Editorial Note: In April, I took a month off in Medellin. For me, this meant an interesting and diverting month. For you, this means 30 days of posts about my vacation. I’ll try to make them somewhat amusing.
Colombians have an interesting take on the safety issue. On the one hand, when it comes to real, actual, physical security, they seem pretty cautious. Everything is gated and locked, and security guards are everywhere. (Interestingly, though, I can’t recall seeing a real cop yet … I assume they’re out there somewhere, but not in the tiny corner of Medellin that I’ve explored so far. It’s all private security. Yay free market.) On the other hand, when it comes to the nanny-statism of America, it’s like stepping back in time 30 or 40 years.
Drop
For some examples, let’s take a look around my apartment. Examine the window. I’d say it’s about 4′ by 5′, unscreened, and about 3′ off the floor. (There is an adorable little “safety bar” at 4′, which looks like it could support a good 5 or 10 pounds of weight. I think it was only added for the benefit of visiting gringos.) There’s absolutely nothing to stop you from going out the window except your own good sense.
Speaking of screens, let me pause for a moment to talk about a surprising aspect of Medellin (or the El Poblado section, anyway): The relative rarity of flying insects. I understand that other parts of the country are loaded with, e.g., mosquitos, but they’re not to be found here. There are lots of birds, but they don’t seem to come inside. As a result, screens are uncommon, even though open windows are the norm.
Anyway, back to the window and you. Here’s the drop … I’d say it’s about 8 or 9 stories, and definitely enough to ruin your day. I’d guess that there are very few Colombians with serious inner-ear or extreme silliness problems.
Railings
Danger also lurks indoors! Have a look at the stairs between the first and second levels. Notice anything missing? That’s right … no handrail. Come downstairs at night, feel groggy, stumble, and it’s an express ticket to head-trauma-ville. (Try to aim for the beanbags.)
It’s all quite refreshing.
Caveats
None of this is to say that the nanny-state is completely absent … there’re a lot of “no smoking” signs about, and there appears to be a helmet law in force. On balance, though, the effect is to suggest that the more real problems you have, the less time you waste on imaginary ones.
In closing, let me preemptively respond to a possible objection. You might think that I’m overgeneralizing from one small, prosperous enclave of Medellin. I’d point out that it’s not likely that people will grow less physically cautious, or that building codes will stiffen up, in less well-off areas.
