{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Medellin, Colombia Part 1","description":"Medellin, Colombia   60-second confidence challenge:    The confidence challenge is to meet someone new today. You might stop by the mailbox to say \u201chi,\u201d or visit a park where people are less in a hurry. Start a conversation with someone new today. If you like, then get their name and phone number and give them a call.   If you like today\u2019s Confidence Challenge, Chapters of my book dive deeper  into how to build confidence using it\u2014link in description.\u201d    See Book A for addressing the challenge of meeting new people Find it on our website at https:\/\/www.5stepstosolotravel.com\/ or on Amazon. It\u2019s a several-part series.   Destination Deep\u2011Dive   Today\u2019s special destination is Medellin, Colombia, part 1 of 2 Let\u2019s start by discussing the history and some ideas on what to see. Part 2 will focus on what else you can experience.   We\u2019ve all heard stories about drug trafficking in Medell\u00edn, in Colombia. I\u2019ve found that the homicide rate has dropped from 1991, when it was around 400 per 100,000, to 15 in 2022. That\u2019s even below the average for Colombia, which is 23 per 100,000. Crime has decreased by 80% since 1991, and poverty has dropped by over 96%, indicating significant improvements in social and safety conditions.   Medell\u00edn is considered safe for tourists. Police are present in popular areas. That said, petty crime\u2014including pickpocketing, armed robberies, and drugging-related scams\u2014still occurs, especially targeting visitors to Medellin Tours. Look for places like El Poblado, Laureles, and Envigado\u2014great for planning your visit! That\u2019s what I did.      Behance+14Medellin Advisors+14Easy Travel 4U+14Medellin Advisors. Blue Ocean Strategy. Current Safety Landscape Medell\u00edn is generally seen as safe and welcoming for tourists, with a noticeable increase in police presence in popular areas.   Behance+13Two Travel Concierge+13Easy Travel 4U+13. Stay away from drugs, dating, and risky situations.. Serious incidents and tourism-related risks have occurred. In recent years, there has been a disturbing rise in violent crimes against tourists, notably involving drug-facilitated robberies or worse, often after meetings via dating apps. Some American tourists were killed after being drugged.  AP News. There\u2019s also an uptick in sex trafficking and exploitation, particularly affecting local women and migrants.  AP News+1. While Medell\u00edn is much safer than it once was, you should remain vigilant\u2014especially in nightlife areas and when meeting strangers through apps. Comuna 13 Graffiti Tour I took a day to explore Comuna 13. It\u2019s known for street art. I\u2019d recommend you take this powerful cultural experience that highlights Medell\u00edn\u2019s rebirth through street art.  Medellin Advisors+3Medellin VIP+3en.wikipedia.org+3. My experience at Comuna 13. I took a bus from the San Javier Metro station. It was a very crowded intersection where I got off. It was busy at about 5 pm. Two young women helped me with the right exit from the bus, and even shared their food with me. They wanted me to try a special local dish, so I did. On the way home, I again took Bus 95 back to San Javier metro station.  Parque Arv\u00ed via Metrocable Another idea for a solo female traveler is this park. Enjoy fresh air and scenic views in this ecological park. Accessible via gondola, it offers hiking, nature trails, food markets, and the chance to immerse yourself in the region\u2019s flora and history  theunconventionalroute.comen.wikipedia.org. My experience with Mother Nature included fresh air and a visit to the park. This trip through the jungle, AND part of the public transportation, is part of the Amazon experience. It\u2019s not called that while on the gondola, but that\u2019s what I believe. Arvi Park Metrocable was the longest gondola\/cable car I have seen or been on. Trust the cable. Listen to the sounds of the city. Dogs, roosters, kids, music, it\u2019s all a delight as I ride down. I made two recordings in the cable car\/soundbooth.  The experience on this gondola is a must-do. Bring a picnic lunch.  6. Bol\u00edvar Park & Sunday Concerts Relax in this historic urban park, stroll through its green spaces, and enjoy the open-air plaza.   Smart Move and Slip-up pairing: With safety a concern on my first visit to Medellin, I took a taxi to my hostel from the airport. I accepted a ride from the first driver I saw, and he was nice, but the fare was expensive, around $30 plus tip. My hostel cost that much for the night, which was over my budget, but it was an experience. Back at the airport, I was able to take a bus for only $2.00. If I had known how easy it was to do that, I wouldn't have taken the taxi.  The driver was a professional and he gave good service. He even offered me a better rate if I hired him again.  So, which would I take next time? The bus was a good experience, but the taxi was even better when I first arrived and was not confident of my surroundings. I am passing this on to my listeners like you.  Here's my tip for you.  Read your boarding pass very carefully for the \u201cboarding time.\u201d Can you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight? Sometimes, airlines expect you to arrive at the gate ready to board 50 minutes before departure. So my challenge is to cut down on the stress and anxiety.   Resources Roundup   Find my Instagram or TikTok. I regularly update solo female content on that site. Please let me know if you find this resource helpful, especially if you\u2019re in your prime.  Take away facts on travel and goodbye.   Good news: Motorists killed fewer pedestrians last year compared to 2023, marking the second consecutive year of declines. Drivers killed 7,148 People in 2024, down 4.3% vs 2023.  This statistic is still higher than in 2016, by 19.2%.   Fewer people overall died in traffic crashes in 2024. Still, it was 40,000 people.  Pedestrian deaths are rising at a faster rate than overall traffic deaths. From 2009 to 2023, pedestrian deaths rose 80% while all other traffic deaths increased 13%\u2014source: Kiplinger Washington Editors. ","author_name":"Dr Mary Travelbest Guide","author_url":"https:\/\/drmarytravelbest.com","html":"