Depending on where you come from, you may think many different things about Colombia (The country.) In the American mind we seem to think of things like drugs, gorillas, and Pablo Escobar. In fact, these things are what the Colombians care about the least. Of course there are still drugs, but there are drugs everywhere and it isn’t the 80s anymore. The Gorillas made a peace treaty with the government back in 2016 and since then Colombia has been progressively pursuing changes. Everyone knows Pablo Escobar, and the Colombians like to refer to him as the person we don’t talk about… It seems they would just love for his fame and history to disappear (and rightfully so…) The guy created all kinds of terror amongst the Colombia people and all for his drug trade.
Colombias “worst neighborhoods” are now being transformed into interactive art, music, and cultural showcase communities. They have been transforming violent and crime driven neighborhoods into areas of love and artistic expression. These folks don’t want to live in dangerous places just like you don’t. They are finding the most beautiful ways to express themselves. Check out my video blog below about Comuna 13 which used to be one of the most dangerous cities in Colombia and the world.
Colombia reminds me why it is so important to travel and learn from other cultures. When we just stay in our hometowns and absorb local news and media we gather (usually) incorrect perspectives of the world. It reminds me of one my favorite quotes by Mark Twain, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”