Comuna 13

 Imagine tiny shops selling everything, mashed up against tiny restaurants and bars with booming music, then set it going up a steep hill -- that's Comuna 13.

I'll let AI give you the skinny: "Once a symbol of violence, Medellín's Comuna 13 is now a vibrant center of social transformation.  Known for its colorful street art, outdoor escalators, and breakdancing crews, it celebrates resilience through hip-hop culture.  Visitors flock there to experience its powerful history, stunning hillside views, and welcoming community spirit."

I had sort of planned to do this on my own, but am SO glad I took a tour -- just the logistics of getting there were extremely complicated.  We took the metro, cable car, then bus.




Everywhere was crowded.  I kept my phone and wallet in the same pocket so I'd only have one pocket to worry about.







Did I forget to mention that almost all the streets are incredibly narrow?





Breakdancing performance, for tips:



Oh, those abs!







Fun optical illusion with yours truly:






Wha?




Rapper lady (for tips!) in a tiny bar:







What can I say?  This was a (nearly, except for two bar breaks) constant assault on the senses -- the sights, the sounds, and yes, the smells were almost overwhelming.  Now imagine your brain trying to process that information while climbing a hill and trying to avoid motorcycles and other pedestrians.

At 5-1/2 hours, this was bit long for these old bones.  I'm really glad I did it, but once is enough.






































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