God moves. This chapter: Medellin, Colombia.
We were running late again (somebody stop it! lol), but God moves. Because we’d been in the area the day before, we returned to the previous day’s meet-up spot, only to find out it wasn’t the correct meet-up spot to begin with. LOL…OM…and that the transport to the actual meet-up spot had already departed but would return in a few minutes. That would put us approximately 15-20 minutes behind our tour group.
But “little miss tardy to the party" over here, and not being one to be deterred by time, decided to press forward and wait for the next transport, believing that somehow we’d be right on time. I’m sure my travel partner was over the shenanigans, but ayyye, “is we rolling?!”
After taking the bus to the correct meet-up spot, we were informed by another group that our tour had taken off a while ago, but we could possibly catch up if we walked down the road a bit. After walking only a few feet, the sign appeared: I noticed someone with a tattoo very similar to the business logo my travel partner and I had at the time.
And without knowing more, I knew we’d found our group. #God moves. And that was the beginning of the most beautiful walking tour I’ve ever experienced — back in Comuna 13, this time up close and more personal.
First of all, initially arriving a day early for the walking tour allowed me to take a cable car ride over Comuna 13 and form a new “conception of community” in my mind. The richness of a community is less about the material resources and more about the richness of its members' spirits.
Then, finding the tour group after arriving late on the actual day of the tour was, of course, divine. The story was that they’d headed in one direction for a while and then turned back around. That allowed me to intercept the group based on a divine sign at just the right time. Just wow, Most High!
Shortly after joining the group, the tour guide stopped us at a popsicle shop. And while I waited in the street outside the shop, there was a particular song playing that felt otherworldly. It was the perfect soundtrack that ushered me into the energy of Comuna 13. I felt joyous yet at ease and plugged into everything in and around me. It was a transformative feeling. And, at that moment, I knew I was in the right place at the right time.
Thankfully, I was able to capture the moment.🌻
Excerpt from my journal entry:
Most beautiful vibe/capture. Feels unreal. As some went to get popsicles, here the music was and the people were too. It felt so otherworldly yet at the same time connected to me in every way. I felt the sincerity of community in the moment. I stepped into truth. My capture was “beauty in the struggle.”
As the tour began, I connected right away with two sisters traveling together from Canada, including one who had the tattoo. We became quickly acquainted, almost like fast friends. They had such positive energy and ultimately became new travel partners, not only during the walking tour but for the rest of my time in Medellin. They were my guardian angels in Medellin.
The vibrancy of Comuna 13 was undeniable. Our tour guide shared stories of gang wars, drug trafficking, murders and extreme violence that once plagued the streets of Comuna 13. Over the past eleven or so years, the community had gone through a major transformation. The street art vividly told the story.
My reflection:
I’ve never felt more connected to street art than I do here in Medellín’s Comuna 13, once considered one of Colombia’s most notorious and dangerous neighborhoods. The street art in Comuna 13 vividly illustrates the history of a resilient people, their gratitude for the present and optimism for a better future. My spirit was instantly renewed and enriched by the energy of Comuna 13 — a community with scarce material resources yet so rich. #SpiritRich #Comuna13 #beautyinthestruggle #transformationtuesday #thisiscolombia
Ultimately, I was moved by the story so clearly portrayed by the street art and the energy of the community itself. Among the crowded mountainous community were children playing, breakdancers, cats, dogs, everyone and everything that represented Comuna 13’s transformed and #SpiritRich energy.
The Comuna 13 street art walking tour was the best walking tour I’d experienced. The tour guide was absolutely phenomenal and asked the group to complete a “homework” assignment, which was to share our experience in Comuna 13 and tell the world about the "real Colombia" — a country whose notorious past doesn't overshadow its vibrant present.
And at the end of the long day’s tour, I got to meet Chota, the predominant street artist in Comuna 13. After admiring many of his works throughout the day, this was the perfect end to a beyond perfect walking tour.
If you’re in Medellin, a street art walking tour in Comuna 13 is a must!
See Yaa and THANK YOU Comuna 13!