Medellin...once dubbed the "Most Dangerous City in the World" by Time Magazine (1988) was actually my favorite city to visit in Colombia because of the incredible transformation the city has gone through over the past 20 years. Less than 10 years ago, a tourist such as myself, would not dare to go to Communa13 (the neighborhood we visited) without being shot or kidnapped. As the home of the Medellin Cartel funded by Pablo Escobar, Medellin was the epicenter of narco-trafficking in the 1980s and 90s. The residents of Medellin were in a state of terror every single day as violence raged between Escobar's cartel and competing cartels. Today, Medellin is a hot spot for tourists visiting Colombia, and while issues still persist, the neighborhood is flourishing and vibrant like never before.

So what changed? After Escobar's death, crime rates decreased dramatically. In October 2002, the town experienced one of the worst days it's seen when President Alvaro Uribe ordered a military operation called, "Operation Orion," the intent of which was to demobilize the urban militias of the FARC and AUC.

In addition to the demobilization of the urban militias, a number of socio-economic initiatives were put into place to better integrate the poorest of the hillside neighborhoods (such as Communa13) into the city's fabric. We saw the youth taking part in hip hop programs that are meant to discourage them from joining drug gangs. We met and took a cooking class with Seniora Consuela, who established a non-profit that helps women of domestic violence start their own cooking businesses. We learned about how the establishment of Medellin's metro system (the only one in the country) helped transform the city as well by providing those without cars the opportunity to seek jobs outside of their neighborhoods. We had never seen the use of cable cars as part of a city's public transportation system, so it was both a fun and insightful experience.

When I travel, I want to get to know the soul and spirit of the city and country I'm visiting. I felt that was very much accomplished in Medellin.

“He is Risen!” Three of the most significant words ever uttered in human history. Three simple words that for us Christians ushered an eternal state of existence thanks to Christs’ resurrection from the dead three days after his crucifixion. Naturally, I’m always light years behind in my posts, but in the spirit of yesterday’s celebration of Easter, I really wanted to share my memorable experience from my October trip to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was built around the 4th century over the site where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. I knew of course that this was the most important Church in the Christian Quarter of Old Jerusalem, but I had no idea what was waiting through those doors, especially as I looked to my left and saw an entire section covered in Armenian letters and mosaics of Biblical scenes. I was floored!! I was simply mesmerized and dumbfounded by the richness and depth of the integral role we Armenians have played in the Church’s history. For goodness sake, we have an entire upstairs Golgatha and downstairs area just designated for the Armenian Church to use during masses. As divine timing would place me there, I walked into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre just as the Armenian priest was going to begin mass and lead the 40 plus group of pilgrims visiting from Armenia through the prayer procession, marking the last 5 stations of Jesus carrying the cross to his death on what is known as “Via Dolorosa” (there are 14 stations five of which are inside the Church). It was such a beautiful, touching, soul-fulfilling indescribable experience. Once we got to the “Stone of Atonement,” marking the spot where they tended to Jesus’ body after pulling him down from the cross, when I put my head to the stone, I just felt this overwhelming feeling of gratitude for everything God has blessed me with in this lifetime, and I just started sobbing on the rock out of sheer love and gratitude; I distinctly remember thinking, “I know we’re inseparable, Father…you’re always with me. I don’t need to come here again to know you’re with me.”

That time in 2021 when we ventured to Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve to conquer (somewhat) our fear of cats. I'm totally fine with lions and tigers...it's those darn, restless house cats that shoot up my blood pressure lol

For those who haven't been on a safari, Masai Mara (in Kenya) and the Serengeti in (Tanzania) are two of the most famous national reserves to go on a safari. During the Great Migration, which takes place in August and is considered the largest herd movement of animals, over a million wildbeasts and other animals cross the Mara River from the Serengeti in search for food and water. The whole experience is just magical because you don't know when, where, and which animals you'll encounter. It's mesmerizing, enthralling, and eye-opening!

Sadly, I also have to say that it was disheartening to see how we humans are so disrespectful of the natural habitat of these animals. I'm guilty in this too having went on a safari. I saw well over 30 safari jeeps encircling these animals, and at times, selfishly blocking off their water route to the river just to get a closeup shot. We still don't understand that we are being intrusive, careless, and selfish in disrespecting their home. Cheetahs, for example, have stopped having as many cubs because they're intimidated by the human population constantly surrounding them. I hope they'll limit the number of safari tours taking place at any one time so as to create a safer space for the animals. It's truly a gift to be in their presence, but we need to learn how to be better guests.