La Isla Grande is a small island in the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia. It is home to just 800 residents. The islanders are largely cut off from the modern world and barely have running water. The usual occupations for the majority on the island include fishing and farming. As it is in relative seclusion, it’s little wonder that a certain Pablo Escobar took a shine to it and decided to build a ‘holiday’ home here.
Escobar chose the far side of the island for his luxury build, between a secluded tropical forest and the sea. He commissioned a huge, grandiose complex to be built, which included a mansion, waterfront apartments, a helicopter landing pad and a gigantic pool surrounded by palms. In the event that any guests should drop by, he had 300 rooms available. No expense was spared, even down to the gold shower heads in the bathrooms. The value of the estate was estimated at $10,000,000.
Since the downfall of Escobar, the property went into government hands, and has since fallen into a serious state of disrepair – in fact, it is barely standing now. There is even a luxury speedboat near the mansion, lying on it’s side and overgrown with flowers.
Pablo Escobar died from a gunshot would on 2 December 1993 at the age of 44.
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