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Polaroid of the Week: Botero's Sculptures Spark Joy in Medellín, Colombia

Polaroid of the Week: Botero s Sculptures Spark Joy in Medellín, ColombiaAfter exploring Colombia's coffee region, I finally arrived in Medellín—a long-awaited highlight on my journey. Grateful for local friends who introduced me to the city's vibrant nightlife and generously hosted me.

Not every plan panned out: the popular walking tour was fully booked, an alternative fell through (perhaps I missed the meeting point?), and afternoon downpours thwarted my rides on Medellín's famous cable cars into the mountains.

One success was immersing myself in Fernando Botero's bronze sculptures scattered across the city, with over 20 at Parque de Las Esculturas, opposite the outstanding Museum of Antioquia (home to an extensive Botero collection). As a longtime admirer of Colombia's most celebrated painter and sculptor, these were absolute highlights—I'd anticipated this for years.

I crafted my own walking tour and relished wandering Medellín's streets—the best way to truly feel a city's pulse beyond tourist checklists. In upscale Poblado, we stumbled upon a lively salsa dance-off, a mesmerizing spectacle. Another gem: Parque Periodista, a cozy central park buzzing with young locals and hipsters grabbing cheap drinks (beers for just 50 cents!) from nearby stores, sipping outdoors with friends. I'll miss this public drinking freedom back in the U.S.!

Wrapping up, I visited the Museum of Modern Art before departing sooner than planned—not just Medellín, but all of Colombia after two months. Craving new scenery, I headed to an unexpected destination (not the one from my February roundup). Fate, serendipity, or chance guided me—stay tuned for next week's Polaroid to discover where!


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