Joe Arroyo - El Rebelion
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Buenas!,
So earlier this month I was granted the opportunity to go on my first press trip! What is a press trip ? well a press trip (also known as fam trip/media visits) involves a business arrangement between the writer (me) and the selected sponsor, in this case it was PROEXPORT COLOMBIA - I had the honor to not only explore Medellin Colombia, but to reconnect with my roots and share the experience through here and through the Mag (Urban Latino - Issue comes out in Septemeber :D).
Now here is a glimpse of my experience ...
Antioquía, Medellín is a vibrant city, known by the warmth and friendliness of its stunning people, the year-round spring like weather, and it's gorgeous flowers and mountains! It was not only a breath of fresh air but a scene full of natural beauty and tranquility. I must say I love the paisa dialect, so proper, sweet and very attractive ;).. bueno pues.. Thanks to the enormous educational, cultural, social, and urban transformation -Medellin -today is one of the most important cities in Colombia and Latin America. Its the city of opportunities and progress. As a city with a great gastronmic, commercial and tourist offer, it provides countless opportunities for leisure and business. (I would love to have an office out there, just saying)
Medellín The City of Eternal Spring, The Mountain's Capital, The Orchid's Capital, The city of beautiful Women and The City of Flowers... aww yes flowers! I was brought on to this trip to cover one of the most popular and important cultural event in Antioquia, Medellin - La Feria de Las Flores (The festival of flowers). It was handsdown an awe-inspiring experience! La Feria de Las Flores has been going on for the past 54 years and its held during the first two weeks of August. People from all over the world go to Medellin for this extravagant festival.There are a series of parades, concerts and parties that takes place...However the main attractions are The Antique Car parade (we missed that :/) and the Desfile de Silleteros. The Desfile de Silleteros was breathtaking - during this parade Campesinos - men and women of all ages - walk through the town with a large flower arrangements (Silletes) on their backs, each decorated elaborately with flowers of every color and fragrance you can imagine. La Feria de las Flores began as a relatively low-key affair to help inspire local flower growers in the region. What I loved about this parade and city is how the paisas are ALWAYS true to there culture/history/tradition... It's pretty impressive with all the modern technology they withhold they still manage to perserve and maintain that simplicity! and that is simply ... beautiful.
The bright/flamboyant colors from the costumes, flowers lit up my eyes...the music, performances and the cheering paisas made me feel the pride, the togetherness and love from everyone! oh not to mention the food... I swear I ate so much and didn't gain a pound lol, why? because everything there is natural! Man, I want to go back =/
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| Santo Domingo Salvio |
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| <3 |
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| Publeito Paisa! |
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Before we actually went to the parade we visited Santa Elena – Corporacion Cultural y Ambiental Familia Londoño. The residential area we went to was up in a gorgeous mountain - The Londoño Family are descendants of silleteros founders of the parade, they have continued the family tradition for generations. They are one of the best known families in that region. For this family, the parade of silleteros represents an opportunity to retake the knowledge acquired from their ancestors and with great imagination create today's Silleteras.
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| Journalists (including me) with the Londono Family! |
The creation of the Silletas actually started out as a transporting tool for importing and exporting salt, they later transformed it to a chair, where they would carry "Important People" down the mountains & now they are used for this particular event.
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| Demostrating how at one time "Farmers" had to carry "Important People" |
We also went to a couple of museums- my favorite one was the Botero Square, Antioquia Museum. It had over 108 paintings and 23 sculptures from Medellin's very own Fernando Botero. You have to check his art out, if you haven't already. Here is his first painting that discovered him:
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| by Fernando Botero |
Even if its not for a festival go there and explore ... you would love every aspect of it from the food to the mountains and especially the beautiful well mannered people. I've never felt so welcomed in my life then the day I stepped into the beautiful country. I'm so proud to be COLOMBIAN! The only risk in Colombia is not wanting to come back home . . .
This song/video brings me back to Medellin!! Enjoy
XO,
Samantha
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