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Is it just Cartago?

The jerk factor in Cartago seems to be high. Many people are very rude, disrespectful and their actions at times could be construed as aggressive. I'd like to know if this is the way it is in all of Colombia is it worse here.

Just today when my wife (born and raised in Cartago), baby (in her arms) and I were walking back from our baby receiving a vacunation, some woman came from behind us and then as she was barely past us, cut directly infront of us to enter a store. We both had to stop dead in our tracks to avoid slamming into her. I wanted to Bitch slap her.

Then this afternoon we went for a ridfe on our motorcycles. At least 3 times people put my wife in bad situations. She's still learning and is a little bit more slow (not much) and cautious than the others on the road. There was absolutely no reason for that treatment. As we were entering Cartago on our way back I started to make a turn at a corner. I was close to the curb and as I was just about to make my turn one of those van/bus jerks entered into the turn and cut me off. He had at least 10 feet of space on his other side. My wife saw what he did and said when he passed her, he nearly sideswiped her. Again he had over 10 feet of space on his other side.

What gives?

This crap happens just about everytime we go out for a ride. Sometimes I wish I had my stateside.9mm to put a few caps in some of these peoples radiators. We still walk a lot and often see things that just aren't necessary. I turns a beautiful country into a shit hole. What a shame.

By Lowell on Aug 28, 2007, 13:47 in Friendly Talkzone.

Mr. Hollywood says on Aug 28, 2007, 13:52:

Colombian driving manners suck. That's about it.

I've lost my shit more than once when some asshole in a car tried to run me and my newborn over for having the audacity to cross the street.

robi666 says on Aug 28, 2007, 14:18:

Mr. H is about right, although I would add things about driving are much much worse on the coast than in Medellin, like much worse is people education there, while here in Medellin I find people act in a civil manner and a lot kind.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

Simon says on Aug 28, 2007, 14:23:

"The jerk factor in Cartago seems to be high. Many people are very rude, disrespectful and their actions at times could be construed as aggressive. I'd like to know if this is the way it is in all of Colombia is it worse here."

I find your commments to be "rude and disrepespectful"! People drive badly here, yes, but don't make it out to be as if Colombians act like that when they're not behind the wheel as well! If you don't like our country, then get the fok out!!!

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

robi666 says on Aug 28, 2007, 14:29:

Funny Simon, "get the fok out" it is just what I did: left Cartagena and, sad to say, people was one of the reason for doing it. Surely not the main reason. Not even that I did not like the people there, much better than many places I've been living in the past. But I found that paisas are much better and easy to live with.

Boatygringo says on Aug 28, 2007, 14:30:

It´s the same in Cartagena, probably worse. I can´t count the times I have been cut off almost run down and hit head on by busses cabs and drivers of big SUV´s who know the road is theirs, and how dare I be on it, with my moto. Moto taxies aren´t much better they seem to have think they have a God given right to pass you at any time if it´s safe or not. If you try to cross the road when you are walking the trafic will speed up just to make you hurry across. and dont even talk about running red lights, I once saw a bus cut across three lanes of traffic to turn left on a red light.
Another anoying thing is cutting in line in front of you, they have no shame when you call them on it and insist they were first. The same with getting on a bus they will just push in front of you to get on first. In my opinion Clombians on the coast have no respect for any one. It drives me crazy.

Boatygringo

robi666 says on Aug 28, 2007, 14:34:

"It´s the same in Cartagena, probably worse."
Boatygringo, Lowell was talking about Cartagena! :-)

Boatygringo says on Aug 28, 2007, 14:41:

Dumb me I didn´t know Cartagena had shortened it´s name to Carto?

Boatygringo

Boatygringo says on Aug 28, 2007, 14:46:

Gib that clip is priceless I wonder if the old lady knew exacly where the air bag sensor was located, I bet that cost the driver a ton of $$$$$$$$$$$ in to repalce it in Colombia

Boatygringo

cassini77 says on Aug 28, 2007, 14:49:

Is it not Cartago in Valle ?

robi666 says on Aug 28, 2007, 15:01:

But if you want to know what being rude is, go to live in the USVI, or the BVI, or St Vincent, or St Maarten (dutch side) or any island with anglo-saxons black people inhabitants.

pedro says on Aug 28, 2007, 15:31:

It's the same all over the country.

