Pics of the Week: Churches Galore!

September 12th, 2011

You can’t go to South America without seeing churches, churches, churches everywhere.  Medellin is no exception; below are some of the more notable churches that can be found downtown.

Iglesia de la Veracruz is one of Medellin’s oldest churches. The original structure was completed in 1712 and was demolished and rebuilt nearly 100 years later.

La Catedral Metropolitana de Medellín is the largest brick church in the Americas.

Construction on La Catedral Metropolitana began in 1890 and took 40 years to complete.

French Architect, Charles Émile Carré, designed the cathedral.

Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús was completed in 1930.

Pics of the Day: Futboooooooool!!!!!!!

September 9th, 2011

We have the great fortune of being a 5 minute walk from the local futbol stadium, so we love to attend the games with our guests.  You haven’t truly experienced Colombia until you’ve seen their futbol fans in action.  Their spirit and dedication puts all fans in the United States to shame.  Football fans sport body paint.  Futbol fans show their commitment with tattoos.  BIG ONES.

This past Sunday we went to one of the first futbol games of the season; check out our pictures below to get an idea of what it’s like to attend a game with the fanaticos!

These giant police horses are a fixture at every futbol game. We secretly want to become mounted policemen just to have one of these gorgeous creatures to call our own.

These peace-keeping Robocops can also be found at every soccer game. Here they are making sure the Cali fans are behaving themselves.

We sat with the "fanaticos" on the northern side of the stadium. The view of the valley from the stadium is gorgeous.

Our fellow "fanaticos" sang and danced for the duration of the game. They're a fun bunch, but when their team scores a goal, run for cover!

Pics of the Day: San Alejo Artisans

September 8th, 2011

We always love it when we have guests during the first Saturday of every month, because that means we can show off the handy-work of Medellin’s artisans. The monthly San Alejo Artisan Fair is a great place to buy hand crafted souvenirs and to peruse their wares with the locals. Below are some pictures from this weekend’s fair and some of our favorite finds. Enjoy!

The San Alejo artisan market is a jewelry fiend's dream.

Looking for the gift for the person who has everything? How about a gun rack made of genuine deer hoofs?

The most bitchin, magical boombox that ever existed.

A little close up to fully appreciate its 90s glory

Pics of the Day: Medellin’s Artistic Epicenter

September 7th, 2011

Medellin is the home to many renowned artists, the best-known being Fernando Botero with his signature “voluptuous” style. There’s no better way to experience Medellin’s abundant artistic talent than with a visit to the Museum of Antioquia and surrounding areas. Here are some pictures of the iconic Botero Plaza, located outside of the museum.

Botero Plaza is one of Medellin's most popular attractions.

The Palace of Culture, one of Medellin's most recognizable buildings, is located next to Plaza Botero.

The Museum of Antioquia is home to one of the largest collections of Fernando Botero's work.

Pics of the Day: Farm Life

September 2nd, 2011

Today’s pics feature our Rio Negro Tour, where you can visit a real Colombian farm and even milk some real Colombian cows! Crops of corn, potatoes, and strawberries can also be found on the farm. Nothing tastes quite as good as a fresh-picked strawberry!

Diana milking her first cow!

Ezra returns the favor and feeds a 2 month old calf.

Cows are happier in Colombia--it's science.