By Suzan Haskins, International Living,
Mention that you’re going to Colombia, and people think you’re crazy.
But they haven’t been. My husband Dan Prescher and I visited three months ago…and wow…
In the mountainous province of Antioquia, in the country’s northwest, we found a land of beautiful vistas and temperate climates with a little of everything the country has to offer on show… Amazingly-preserved colonial towns, pretty white-sand beaches overlooking the Caribbean Sea, lush rainforests, fertile plains, coffee-growing plantations and the country’s most vivacious city…
It may be the most modern and cosmopolitan city we’ve ever been to in Latin America. It’s certainly one of the most attractive.
Colombia’s second-largest city and the capital of Antioquia, Medellín is genteel, vibrant and safe.
World travelers understand that circumstances change. It’s been more than 20 years since the heyday of bad guy Pablo Escobar, though true skeptics remain unconvinced.
That’s fine with me. Colombia is like a casting call of demure young beauties, soon to be propelled to stardom. And Medellín is the sexiest and most exciting…the Norma Jean of them all.
Despite Colombia’s growing status in the international mainstream press, no hordes of tourists have yet descended on Medellín. And only a handful of foreign retirees have come looking for a place in the sun.
But all signs indicate that this beauty is about to be discovered.
The writing is already on the wall, in fact. Several multinational companies have staked a claim, establishing major operations in Medellín.
Just this past summer, Hewlett-Packard announced its business services hub for the whole of Latin America, with 4,000 employees, would be part of the city’s $30 million Ruta N development—a cutting-edge business and innovation center in the northern part of the city a short distance from the University of Antioquia.
And you won’t find better weather anywhere. The city lies within the Aburrá valley at an elevation of 4,921 feet. The average daily temperatures range from 60 F to 85 F. That’s every single day of the year, mind you. And thanks to the altitude, there are few insects.
Win-win.
Known for its excellent and affordable health care, Medellín is home to many of Colombia’s top hospitals and is, in fact, a medical tourism center. Combine all this with a low overall cost of living and reasonable real estate prices and you can begin to understand why the spotlight is shining here.
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