Post: #76

Yes and hard as well. I'm in a tower on a high floor and the whole building shaked like hell for a minute. Everyone had to evacuate the building. Communication, except for whatsapp, was down as well for a while. It a very terrifying feeling to be honest, not much you can do.

Latest info is 235 deaths and about 1500 injured.

Post: #77

(04-16-2016 09:32 AM)Brosemite Wrote:  

(04-14-2016 09:21 AM)Going strong Wrote:  My bad , my intel was a few years old indeed. Normally, it wouldn't matter, but, given the current economic and political (impeachment of Dilma?) on-going crisis, it seems that Brazil is changing, fast and for the worse.

But a few years ago, Porto Alegre was very safe, developed, charming, world-famous for its sunsets, universities, industries, football clubs, quality of food and life, and women. It seems all this is changing, fast!

Anyway, offthereservation, as we had great exchanges by email, I'm sending you today some quick info on a Brazilian resort, situated quite close to Porto Alegre, and which is still very safe, and golden, and worth a visit.

Porto Alegre has always had some crime issues, but it's gotten exponentially worse due to state budget not to mention economy. Also, I would say 2nd tier cities like Brasília, Belo Horizonte, and Curitiba (maybe Goiânia too) are much richer than Porto Alegre. They definitely show off their money more often in BH and CWB...and if ppl have money in POA, they're much more subtle about it.

What happened to me was I was dropped in front of my airbnb in Cidade Baixa (neighborhood). I asked the taxi to wait till I entered my apartment, but he was a lazy bastard (corrupt taxis there too). One strange guy walked by me asking for a "light" (Cigarette). I waved off no. As soon as I start opening my gate, he quickly turns around with a huge knife almost cleaver size. I quickly opened the gate and shut it on his ass while screaming afterwards. Street cleaner attended to me as well as building manager of apt.

As for Curitiba, I walked on a relatively busy commercial street with many cameras around as it's typically safe (Close to home and upscale nightlife). Keep in mind this is mid-January where theres still an exodus to the beach & 3AM however. While walking northbound home, a car driving south on a one way street decides to just park next to me for no reason. Guy gets out of passenger seat trying to ask me a quick question. As soon as he got out, I ran north screaming while catching attention of security, etc. Guy panics and gets back in passenger seat as car speeds off.

There's no good questions to ask at 3AM in morning on a semi-secluded street. I could definitely anticipate he was going to pull out a gun though.

I should have added, about Porto Alegre: "very safe" by South American standards. Being a quite "diverse" big Brazilian city, it of course has its dangers and problems... Still, lots of international companies trust Porto Alegre and opened headquarters there, so, it means it is not so bad...

Ok, so anyway, if you want truly 98% safe South American cities, you'll have to travel to less "Caribbean-diversified" and smaller cities, like, Puerto Montt or smaller Southern Chilean cities, or San Martin de los Andes... or maybe a city like Santa Cruz de la Sierra (or Sucre? Manta?), where you are absolutely not likely to be mugged in the streets.

Post: #78

(04-17-2016 12:17 PM)Going strong Wrote:  I should have added, about Porto Alegre: "very safe" by South American standards. Being a quite "diverse" big Brazilian city, it of course has its dangers and problems... Still, lots of international companies trust Porto Alegre and opened headquarters there, so, it means it is not so bad...

Ok, so anyway, if you want truly 98% safe South American cities, you'll have to travel to less "Caribbean-diversified" and smaller cities, like, Puerto Montt or smaller Southern Chilean cities, or San Martin de los Andes... or maybe a city like Santa Cruz de la Sierra (or Sucre? Manta?), where you are absolutely not likely to be mugged in the streets.

I'm not disagreeing with you. Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, and Curitiba are "relatively" safer cities compared to many others in Latin America.

I visited those places in 2012 and 2013 respectively. "Relatively" speaking compared to my first visits however, all three have gotten more dangerous in present day 2016. New problems have also risen "since" companies opened headquarters in those cities as well.

The economic recession resulting in lost jobs, higher prices for everything (inflation), and in the case of Rio Grande do Sul..a state budget crisis that has made once "relatively" safer neighborhoods more dangerous arising from heavily reduced police force & overall public services are causing more safety issues than usual...

Post: #79

(04-20-2016 04:00 PM)Brosemite Wrote:  

(04-17-2016 12:17 PM)Going strong Wrote:  I should have added, about Porto Alegre: "very safe" by South American standards. Being a quite "diverse" big Brazilian city, it of course has its dangers and problems... Still, lots of international companies trust Porto Alegre and opened headquarters there, so, it means it is not so bad...

Ok, so anyway, if you want truly 98% safe South American cities, you'll have to travel to less "Caribbean-diversified" and smaller cities, like, Puerto Montt or smaller Southern Chilean cities, or San Martin de los Andes... or maybe a city like Santa Cruz de la Sierra (or Sucre? Manta?), where you are absolutely not likely to be mugged in the streets.

I'm not disagreeing with you. Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, and Curitiba are "relatively" safer cities compared to many others in Latin America.

