Life in Colombia, where drug trafficking and crime flourishes, is a priori not a piece of cake. And those who are in trouble do not have to count on help, and every little clue can become the anchor that will protect them from finally falling into the abyss.
For Miguel Restrepo and his wife Maria Garcia, this was a sewer mine, which, by chance, turned into their cozy home for many years.
When Maria and Miguel first met, they were drug addicts. No family, no money, not the slightest chance of even finding a roof over your head. Therefore, moving underground, to the sewerage technical room, turned out to be a good idea.
Of course, initially the couple did not plan to spend their entire lives in the sewer. Just to get stronger, get back on your feet, and improve your life.
But in reality, it turned out that after living underground for 22 years, they changed their minds about moving. And there are several good reasons for this.
Firstly, life around is not much different from what Miguel and Maria have. The neighbors are entirely poor and their demands are low, but this couple at least has really strong walls and a roof over their heads. And the fact that it’s gray concrete doesn’t matter.
You can always decorate your home and make simple utensils. Fortunately, the area is quiet and calm, you don’t have to be afraid of thieves who will climb into the sewer hatch for other people’s property.
Secondly, the spouses are no longer drug addicts. While passing the harsh times together, having gone through a lot of hardships and problems, they recovered and found support in life. And they are ready to be content with little for the sake of their real happiness. The blanket and TV may be old, but they exist and serve their owners well.
Electricity, lighting, a kitchenette, a piece of bread and a glass of coffee every day - the elderly couple has all this. And if you want something else, you can try to make it.
There is a real guardian and a four-legged friend in the house - a dog named Blackie. Who doesn’t worry at all that they have to live in a sewer, because no one has such a luxurious booth!
Are Colombian old people happy in their sewers? If the measure of happiness is the absence of problems and mental anguish, then there are many in the world who can sincerely envy them.
A 62-year-old Colombian homeless man who, together with his wife, has been living in a sewer manhole in the Colombian city of Medellin for 22 years.
When Miguel Restrepo climbs out of the well, many take him for a plumber who went down there on duty, but in fact this is not the case at all. Miguel lives in this well, and curious passers-by, looking into the open hatch of the well, can see a very peaceful “homey” picture - two spouses are relaxing on the bed, and their faithful pet dog is peacefully lying down next to them.
The life of Miguel Restrepo and his wife Maria Garcia, residents of the Colombian city of Medellin, began to crack 22 years ago - it was then that this couple
seemed to be on the street. Of course, this did not happen by chance - they say that both Miguel and Maria were experienced drug addicts by that time, and they destroyed their lives consciously and consistently. However, be that as it may, it was at that moment, finding themselves on the street, without any means of subsistence, that they most acutely realized that they were already on the very edge.
It was still necessary to look for housing, and after toiling around for some time, spending the night here and there, Maria and Miguel found an abandoned sewer manhole on the outskirts of Medellin. And it was this place that became their home
less than two decades.
Even though Miguel and Maria's new home was not spacious, they still "renovated" it. They found and dragged a bed and a table into the well, brought in some more furniture, and over time got hold of a television so that they wouldn’t be bored while away the long evenings.
Restrepo's room is only 2 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, with a low, sloping ceiling. They use their living space rationally - there is and cannot be anything superfluous in the spouses’ interior. The round opening of the hatch serves as a window, as well as a door, and at night they cover
it with a piece of cardboard.
Miguel built shelves along the walls and above the bed, on which the couple stores their simple household belongings and clothes. Miguel also installed electricity in their house - and the well was illuminated with the yellow light of a lamp, and on especially stuffy days, Maria and Miguel use a fan.
There was also a place in the “house” for their dog, a mongrel named Blackie. By the way, Blackie, due to lack of space, is allowed to lie on the matrimonial bed, and in order for the dog to get out into the street, Miguel or Maria have to lift it.
Officially Miguel and Maria their home
they don’t own it - their well belongs to the city, and therefore officials can throw it out onto the street at any time. However, both Miguel and Maria believe that if this has not happened in the last 22 years, it will not happen in the near future.
But in general, despite the unusualness of their home, Miguel and his wife try very hard to “live like people.” At Christmas, they decorate the tree, try to keep the house clean, and also make sure that their dog Blackie is fed and does not beg on the streets.
