Coming down the mountain- Medellin from afar

Nestled in a mile-high valley of the

Colombian

Andes is the famed 'ciudad' of

Medellin

. It's almost winter, but the temperature here is a balmy 25 degrees centigrade, as it is most days of the year, a function of equatorial proximity

and altitude. With frequent showers, lush vegetation, and her flowering plants, it's easy to understand why Medellin is known as "the city of eternal spring."





the stream and pocket of nature in El Poblado

which runs down the hill (Video)

The elite neighborhood of El Poblado, full of bars and restaurants catering to tourists and the city's upper class. I follow a fenced-off pocket of nature down a steep hill, guiding me to one of many small local parks. The strong smell of marijuana soaks the air on this muggy evening, as people congregate and chat with their friends.