It's mid afternoon on a hot, sunny August day during Medellin's La Feria de las Flores - Festival of Flowers, and the sky is raining flower petals, literally! Army helicopters sweep overhead dropping thousands of petals from the sky onto the crowd of locals and tourists who have all come out to see the "desfile de silleteros" or "flower carrier's parade" in this Colombian city sitting 5,000 ft. above sea level. An event dating back to 1957, this is one of the most important cultural events to take place in Medellin every August and one of the best times to visit.
Medellin, known as the "city of eternal spring" has perfect weather year round. I was, at first, hesitant to venture down to Pablo Escabar's old stomping ground, but was pleasantly surprised to experience a clean, safe city filled with some of the friendliest people I've met throughout my journeys around the globe. The city's new Metro Cable provides an easy, safe mode of mass transportation for the once dangerous town of Santo Domingo for its residents to commute down to the heart of Medellin lying in the valley below, and a testament to the city's willingness to help its fellow citizens.
Safe travels,
Lisa
Lisa Loverro is an independent travel journalist exploring the world for new and exciting adventures. She shares her experiences with us every Thursday through her column, Boarding Pass.
