Evan Breslow

The 30th Birthday Trip

Los Angeles, Mexico City, Medellín

March 2023

Nineteen days and three legs, without a single night back home in between: Los Angeles, then Mexico City, then eight days in Medellín — my first time in South America. The celebrations started with a bunch of friends in LA, then one friend in Mexico, and finished up solo in Colombia.

  1. A rounded bronze Botero statue of a helmeted rider on a stout horse, standing among flowering trees in front of the black-and-white patterned dome of the Palacio de la Cultura
    A Botero on the plaza, under the Palacio de la Cultura
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  2. Tall block letters spelling MEDELLÍN in bright colours standing on a lawn, in front of a wall painted with blue waves, a red flower and the words La Matriarca
    The Medellín letters, against La Matriarca
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  3. A long suspension bridge with a plank deck running straight away from the camera toward a dry green hillside, with a small stone building at the far end
    Straight down the middle of the old suspension bridge
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  4. A cluster of coffee cherries ripening from green through orange to red on a thin branch, surrounded by glossy leaves with sun coming through them
    Cherries part of the way to red, still on the tree
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  5. A group of people walking across a grassy hillside past saddled horses, with a green valley of scattered houses and cloud-topped mountains behind
    Horses waiting at the top of the coffee farm
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  6. Thick white fog from dry ice pouring across a wooden table set with a Chemex, a cup of coffee, a potted coffee plant and a board of pastries
    The tasting arrives under a cloud of dry ice
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  7. A high view over a green reservoir winding between wooded islands and headlands, with hazy ridges on the horizon under heavy cloud
    The reservoir from the top of the Peñol
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  8. A narrow cobbled street lined with buildings painted yellow, red and blue, with rows of open umbrellas in every colour strung overhead
    Umbrellas strung the length of the street in Guatapé
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Activities

  • Walking tour, Medellín
  • Half-day bike tour, MedellínA good way to see different parts of the city.
  • Guatapé and the Piedra del PeñolDay trip out of Parque Poblado — boat tour, breakfast, and lunch. Hike up to the top of the Peñol for a beautiful view.
  • Coffee farm tour, MedellínA day on a coffee farm, learning about the history and process of coffee. One of the highlights for this coffee lover.

Food & Drink

  • Bottega Louie, Downtown LAThe big group birthday dinner — sixteen people came to celebrate with me.
  • Rosenthal Wine Bar and Patio, MalibuOutdoor table, dance floor, and a lot of bottles of wine.
  • Licorería Limantour, Roma, Mexico CityThe Mexican Old Fashioned is my favorite drink in the world.
  • El Cielo, MedellínThe tasting menu was quite unique and delicious.