Imported products tend to be expensive but note that Medellin, being host to a major textile industry, has a number of local designers and brands that are excellent quality.

The major malls host Cineplex's, several restaurants with a wide variety of food, supermarkets and free parking facilities.

The selection of produce is simply outstanding. The varying climactic regions of Colombia ensures top quality agriculture and fresh vegetables and fruit remind me of Spanish supermarkets with the addition of the best fruit anywhere.

Red meat is superb and Colombia prides itself on its Angus and Brangus cattle. Poultry tend to be chicken or turkey and the chicken tastes like the best corn-fed free-range you can get your hands on in Europe.

Seafood from the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean offers an excellent selection of deep sea fish to delicious shellfish such as lobster, crab and tiger prawn from the Caribbean. Salmon and trout are imported from Chile.

You can also buy cheap clothing, TVs, VCRs, computers, fridges etc. at the biggest ones.

During the time that I have known Medellin these have on many occasions been essential to buying simple furniture, kitchen utensils, bed linen, televisions, VCRs and so on. Traffic being a bit of an issue in Medellin, these add a level of practicality to shopping.

The carpentry district near downtown and El Hueco is such a place where you can easily have anything made according to whatever specifications you choose.

Alternatively, the International fashion centre of Itagui (Centro Internacional de la Moda) is well worth the visit.