Medellin's Top 10

Here's my favorite things from Medellin:

10. Paisa Pride- paisas are the people from the traditionally coffee growing states, including Antioquia , the state where Medellin is located. Love thyself it's an important first step but it can be overwhelming.

9. Pasofino Horses- a breed unique to Colombia. These are excellent show horses with a unique gait when they trot and gallop.

8. Picado Plates- a tray with varied chopped meats(pork, beek, chicken), with arepas, french fries, and fried platanos. Delicious for the first three days but a bit overwhelming after that.

7. Women- hot women everywhere with the unique combination of big boobs and big butts (i cannot lie!). Wasn't too into it after I found out how much plastic surgery goes on and the prevalence of jean ups.

6. Weather- the city of eternal spring, the capital of the mountains. The beautiful Valley of Aburra has the perfect combination of tropics and altitude.

5. Sports- lots of people doing sports, keeping in shape, and the city is dotted with sports complexes. We saw lots of bikers and the rides down the hills looked hella fun! The city also closes some streets during the week where people can bike free of traffic.

4. Greening Efforts- lots of recycling going on, and efforts to minimize the pollution in the city. For instance, they are starting pico plata, a program where if the plate in your car starts with a certain number you can't drive that day. Another more subtle point is the use of local materials; virtually all houses were made of clay bricks. It looks good too.

3. Fashion- they use their own cotton, own factories, own designers and of course own models. My favorite... Velez.

2. Progressive Taxing- this is pervasive throughout city services. The rich pick up the tab for the lower classes. McCain doesn't believe in redistribution of wealth but I do!

1. Libraries- okay, as a librarian, this is totally biased. But the sheer number of educational institutions is a sign of a place with it's priorities straightened. The buildings themselves are amazing and well equipped that work as true community hubs.