Alex’s Trip to Medellín
Alex Rithiphong interned at Meander Studio and traveled to Columbia during his time with us in 2022. He shared his thoughts on the trip and the city with us after he returned home:
”Medellín, Colombia is a city surrounded by the Andes Mountains and is known for its hilly landscape. The city is rich in culture and the environment feels no different from neighboring South American countries. Its warm temperatures earn its nickname of “City of Eternal Spring” where it is not too hot nor too cold. Medellín is a hotspot for fine dining, trendy bars, and signature Colombian coffee. Scattered around the city are many well known architectural projects that are unique and bring tourists from all over the world to experience Medellín’s architecture.
I went to Medellín, Colombia in November of 2022. A close friend of mine is from Medellín and offered to bring us to his home city. I’ve never been to South America, so this was my first time, and it certainly will not be my last.
The entire experience was one of a kind. Everything from the environment, people, culture, and food was unique. For the most part, we visited tourist attractions around the city and got to experience tours in different parts of the city. One notable tour was of a neighboring city, Guatapé, where our main stop was “Piedra del Peñol” a giant granite rock sitting in one of the largest man-made water reservoirs in the country. The natural rock towers 656 feet above its base and overlooks the reservoirs with incredible views. However, to get to the top, visitors must trek 708 steps built into the side of the rock. In my opinion, the journey up the rock was well worth it.
We also visited a temple in the same city which was based off of the rock itself. “Rock Temple El Peñol” is a temple in Guatapé and the architect based the material of the façade from the giant rock. The tall singular tower of the temple represents the towering effect of the real rock. The exterior of the temple has such a tectonic, dense, or heavy feel to it. It looks as if the entire building is completely solid. However, inside is a beautifly crafted interior with religious elements you would see in a typical temple. To many visitors and tourists, the temple is seen as a tourist attraction part of the town. To the locals, this is just a regular place of worship.
Other images of a neighborhood in Guatape. These were just some of the highlights of my trip to Colombia. I would say the trip was worth every second seeing the people, environment, food, and culture Medellín has to offer. This will certainly not be my last trip to Colombia.”