellin countryside)....there I relived what I remembered as being the true Medellin...what it use to be when I was growing up there during the late 60's and early 70's, a wonderful city filled with outgoing, kind people...people always ready to help you with a smile. There is still plenty of work to be done, but thanks to Major Fajardo and President Uribe the first stone has been placed to re-construct a city, a country and a society that deserves a chance for a brighter future....Thank you Newsweek for spreading the word, that there is a bright light shining in Medellin.....Mabel

I was born in Medellin, I have been living in the US for more than 30 years, I had the opportunity to live some years in Bogota and recently I went back to Medellin to live for 14 months because of my work, I loved it, it changed for the better, the region of Llano grande is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, people are very kind and very educated, the landscape is breath taking, I believe it is worth a visit at least once. GO FOR IT!!

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I am an American National and was in Colombia Santa Marta to be specific for a rest...and on my retuen to the states was traveling through Bogota on the 5th de julio ....this was the day of the National outpouring in just about
every city in Colombia against sequestros..y desparacidos held by the FARC.
The people of Colombia are a great and courageous group...and the problems
are many....let's just all pray that the break-down in URIBE/CHAVEZ negotiations this past week...will not harm the hostages in any way...they are the unwilling pawns...but the way to releasing the hostages is to send a message with another day of outpouring that tells the Colombian Predident to keep flexiblity in dealing with the Farc.. We all know the President has done a remarkably good job in restoring civil order in Colombia ...and he will get the message to return to the negotiating table after another day...like July 5 ,2007..
ipsilver
new york city new york

The kids saw my tattoos.

In 2002 I met a Colombian woman on line. After writing almost every night for two months I decided to visit Lia in Medellin. My first trip in January 2003 was for four days only. I had done a little research on Colombia and thought a short visit was in order. At that time the US State Department considered Colombia, particularly Medellin, the second most dangerous country in the world for Americans. I went anyway. I HAD to meet this woman. I was lucky to experience the Christmas festivities in the city. An absolute spectacle. Even though I was warned by Lia and her daughter not to speak in the presence of others so as not to identify myself as American. I thoroughly enjoyed the festivities any way. I was also told it was dangerous, even for Colombians, to venture too far outside the city. Traveling by car to Bogota was out of the question. Even busses travaled in groups of four to six or more. I wanted to travel a little any way despite the warnings. Lia talked about Santa Fe, over the mountain. We went and again I was blown away. We spent a night in a "Colombian" resort. While in the Jacuzzi some kids heard me speaking English to Lia. I spoke NO Spanish. Their father said something to Lia. I thought I was in trouble. In reallity, the man was asking if I would speak in English with his kids who were studying English in school. He wanted them to practice their English. So much for traveling outside the city. We attended a Mass in Meddelin. By this time I was getting braver. I wore a short sleeve shirt that evening. You should have seen the look on the faces of the kids sitting me. Their parents looked and smiled. Wherever we went I was treated gratiously and with respect. To make a long story short I made two more trips to Colombia. One week to Meddelin and two weeks to Bogota where I went with Lia to the American embassy to be interviewed for her Visa to the US. I have hundreds of memories and stories of Colombia. Meddelin, Bogota, Santa Fe, the Salt Cathedral (don't remember the town but don't miss it. And on and on. In April 2004 Lia came to the US to live with me. In June we were married. In closing. Since President Uriba took office, and the people amended the Constitution to allow the incumbent president a second term, Colombia has become what I expect to become the best kept secret vacation destination in the world. What you experience there NOW probably won't last long as more and more people learn the secret. GO!! NOW!! If you're disappointed consider yourself totally unable to be pleased. Colombia has everything ANYONE would ever need.

I am very proud to be from CALI-COLOMBIA I immigrated 26 years ago to U.S. and never went back to visit COLOMBIA , I'm so happy about the comments in the previous articles and I'm sure many people from diffrent parts of the world will start considering a retirement or buss opportunity in MEDELLIN AND trough out the country I know COLOMBIA HAS ALL THE POTENTIAL TO BE ONE OF THE BEST COUNTRY'S TO LIVE IN.
SINCERELY,
VIVIAN APONTE
MEDICAL AESTHETICS. P.A.
U.S.A.

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I AM SO PROUD TO BE FROM CALI-COLOMBIA AND I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GO BACK IS BEEN MORE THAN 26 YEARS IN THE U.S. AND I ALWAYS KNEW COLOMBIA ONE DAY WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST COUNTRY'S TO LIVE IN COLOMBIA HAS GREAT POTENTIAL SPECIALLY BECAUSE WE ARE WELL EDUCATED CITIZENS. WELL TO GOOOOO COLOOOOMBIA, VIVIAN APONTE P.A.

I am very proud to be from CALI-COLOMBIA I immigrated 26 years ago to U.S. and never went back to visit COLOMBIA , I'm so happy about the comments in the previous articles and I'm sure many people from diffrent parts of the world will start considering a retirement or buss opportunity in MEDELLIN AND trough out the country I know COLOMBIA HAS ALL THE POTENTIAL TO BE ONE OF THE BEST COUNTRY'S TO LIVE IN.
SINCERELY,
VIVIAN APONTE
MEDICAL AESTHETICS. P.A.
U.S.A.

I had the opportunity to live in Medellin for a short while last year and found it to be incredibly beautiful and more progressive than I imagined. I miss it every day and can not wait for the chance to return.

I had the privelege of living in Medellin for a short while and found it to be incredibly beautiful and progressive in many ways. I miss it every single day and look forward to going back again one day...

People in Colombia love Fajardo and most are very happy with what Uribe has done. I am from Madison, WI but have also lived in Colombia. Medellin is my favorite city in Colombia and it gets better everyday! I hope to one day return their with my wife to live. If you ever have a chance to visit Medellin be sure to go during the 'Festival de los Flores' in the summer. You will be impressed the city and the friendliness of its people!

Great article!! It is unbiased and to the point. Very seldom one gets to read something positive and encouraging about a city (by the way, I have never been to Medellin) so maligned in the past because of the violence and insecurity. Please write something like that about CALI. Thanks again.

Great article!! For once, the American press has really done their home work and published something positive about the people of Colombia. Well done. Patricia Aros

IIt is so refreshing to find a fair, objective and newsworthy article published by any mainstream U.S. media these days; this article is certainly an example that once serious journalists set their mind to it, they can actually produce something worth reading. A national of the Netherlands Antilles myself, I have in the past 5 years had the opportunity to visit Medellin on three different occasions. Somewhat hesitant at what I would encounter, at first, I have seen the Medellin described in this article and would not hesitate to encourage anyone to visit there. It's an interesting place, with wonderful, educated people. David Christian

Nothing stays the same. Welcome to the wind of change.
It is now the time to enjoy the eternal spring.
Juan Diaz