Post: #76

(06-17-2013 03:35 PM)julez Wrote:  Just came back from Medellin last week & can confirm that it's not all that safe - but where is nowadays? I passed as a Columbian from Cali, but still had watch my back. Especially from the cabbies, who were all about trying to get into your business. Don't let them or girls you just met know your real plans. NEVER, I repeat NEVER try to pull a girl at a club from another table/booth unless you get introduced from a guy at that table.

What surprises me is that Medellin has the highest concentration of chicks of any city I have been to but the guys there seemed very possessive.

Other than that I found Columbians to be very friendly and outgoing. But you can't be naive and think that you can role just anywhere - especially if you are a gringo. I didn't see any at any of the clubs I went to.

Its Colombian, not Columbian. Unless Medellin has dramatically changed since I was there last fall (which is possible), I didn't find it all that bad.

(06-17-2013 03:47 PM)Justice Beaver Wrote:  Sorry to hear about your loss WEDO, I plan to go to Colombia in January, for quite a while, will take in every bit of safety info I can get. Anyone that has been there, have they been worried about FARC? I read that two Spanish tourists were recently rescued from being kidnapped and managed to get back home safe.

You'll be fine, don't worry about the FARC, they don't kidnap Gringos from the big cities, as far as I know, but I wouldn't go hiking in the wilderness around Valle de Cauca. You're far more likely to get hit by a car than be kidnapped and in the cities, as long as you take all of the necessary precautions that are mentioned in this thread, you'll be fine. I spent four months there last year and never had any serious problems.

Post: #77

(06-17-2013 03:47 PM)Justice Beaver Wrote:  Sorry to hear about your loss WEDO, I plan to go to Colombia in January, for quite a while, will take in every bit of safety info I can get. Anyone that has been there, have they been worried about FARC? I read that two Spanish tourists were recently rescued from being kidnapped and managed to get back home safe.

The only thing you have to have your guard up for is normal street crime. Never in my 20 years of travel to Colombia have I ever heard of any American ever being kidnapped by FARC from within the city limits of any large city anywhere in Colombia. You pretty much have to go to some small pueblo somewhere before you should start thinking FARC.

Post: #78

Generally, the most dangerous thing in the world is bad information. The govt wants ppl to believe in the FARC dangers etc. Be smart and you are fine practically anywhere, and the more money you have then you can choose to live in safer areas and afford more expensive but safe transportation.

Off the top of your head do you know people who have been killed? Probably and that is all USA based. How many people do you know that die in car accidents? Now run that percentage compared to number of travelers who got killed while traveling.... Numbers don't lie.

Travel fear mongering is just bullshit propaganda.

Post: #79

In my six weeks I have spent in Colombia I have done some absolutely stupid shit and never had any problems.

-Taking a totally random cab home at 3:00am with some American whore after striking out with the Colombianas in Zona Rosa.

-Walking around Medellin with Colombian friends and getting so acclimatized that I felt like I was in Barcelona (which in my experience was just as sketchy). After I struck up a conversation with some locals a gal, with a boyfriend, gave a taxi driver her number for me to call. I had one of my Colombian friends call her and her boyfriend picked up and proceeded to threaten to kill me if he ever saw me again.

-Meeting some guys at a club in Bogota after my travel partner departed for the night. After the club closed we got a cab, some drugs and beer and hung out all night. I honestly felt like I was with close friends back home. They told me the next day to NEVER do what I had done again.

-THE WORST - Taking a 'detour' down to Cali to meet a gal. After arriving in Cali at 7:00am on no sleep (I was partying in Medellin all night) I took a cab to her area which was the biggest shithole I have ever seen immediately south of Cali. I can't remember the name but I quickly hid my watch when the cab driver said 'Peligroso' a couple of times and started shaking his head.

