“What is a girl like you doing going to Colombia all alone?” a man at the airport asked after he found out I was going to Medellin.
Medellin, Colombia was once known as the most dangerous city in the world. It was the center of drugs and the infamous Colombian cartel led by Pablo Escobar. Thirty years ago, it would have been crazy to think about visiting Colombia, let alone Medellin.
Even today, tourists are still frightened to visit Medellin because of the city’s troubling history; many think the city is still controlled by the cartel. The truth is that Medellin was a dangerous city 30 years ago, but since then, it has become safe and welcoming to tourists.
After police shot and killed Pablo Escobar in 1993, the city completely transformed. Gang members who were forced into the business were free to live their lives. People learned to live in peace again, and started working towards rebuilding and improving the city, which is surrounded by beautiful green mountains from all sides. The government built parks, libraries, museums and hotels to become more welcoming to tourists and locals. They created extraordinary roads that link the whole city together and still let you see the incredible landscape.
Last November, I decided to visit my friend Maria in Medellin so I could experience the city for myself. We had been talking about me visiting her for a very long time, but it always seemed like a dream.
Before I went to Medellin, I started watching “Narcos,” a TV show about Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel. While “Narcos” is interesting and well-made, it only shows the bad side of Colombia — not the architecture, nature or amazing people. Watching the show made me scared to visit Medellin, thinking I would encounter dangerous people and situations.  
After I visited, I realized that the show only showed so many bad things about Medellin because negative and scary things sell better. Everyone wants to watch a show about violence and crime, but sadly, this gives the wrong image of the beautiful country.
“The show is very well made, but it gives people the wrong impression about our city,” said Jenny Valderrama, Maria’s mom. “They don’t show the beautiful stuff. It’s very sad. People here aren’t proud of what happened. We lived in terror.”
Medellin is the perfect destination for travelers looking for a culturally rich vacation. The city rises proudly from the belly of the Aburrá Valley, and its natural beauty makes it perfect for hiking, zip lining, walking around and taking pictures.
The airport is 40 minutes from the city. On the journey to Medellin, you are surrounded by mountains and nature. I was stunned; I hadn’t seen so much nature in a very long time. We passed small villages, which are surrounded and hidden by the dense forest. This area is called Palmas because of the many palm trees and other plants unique to the area. Colombia is on the equator, so there are no seasons; the weather is always sunny and nice. After about 30 minutes, you are exposed to the view of Medellin. The highway rises above the city and you can see the whole skyline and all the buildings. It is a breathtaking view, hard to describe with words. You have to see it for yourself.
One of  Medellin’s tourist attractions is Tesoro, an open air mall with a high-end food court, an amusement park for children with a train, mini roller coaster, ferris wheel and of course shops for clothes, shoes and accessories. At night, people can go to the mall’s nightclubs, during the day, its coffee shops.
Medellin’s downtown is even busier than the Atlanta downtown. Everywhere you turn, there are people rushing and cars and motorcycles driving. If you are a tourist, I would definitely advise you not to drive in the city, since its very confusing and there is a lot of traffic.
Colombian food is typical of Latin American cuisine as a whole. Everything is natural and sold in small stores in the neighborhoods. Most of the food includes meats like beef, pork, chicken and fish, served with rice, beans, or potatoes. One of my favorite dishes was arepa: a corn pancake that can be eaten with anything. Arepas may be savory or sweet, can be served for and meal and are usually topped with cheese or butter. I was also lucky enough to visit during the Christmas season and get my hands on natilla, a pudding made from milk, panela (brown sugar), cinnamon sticks, flour and coconut.
I got the perfect Medellin experience. I visited parks, malls, restaurants, the beach, and the villages. Whatever Medellin was 30 years ago, it’s not like that anymore. I encounter more dangerous situations in Midtown Atlanta then I did in Medellin. People who are too afraid to visit the city have been brainwashed by the media and are missing out on incredible experiences.
Even though the government has built parks and new buildings, the city will be forever haunted by the terrors Escobar brought. However, in a way, Escobar helped put Medellin on the map: because of him, many people are fascinated to visit. His house and grave are still some of the main attractions for tourists. His legacy as the most notorious drug lord will forever live on, but  now the city is at peace. Medellin is the place to visit; its beauty and nature will make you forget all your worries.