Despite the fact that their well is located on the sidewalk right next to the roadway with very hot
With the heavy traffic, Miguel and Maria feel very comfortable - they have long been accustomed to both transport and onlookers. However, in fact, no one really cares about the two people living in the well, and when on Christmas Eve a decorated Christmas tree and Santa appeared near the well, passersby only smiled welcomingly and encouraged Miguel.
Miguel himself admitted in a television interview that today he feels much happier than many years ago. And the only fear of Miguel and his wife Maria is still the fear of being evicted from their “home”.
The man in the photograph lives in an abandoned sewer with his wife. The authorities have offered him free council housing a thousand times, but he claims that he is happy where he is.
Maria Garcia met her husband Miguel Restrepo on the Colombian streets in the city of Medellin. At that time, they both suffered from drug addiction and were almost on the verge, but together they managed to find the strength to survive and get rid of it.
Then they found shelter in this sewer, twenty-two years later they are still here.
This abandoned sewer area is 65 square meters, which, in principle, is quite good. But its height is not high enough to walk inside, straightened up.
The decoration of their home is modest, but just think! – inside they managed to put a bed, a wardrobe and a stove. The Colombian climate is merciless to its inhabitants, so a married couple turns on the fan to somehow cool their home, since the heat here is unbearable.
It's hard to imagine, but they even have entertainment - radio and TV. Maria and Miguel do not argue that their house is very unusual, but “but it has everything you need for life.”
Maintaining personal hygiene in such conditions becomes a big problem. Naturally, there is no shower in the sewer. So sometimes the Colombian couple uses buckets to get a little refreshment. Another invention is bags that close the entrance to the house during rainstorms.
Despite such harsh conditions, Miguel does not want to leave his home and change it to the one offered by the state. The 62-year-old Colombian explains the reasons honestly: “If I leave here, I will take on a dozen responsibilities. For example, I will have to pay rent for my apartment, pay taxes and will not be given food stamps.”
But they weren't always like this. Miguel once worked for the state as a processor, but he was forced to quit due to a long-term pulmonary illness. Now he and his wife live on alms that their neighbors give them. Sometimes Miguel brings in some money by helping to park cars on the streets. It also happens that they go hungry.
“We’re used to this,” Miguel jokes, “today we eat, tomorrow we don’t. We have adapted."
It seems incredible to us, but in fact people live everywhere. And Miguel and his wife are used to being content with little, appreciating what they have. Near their home they planted a vegetable garden where they grow vegetables and trees. They even have a Christmas tree that they decorate for the New Year.
Miguel never ceases to thank the neighbors who welcomed him to this industrial area of Columbia.
“To reap, you must first sow,” he shares his worldly wisdom, “if you do well, then everything will be fine in your life. If you act badly, be kind enough not to expect anything good.”
The life of Miguel and Maria looks unusual. But they seem really happy with her. This is proven by the fact that for twenty-two years they are not going to change anything, they are not going to change their home to a more comfortable home by our standards.
For 62-year-old former drug addict Miguel Restrepo and his wife Maria Garcia from Medellin, Colombia, life could have ended 22 years ago. They became homeless and had no means of subsistence, but chance helped them find a new home... under a sewer hatch!
Now this is a fairly tolerable home with a bed, an armchair, a TV and a fan. Miguel and Maria also have a dog on their farm named Blackie. Their life is not the easiest, but other homeless people have it much worse. So Miguel and his wife were lucky. However, they are not complaining.
Photos: Raul Arboleda/Getty Images and Albeiro Lopera (REUTERS/Albeiro Lopera)
Miguel Restrepo, Maria Garcia and a dog named Blackie lie on a bed in their home under a manhole in Medellin, Antioquia department, Colombia.
Miguel Restrepo sits at a table where the TV is on.
Maria Garcia drinks tea.
The man helps Blacka get out of the house and onto the street. The dog cannot climb out on his own - it is too high for him.
Blackie faithfully holds the owner's basket in his teeth.
Miguel Restrepo looks out of the hatch.
The family is relaxing in their house of 6 square meters. m and height 1.4 m.
Miguel Restrepo assembles an artificial Christmas tree.
A man examines the electrical network that he installed himself.