A Book-Inspired Journey Through Medellin, Colombia
Travel Through Books: Medellin, Colombia
Our Travel Through Books series is an opportunity to travel through books even if you can’t yet join one of our group experiences. Our book-inspired travel experiences will transport you to the captivating landscapes and thrilling narratives of your favorite novels. Our guides include recommendations on the best places to stay, authentic activities, best restaurants, and of course book and bookstore recommendations in cities around the world.
Welcome to MedellÃn, where Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez’s words dance in the air and every encounter is a story waiting to be told. Come with us as we experience MedellÃn, Colombia through “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” Imagine cobbled streets echoing with the whispers of Úrsula Iguarán’s ghost, aromas of Mama Grande’s ajiaco wafting from bustling plazas, and mariposas yellow as Aureliano’s dreams flitting through the Botanical Garden. MedellÃn is no longer a city scarred by Pablo Escobar’s shadow; it’s a phoenix rising. So pack your bags and let Marquez be your compass as we navigate the salsa clubs, graffiti-laced barrios, and verdant hills of Medellin, Colombia where every corner holds a magical realist twist, and every encounter paints a vibrant portrait of a nation dancing on the edge of history.
What to read:
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. There’s no way to talk about Colombian literature without talking about this Nobel Prize in Literature winner. One Hundred Years of Solitude spans a century in the mythical Colombian town of Macondo, chronicling the rise and fall of the BuendÃa family. Patriarch José Arcadio BuendÃa, driven by a thirst for knowledge and a fear of solitude, founds the town, seeking isolation from the world. However, Macondo soon attracts outsiders and is swept up in historical events like plagues, wars, and the arrival of modernity.
The novel unfolds in a non-linear fashion, weaving together the lives of seven generations of BuendÃas, each inheriting their ancestors’ quirks and passions. We witness their struggles and triumphs from founding a utopian society to solitude, and political upheaval. Through magical realism, Márquez infuses the narrative with fantastical elements like levitating priests, talking animals, and rains that last years. These fantastical occurrences are not mere spectacle, but metaphors for the characters’ inner struggles and the unique history of Latin America.
One Hundred Years of Solitude is a haunting meditation on the cyclical nature of life, the weight of history, and the enduring human spirit. It’s a story of love, loss, family, and the pursuit of meaning in a world that is constantly changing, leaving readers with a lingering sense of wonder and awe.