Does this mean I think the country is as safe as the United States? No. Not at all. However, you can not live your life in fear. Some of my best memories were made in Colombia and the experience totally changed my perspective on life. I think it is important to plan ahead and trust your instincts.

Post: #80

(06-17-2013 11:05 PM)WestCoast Wrote:  Generally, the most dangerous thing in the world is bad information. The govt wants ppl to believe in the FARC dangers etc. Be smart and you are fine practically anywhere, and the more money you have then you can choose to live in safer areas and afford more expensive but safe transportation.

Off the top of your head do you know people who have been killed? Probably and that is all USA based. How many people do you know that die in car accidents? Now run that percentage compared to number of travelers who got killed while traveling.... Numbers don't lie.

Travel fear mongering is just bullshit propaganda.

I can tell you of many I know that have been killed, but they are not tourists. A tourist will not likely be a hit target, a tourist in the city won't likely get kidnapped by combos (Not FARC, FARC threat is fake), a tourist won't likely have to even see out of level-6 living areas. In fact, only like 1 to 2 foreigners get killed a year, while there can be 10 or even 20 local assassinations in a single weekend in the metro area alone. thegameoflife confirms what I said : Chances are low (still higher than normal countries) that something will happen to you if you only show up for some weeks in the safe area of town or traveling through safe means.

Post: #81

(04-28-2012 02:35 AM)pitt Wrote:  

(04-27-2012 04:05 AM)tomtud Wrote:  Terrible news for the family. Poor guy.


Rule 2: don't be a hero. Give them exactly what they want calmly.

Although im not necessarily against your rule number 2, i have seen guys getting robbed and giving away their goods in situations where they could get away, sometimes reacting can not be that bad. I remember when i was in DR, 8 dominican kids (aged 17,18,19) walked up to this black american old cat who was in the military during his younger years, they asked him for his laptop and he quickly broken the arms of two of these young kids and the rest just ran away like little pussies.

If the guy is loaded (carries a gun), then there is a high probability that i will be giving him my goods, if i see that i could fight and get away, then i will.

I remember this black guy walking into the train station one time and asked this white guy for his phone (while he was talking on it), the white guy just gave him the phone and the black cat just ran away. Im sure if the white guy resisted, nothing would have happened (this thief was mad pussy, i could smell it).

I am sure if white guys start reacting more, they will be less of a target. Remember this, thieves target weak people and they usually see white people as weak in that context. Although i had a white british friend who was a straight G, some guy tried to rob him in Rio de Janeiro and he has beaten the shit out of this thief.

Now, if i was in the same situation as the gringo that was murdered,then yes, i would have given the thieves my valuables, i wouldnt react when a guy puts a gun in my face, thats just mad stupid.

I grew up in the hood of La zurza in Dominican Republic, most of the cats I hang out on the regular used to rob everybody and anybody. If you are asked to give what you have, just give what you have. Don't be a hero. I have seem it too many times. Dominican gangsters are not afraid to clock the tully.

The city is particularly safe if you avoid the northern parts of it. Anything with Villa in front of it be careful.

Post: #82

(06-17-2013 10:47 PM)WEDO Wrote:  

(06-17-2013 03:47 PM)Justice Beaver Wrote:  Sorry to hear about your loss WEDO, I plan to go to Colombia in January, for quite a while, will take in every bit of safety info I can get. Anyone that has been there, have they been worried about FARC? I read that two Spanish tourists were recently rescued from being kidnapped and managed to get back home safe.

The only thing you have to have your guard up for is normal street crime. Never in my 20 years of travel to Colombia have I ever heard of any American ever being kidnapped by FARC from within the city limits of any large city anywhere in Colombia. You pretty much have to go to some small pueblo somewhere before you should start thinking FARC.

I'm going to be in Monteria for about 3 months I'd say, I know it's a city, but it's small city and it's the northern area of the country, just appreciate the replies from everyone, cheers fellas.

