Medellin, Colombia’s second city and birth place to famed drug lord Pablo Escobar, has had its fair share of bad press. In recent years however, the city has been completely rejuvenated and is the shining diamond of all South American cities, by far one of the most cosmopolitan I visited in all of my travels. I was lucky to be there during the annual Flower Festival and had a friend to show me round.
The Flower Festival dates back to 1957, when ‘silleteros’ from the nearby Santa Elena district were invited to show the flowers they were famed for growing. The name ‘silletero’ comes from the Spanish word for chair, as the farmers would create elaborate decorations from flowers and carry them on a chair like contraption on their back.
The festival lasts for 10 days and is a spectacle of colour and pattern. The parades go on for miles with men and women carrying huge flower swamped chairs for hours. It really is quite special to see. Overall, however, it’s a big excuse to drink on the streets, something the Colombians don’t need much of an excuse to do under any circumstances! There are huge flower installations located all over the city, from Art Galleries to Museums and a number of events to keep you entertained. I got treated to some free live music and I also went to the Botanical Gardens to see some of the winning flowers, such as orchids and multi-coloured roses.
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