During our month in Medellin, we wanted to visit some sites that might be a bit off the "beaten path," and for that we needed someone to be our driver and guide. Camilo was highly recommended to us by friends who live in Medellin, and he lived up to all the hype. We left the decisions mostly in his hands, and he found some fascinating things to share with us. First, we rode the free and spotlessly clean escalators (yes, escalators!) up the mountainside in Comuna 13. This area was basically a war zone during the days of Pablo Escobar, with snipers shooting at each other and a 7 pm to 7 am curfew. Today, it is a safe residential area and these amazing escalators, covering a total of about 300 vertical feet, enable residents to access services and visit friends and family easily and safely. The houses that climb the side of the mountain in Comuna 13 are now painted with wonderful graphics and bright colours. The "barrio" is cheerful and clean. On that day-long trip we also walked across an ancient wooden bridge designed by an engineer who worked on the Brooklyn Bridge, and we rode in a cable car from mountain top to mountain top, looking down at exquisite views far below. Our second trip with Camilo was equally wonderful: we visited a charming man who grows gorgeous flowers for the annual silletero festival that takes place in August, and we spent time in the small towns of Santa Elena, La Ceja and El Retiro. Our lunch on that trip was a special treat at a restaurant with the unpronounceable name of Queareparaenamorarte and delicious food in unusual (to us) combinations. Camilo speaks excellent English and he is full of fascinating bits of information. We greatly enjoyed both trips with Camilo and highly recommend him to any visitors to Medellin!