Well John and DJ, been there done that... Hadn't been to Jacksonville since 1984 - except for a few quick trips. I'm here to tell you if you have that Jax-BUG there is no cure but to come home. I worked in the Garden of Eden, in a "field of dreams" in the job of my dreams. Every day I could watch the condors soar, the green cloud shrouded mountains reveal different scenes and aspects as cloud cover slowly moves about the peaks and valleys. INCREDIBLE. Everyone friendly to the point of family and every family "in love with the fat old Gringo". But once back in Jacksonville I just had to shout - "THANK YOU LORD - I'M HOME!"
From this point on however, I'll always be a man with two countries...
So how do mine stack up?
JACKSONVILLE
More parks but un-kept, dirt and dog piles, broken equipment and locked doors.
MEDELLIN
Less park land, more pavement, much more art, advanced features-functions, clean enough to eat on the walk.
JACKSONVILLE
Architecture, much of the history is out of the downtown, the city suffers from sameness, concrete - a few arches and miles of blue or green metal roofs.
MEDELLIN
Oh My God! Bowls, spires, boxes, pipes, curves, glass, wood, metal, flowers and that's just the downtown towers. Talk about out out of the box? This is out of this world.
JACKSONVILLE
Life, 4 bars and the landing looking like it is post Katrina. For night life go downtown and turn south to 5-Points or San Marco
MEDELLIN
Plaza's with kiosks, Dunkin Donut's to Fine Wine and pastry's. Clubs from Hard Rock to Bamboco, Dancing lights, illuminated spires, omni-present Botero and police = beauty and safety. Where do you want to party.
JACKSONVILLE
Transit, Buses every 40 minutes M/L, a broken Skyway and "A" water taxi
MEDELLIN
Transit, Buses every minute, Sky Cable, Metro Rail, (working on restoring regular rail)
So where do I live? It's a no brainier - JACKSONVILLE is home, MEDELLIN is heaven.
OCKLAWAHA
