Medellín Unfiltered (No Guide, Just Real Talk)

Medellín—Colombia’s second city—divides travelers like no other. You’ll either adore its eternal spring climate 🌸 and digital nomad appeal, or call it "boring" after ticking off its handful of sights in 2-3 days. Its dark allure? Being the former HQ of Pablo Escobar (Narcos’ real-life villain). Tours now monetize that trauma (hello, Comuna 13), but peel back the postcard, and the city’s scars still bleed. The Two Faces of Medellín 😊 The Good: • Strangers become hype-men—I got compliments, free cookies 🍪, even ice cream! • Shopkeepers refuse to scam you (shocking in tourist zones) • That eternal spring vibe is real ☠️ The Ugly: • 100m off Comuna 13’s main drag: People snorting white powder 💀, hollow-eyed crowds on stoops • Near the market: Streets reek of rot, piss, and weed 🚮—worse than Cairo’s garbage slums in summer • The stares: Dozens of homeless, some disfigured (by drugs?), chanting "No photo!" (I wasn’t even shooting) Having survived Addis Ababa and Joburg, this rattled me deeper—not from direct threat, but the dystopian density of human despair. Yet—here’s the magic—ordinary paisas (locals) beam with warmth. Lost? Five people will help. Need directions? They’ll walk you there. It’s a city of extremes: where hellscapes border hipster cafes, and trauma coexists with radical kindness. P.S. For practical tips, see my last post. Travel safe—and keep your eyes open. 👀 #RealMedellin #ColombiaUncensored