There are real stories that surpass fiction. Pablo Escobar, the legendary and feared head of the Medellín drug cartel, took his family on vacation to the United States in 1981. During this trip, they visited the famous Disney World amusement park, where, according to their son Juan Pablo, their dad treated them like kings, buying unlimited passes and souvenirs for his children.
The visit to Disney was significant because it represented a moment of happiness and normalcy for a family involved in the dangerous business of drug trafficking. For a moment, they were able to enjoy together without worries or the pressures of their criminal lifestyle. In the book, entitled "Pablo Escobar, my father", Juan Pablo says that his father took the family to the United States to visit Disney World in Orlando and also the White House.
Juan Pablo explained how his dad was very generous to them at the amusement park: "My dad bought us unlimited access to the rides and attractions and gave us lots of souvenirs." It seemed that the family was enjoying a normal trip, but Juan Pablo comments in the book that his dad was in trouble with the law at the time.
Pablo Escobar with his family on vacation at Disney.
An adventure through the White House
However, the real madness occurred during their visit to the White House, where they sneaked through a door that was open. The Escobar family strolled through the gardens and took photographs without being arrested. As exciting as it may have been, in retrospect, the illegal entry into the White House was a gross irresponsibility.
Although the story of Escobar's visit to Disney seems surprising, it could be read as a moment of humanity in a man classified as a criminal; A time when he did everything possible to provide his family with a happy life, but that did not prevent the commission of his crimes.
Escobar's visit to Disney and the White House remains one of the most curious stories about this man's life.
Escobar's visit to Disney and the White House remains one of the most curious stories about this man's life. The idea of a notorious criminal visiting one of the world's most popular tourist destinations is itself a kind of irony. However, this visit also demonstrates that, despite his life in crime, Escobar was a man who truly cared about his family.
Although it is difficult to justify Escobar's actions, some argue that the way he treated his family should not be ignored, as it may provide a fuller view of the complexity of this particular man's life and criminals in general.
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