Our second destination in Colombia was Medellín, the second largest city in the country and the most innovative city in the world in 2013. Yes, you read that right, Medellín despite being mainly identified with drug cartels and their activities in the late 1980s and being the most dangerous city in the world at the time, is now a good example for other cities to follow. The city and its authorities managed to fight the cartel and pacify Comuna 13, the place where the cartel was based and mainly operated, and covered it with graffiti and other works of art. In 2002, the current President Alvaro Uribe launched Operation Orion, a raid on this neighbourhood led by 3,000 soldiers supported by helicopters. Unfortunately, it was extremely brutal, as many people, including ordinary citizens, were killed, injured or arrested. Residents found themselves in the crossfire, but it was a necessary, yet radical, step to improve life here and end cartel rule. Later, new infrastructure was built, including a metro that is fully connected to the cable car system and six external escalators, making Comuna 13 a place almost entirely dependent on tourism. We had the opportunity to see it with our own eyes as we took a walking tour there on the second day. It was really amazing how many tourists we saw and how much the place has changed. Many of the buildings are covered in beautiful graffiti and the locals are super nice. The streets are full of stalls selling local food and snacks, as well as local artists including dancers and singers. One guy who is a teacher there even said that it is his duty to teach young boys and girls the arts to help them find better professions that will impact society as a whole. In turn, on the first day we visited the centre and saw all the churches and monuments that are there. For instance, we went to Plaza Botero that is the central square of Medellín and is home to 23 gigantic statues of Fernando Botero. This part of town is also known for its stalls where you can buy almost anything at low prices. In the evening we went to a bar to watch the Colombia vs Peru football match. Despite the Colombian team's loss, the atmosphere was amazing and we really enjoyed watching the game surrounded by local fans.