Reading the writing on the wall

On our last day in Medellin, we decided to take a tour of Comuna 13. At one time, this area was the most crime-ridden area of Colombia. After the “Transformation” stage that our guide from our previous tour discussed, the people of this barrio have taken back their neighborhoods. Now, Comuna 13 is known for the graffiti all over the streets. The addition of the cable cars and escalators allowed more tourists to gain access to the areas further up the hills.

As more tourists came, the neighborhoods transformed even more. Not only is the area known for the graffiti, it’s also a hub for hip-hop music and dance. Even now, the area is still healing from the years of violence. Many of the paintings are scenes of remembrance of those who were lost.

If you visit Medellin, I highly recommend taking a tour of Comuna 13. It truly is eye-opening. Instead of droning on, I’m going to let the pictures finish the story.

The story behind this is that the birds represent the community, unlocking the mind of the girl to grow

This shows the pain of the past. The bullet holes in the hands, the heart is empty and the head is faceless but red with blood

A group of hip-hop dancers we watched for a few minutes