Post: #83

Bogota, A DEA agent has died in an apparent robbery attempt in Colombia, U.S. Ambassador Michael McKinley said Friday. Colombian authorities said the American agent was stabbed four times.

That's pretty fucked up: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/21...l?ir=World

Post: #84

(04-29-2012 08:09 AM)elabayarde Wrote:  Well, Did you consider the last option which takes place where they intend to kill you because of your being a potential witness(many ARMED criminals think this way).

Found this old thread on a very important topic as tourists are still falling prey in Medellin. Thought I`d add my two cents. The above is an excellent point. Cooperation by no means guarantees your safety though it`s usually the best way to go. An exception may be a kidnapping situation where chances of survival would be small.

But I`ll share something that amazes me about these discussions, that go back many years up to the present time, both online and on the ground talking to other travelers. That`s the assumption that you`re going to get a "gentleman`s robbery," or someone standing in front of you with a weapon making demands. It might come down that way, but in Latin America it very often goes down in a passive-aggressive way with a stealth attack, superior numbers swinging fists and/or other weapons. They then clean out the pockets of the victim and run. There`s no opportunity to cooperate or resist...

Another common passive-aggressive angle is drugging which I`m sure most here are familiar with.

Here are a few more points. Ever notice how about every time the media reports one of these killings the victim is said to have "resisted a robbery"? Who says? The police, media, or whomever that may well be trying to protect a country`s image by blaming the victim? Plus how is anyone going to know if the victim resisted unless there are third party witnesses? Very often there aren`t any.

Here are some suggestions from a guy who has spent a lot of time in Central and South America over the last 16 years.

If you walk at night try to go in groups and stay in well lit areas around open businesses. Avoid getting drunk. Dress down. Be aware of your surroundings. Be very mindful in clubs. Don`t let strangers hand you drinks. Watch your drink. If you leave a drink unattended for some reason dump it. Never go anywhere with someone you may meet in a club. Making a good effort at all this will cut down your risks considerably. Good luck and be safe.

Post: #85

Tom could you please repost that in the Colombia thread as well, this info should be repeated often to keep forum members and lurkers safe. This info applies to most cities in Latin America, stay safe guys, you can't bang chicks if you are dead.

Post: #86

I was threatened by a pimp in Medellin after refusing to pay a prostitute. Men were then hanging outside my hotel the next morning on motorbikes so I had to be "smuggled" out of the hotel by a security car with tinted windows while I was laying down in the back seat. They also threatened to shoot the people working at the reception so I don't know how it went for them.

Post: #87

(01-04-2019 04:47 PM)Jozi Wrote:  I was threatened by a pimp in Medellin after refusing to pay a prostitute. Men were then hanging outside my hotel the next morning on motorbikes so I had to be "smuggled" out of the hotel by a security car with tinted windows while I was laying down in the back seat. They also threatened to shoot the people working at the reception so I don't know how it went for them.

How did you get yourself into that situation, why didn't you just pay her?

Old WEDO, what a legend, he was one of the first RVF guys I ever met, back in February 2012 in Cali. Last I heard, he is retired and living it up in Medellin, I met him there a couple of years ago, I should get in touch again, he has great stories and a lot of good advice to share.

Post: #88

Sidney Crosby said it best. "You can't bang chicks if you are dead". Now Tom, repeat this 10x out loud.

Pay the prostitute. Even if she misled you , chalk it up as a loss. Lesson learned. You can haggle after the fact if it came to that. I got swindled in el Centro by a shoe polisher. Once his friends all gathered around. Felt pissed off. I thought about telling him to fuck off, but being brainwashed by the media to ohhh help the poorer people etc, I gave him a chance to make money. Did a terrible job. But lesson learned. Not to buy shit in Centro. Especially services like this.
Now, for those partaking in prostitution in el Centro. there are other forums for it. Go seek advice over there.

Post: #89

Wouldn’t the security car and hassle cost more than just paying the pimp to avoid the drama?