How safe is it for a gringo to live in Bogota

Miguel says on Dec 13, 2004, 09:15:

Huge differences Between Bogota and Barranquilla, as you may know already; population, climate, culture; this will be an interesting thread. You should check out Bogota in person.

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juancegomez says on Dec 13, 2004, 09:26:

Bogotá can be safe enough, in my opinion, provided that you take the necessary precautions that have been mentioned in many other messages on this board (keep a low profile, don't put yourself in an obviously risky situation, stay alert, get advice from locals with experience and fellow foreigners, etc. and so on).

There's always going to be some risks, but they can be minimized.

Barranquilla is a much more relaxed place, from personal experience, as it's a smaller city and people tend to be much more open and friendly, while in Bogotá, as in most big cities, people tend to be more self-centered, in a rush and relatively wary of others, at least initially, before opening up, so to speak.

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elmodefoque says on Dec 13, 2004, 09:39:

Barranquilla is one of the safest, most fun city in Colombia, you will come across many people like me, enough said.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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rash9000 says on Dec 13, 2004, 11:15:

pretty safe

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LaloG says on Dec 13, 2004, 15:56:

Think of Bogotà as ANY large metropolitan center anywhere in the world, and the precautions that would be neccessary to be out and about and you will find Bogotà no different. Dark deserted streets after a certain time at night, is just asking for it. The city is safe if you aren`t too stupid about what`s going on around you.

BTW, there are some bodacious pickpockets that work crowds here, especially on Septema on Sundays. Gringos are prime targets, because they stand out and usually have cash on them. Best not to carry important papers in a wallet there.
LaloG

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elmodefoque says on Dec 13, 2004, 16:15:

hey gringoinbogota, if it was up to me, my name would be gringoouttahere. that rain and that damn cold and cloudy weather sounds like a nightmare, almost as bad as NYC, but a least this is freaking NY. i love the heat in barranquilla, there is nothing better than sweating like a pig, makes me feel manly, so i stink a little bit, real man do.
i was in bogota for a couple days in a nice hotel with hot water, i don't know what the hell they meant by hot water,but that thing was ice cold. i never want to go back!

I'll get there, when I get there!

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elmodefoque says on Dec 13, 2004, 16:30:

avianca put us up en el capital, something like that, all i did was look out that window, and saw nobody around and it looked cold. i just wanted it to be 8 am so i could be on that plane to cartagena. that place felt depressing.

I'll get there, when I get there!

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sandra_pas says on Dec 14, 2004, 11:29:

hey dont freak him, bogota is cold, is safe, i mean ive been here y entire life and havent been robed once, not once, just dont go to a cheap hotel, dont go south i mean i dont like it, i go as far a la candelaria, its far enough, and west and east but not south, i love it here the thing tourist dibt know where to be and where to go, so they end up in huge hellholes and end up hating the city,
walk like a local fast, like when you go to new york, dont look up thats how you can tell tourist, in every large city, walk secure like you know the place, if you get lost keep going until you find someone safe or with a friendly face you can ask, its a city like every other one in the united states, the streets are smaller and right now most of it its under construction, nothing like barranquilla cause its a smaller city any question post it ill answer it with pleasure. sandraPAS

sandraPAS

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sandra_pas says on Dec 14, 2004, 11:32:

ps: its a great place to live, and no worries about the kidnapping thing its not as shown on tv SandraPAS

sandraPAS

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Mr. Hollywood says on Dec 14, 2004, 11:48:

11,500 feet? GringoinBogota, if you're living at 11,500 feet in Bogota you must be up in the church at Monserrate. The majority of the city is about 8,400 feet.

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kernow62 says on Dec 14, 2004, 12:33:

He lives in the clouds. The lack of oxygen can addle your brain, be careful. ;-)

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svrider says on Dec 19, 2004, 16:28:

Thanks for all the good advice. It seems if I can handle Detroit, Bogota should not be a problem. I'm going for it and I'm pumped.

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suzannyo says on Dec 19, 2004, 21:14:

You're in Detroit?? Hey there! I'm in Grand Rapids, MI and I spent 3 months in Bogota this fall. If you can handle the crappy weather in Michigan, Bogota weather will seem like paradise...I'm so homesick for the sun right now that I can hardly stand it...going back to Bogota in February and can't wait. You'll love it there!! Best of luck!

Suzanne

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