I visited those places in 2012 and 2013 respectively. "Relatively" speaking compared to my first visits however, all three have gotten more dangerous in present day 2016. New problems have also risen "since" companies opened headquarters in those cities as well.

The economic recession resulting in lost jobs, higher prices for everything (inflation), and in the case of Rio Grande do Sul..a state budget crisis that has made once "relatively" safer neighborhoods more dangerous arising from heavily reduced police force & overall public services are causing more safety issues than usual...

GS Puerto Montt is a great call. I have been there and its a marvelous little foggy city.

Brosemite also has a good point about the cyclical nature of the crime and economics.

Post: #80

Regarding Manta, just saw this vid:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=253_1461428052

Fuck

Post: #81

(04-22-2016 12:18 AM)Off The Reservation Wrote:  

(04-20-2016 04:00 PM)Brosemite Wrote:  

(04-17-2016 12:17 PM)Going strong Wrote:  I should have added, about Porto Alegre: "very safe" by South American standards. Being a quite "diverse" big Brazilian city, it of course has its dangers and problems... Still, lots of international companies trust Porto Alegre and opened headquarters there, so, it means it is not so bad...

Ok, so anyway, if you want truly 98% safe South American cities, you'll have to travel to less "Caribbean-diversified" and smaller cities, like, Puerto Montt or smaller Southern Chilean cities, or San Martin de los Andes... or maybe a city like Santa Cruz de la Sierra (or Sucre? Manta?), where you are absolutely not likely to be mugged in the streets.

I'm not disagreeing with you. Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, and Curitiba are "relatively" safer cities compared to many others in Latin America.

I visited those places in 2012 and 2013 respectively. "Relatively" speaking compared to my first visits however, all three have gotten more dangerous in present day 2016. New problems have also risen "since" companies opened headquarters in those cities as well.

The economic recession resulting in lost jobs, higher prices for everything (inflation), and in the case of Rio Grande do Sul..a state budget crisis that has made once "relatively" safer neighborhoods more dangerous arising from heavily reduced police force & overall public services are causing more safety issues than usual...

GS Puerto Montt is a great call. I have been there and its a marvelous little foggy city.

Brosemite also has a good point about the cyclical nature of the crime and economics.

Valdivia is even better than Puerto Montt, even more picturesque and quiet, and not foggy. Very safe, too, and quite wealthy.

By the way, the life of Pedro de Valdivia is fascinating... Same with his former lover, fearless Ines de Suarez...

Post: #82

(04-23-2016 03:37 PM)Going strong Wrote:  

(04-22-2016 12:18 AM)Off The Reservation Wrote:  

(04-20-2016 04:00 PM)Brosemite Wrote:  

(04-17-2016 12:17 PM)Going strong Wrote:  I should have added, about Porto Alegre: "very safe" by South American standards. Being a quite "diverse" big Brazilian city, it of course has its dangers and problems... Still, lots of international companies trust Porto Alegre and opened headquarters there, so, it means it is not so bad...

Ok, so anyway, if you want truly 98% safe South American cities, you'll have to travel to less "Caribbean-diversified" and smaller cities, like, Puerto Montt or smaller Southern Chilean cities, or San Martin de los Andes... or maybe a city like Santa Cruz de la Sierra (or Sucre? Manta?), where you are absolutely not likely to be mugged in the streets.

I'm not disagreeing with you. Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, and Curitiba are "relatively" safer cities compared to many others in Latin America.

I visited those places in 2012 and 2013 respectively. "Relatively" speaking compared to my first visits however, all three have gotten more dangerous in present day 2016. New problems have also risen "since" companies opened headquarters in those cities as well.

The economic recession resulting in lost jobs, higher prices for everything (inflation), and in the case of Rio Grande do Sul..a state budget crisis that has made once "relatively" safer neighborhoods more dangerous arising from heavily reduced police force & overall public services are causing more safety issues than usual...

GS Puerto Montt is a great call. I have been there and its a marvelous little foggy city.

Brosemite also has a good point about the cyclical nature of the crime and economics.

Valdivia is even better than Puerto Montt, even more picturesque and quiet, and not foggy. Very safe, too, and quite wealthy.

By the way, the life of Pedro de Valdivia is fascinating... Same with his former lover, fearless Ines de Suarez...

Awesome, I need to check it out.

Post: #83

op whats the latest

Post: #84

(04-14-2016 04:24 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  ^^^
Puebla has a ton of culture and history. The frequent complaints about the place seem to have to do with the looks and attitude of the women there.

Also, I have over thirty years travel experience in Mexico and a fair amount of time spent in Colombia and Mexican girls' attitudes are a million times worse than Colombians'. I couldn't even imagine that being debatable.

I lived in Puebla for a year. The locals are known by Mexicans as the least friendly people in Mexico. I knew affluent locals who hated the locals.

Problem with Mexico is that there are a lot of hot women up until mid-20's then almost no slender ones after 35. So, for me not wife material but 8 months with a young one is fine.