Today, I had an interesting experience with a potential client. I received a lead about an expat opening a restaurant in Botero Plaza. This is the second attempt for a restaurant to establish itself in the area, so I was excited about it. As a resident of El Centro, I’m eager to see this part of the city grow. It would be amazing to see Botero Plaza become a normal, thriving area with nice restaurants. However, that wasn’t the case today.
I also have a client looking to invest in El Centro and open a restaurant in Botero Plaza. I always strive to be extremely positive & honest with my clients and inform them about the current conditions. So, as we say in the States, I decided to “kill two birds with one stone” and took this opportunity to record a video of the surrounding area.
When I started shooting the video for the client and showcasing the area and the restaurant, working girls began giving me the middle finger and cursing at me in Spanish. Neither the police nor the administrators of Botero Plaza intervened. I was confronted by five working girls, but thankfully, some locals protected me.
“Today was the first time I felt in
Danger and unsafe walking out of Botero Plaza”
What do the locals think?
I spoke with some of the locals since the ice was broken, I was a bit more calm after the confrontation. So I asked them what they thought about the situation with the hookers, and Botero Plaza. In short, The locals don’t want the girls there; they consider it pathetic and a disgrace to the city of Medellin. There are a couple of hotels in the area that house the working girls, making it difficult to remove them. It’s like a hornet’s nest – they keep swarming around, and if you agitate them, they attack. Lesson learned: don’t take videos in that area of Botero Plaza.
Is the Dream of Botero Plaza Dead?
The Mayor is trying to revive Botero Plaza to make it better, aiming to restore it to its former glory as a prestigious tourist attraction and hangout spot with nice restaurants. The vision is to create a safe place where people can sit down and enjoy a coffee. We all love this idea. The plaza could be amazing – potentially the best place in the whole city of Medellin. However, this won’t happen until Mayor Fico figures out how to address the dangers, the smell of human waste, prostitution, and drugs.
Botero Plaza is great for taking photos of the statues. However, I wouldn’t recommend my readers visit the restaurants or sit there to enjoy a coffee. If you do go, keep your bags close, ensure your phone is in a safe place, and always be aware of your surroundings.
Thinking of Investing in Botero Plaza?
I personally wouldn’t recommend any of my clients to invest in Botero Plaza until Fico fixes the mess there. Invest at your own risk.