The cutting in line thing happens all the time in Medellin. At my local bakery, it's a crush to get to the front counter. Which of course means you can never see what's available that day, because people are blocking the whole breadth of the counter.

I feel like I'm back on the basketball court. Blocking out. Always got to keep your body between the man or lady behind you and the counter.

que nota!

robi666 says on Aug 28, 2007, 15:36:

Pedro, i really don't see that in Medallo... well I guess that I, being Italian, am used to a different standard than a Scandinavian :-)
Interesting difference of perception, though. Pedro, are you Colombian? Have you been living on the coast?

gringoloid says on Aug 28, 2007, 15:46:

so what do you guys do with all the cutting ahead in line? this is annoying.

the horn blowing to; why is everybody blowin the horns? there is no reason for it.

you guys talk about murders and kidnappings everyday here but getting run over by a car seems very likely.

peteyw says on Aug 28, 2007, 15:49:

Lowell,

This comment is not to be judgemental, but I just have to ask you.. Why in the world would you have your wife on a motorcycle in Cartagena any time day or night and you have a young baby at home?

I have been in Cartagena for 2 years and every single person here whom I know who rides motos with any regularity has been injured in a moto accident....everyone!

Just examples.. my doorman (broken arm); an employee (kidney damage); a friends wife (severed foot, happen on Christmas Eve); a former girlfriend (fractured arm and leg), an American friend who didn't heed my advice about motos (severe burns).

In an average month in Cartagena 3 people die in motorcycle accidents. If I ever saw my wife on a moto here I'd snatch her off in a second.

Please Lowell, you seem like a nice guy and its really none my business; but please teach your wife to ride in a nice quiet suburban neighborhood in the states. Not here. I don't want you raising that baby alone.

Peteyw

pedro says on Aug 28, 2007, 15:59:

Robi, I probably should clarify. By saying "It's the same all over the country", I was trying to say that no place in Colombia is immune. Not that the level of civismo is exactly the same.

No doubt we would both agree that the coast is worse than paisaland for this behaviour. I was giving my bakery experience as a counterpoint to GIB's speculation that maybe it doesn't happen in Medellin.

I'm from Australia, lived in Europe for a few years. Currently living in Cartagena, so as not to be separated from my girlfriend, but it's only temporary. I have chosen Medellin and will get back there to live before the year is out.

que nota!

junkyak says on Aug 28, 2007, 16:00:

lol gringoinbogota that vid was hilarious

Morrongo says on Aug 28, 2007, 16:36:

....you know why there are so many deaths on motos? about 99% have no idea how to drive them.No training, no tests...A common sight here in Cali is two on the moto with their child between them,with no protection,in heavy traffic.A sight that I never been comfortable with-

Lowell says on Aug 28, 2007, 17:04:

I live in Cartago, Valle de Cauca. The woman who cut in front of us was walking behind us and we wern't walking slow. I take my wife out between 12 and 2 pm when there's less traffic and the baby is naping. We often spend hours walking to different small parks. You see a lot of real life that way. I saw a person open a glass door into a person once, seriously injuring her foot. That isn't cool. Simon I love Colombia. It's some of your people that I may not care for. It's as if they have a huge chip on their shoulder ALL the time! And it''s not just the driving and walking. It's general behavior. After a while it sours their faces permanently. I understand the dangers of motos. They are like a necessity here. I don't know how I could ever keep my family away from them. They'd hate me. Alive, uninjured, but hateful.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

robi666 says on Aug 28, 2007, 17:07:

Wow, Boaty, i was wrong... Cartago... not Cartagena!

Morrongo says on Aug 28, 2007, 17:29:

Lowell...I know, its impossible to keep them off the motos!! but you can pass on a wealth of knowledge on how to drive the bloody things. Keep safe mate !!

Gator says on Aug 28, 2007, 18:02:

Just SOP

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

john_stark says on Aug 28, 2007, 21:50:

I know somebody who accidentally cut another driver off on a Medellin traffic circle. The other car chased them for a bit shooting at them out the window like in the movies. Damm you gotta love Colombia hearing stories like that.

Lowell says on Aug 29, 2007, 08:49:

Yep, here in Colombia you best be careful who you piss off!

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

bufalo says on Aug 29, 2007, 11:40:

I've been lucky as hell I guess, because I have pissed off some no-no's by telling them off and nothing ever happened. I've been real patient lately, but two days ago I started telling everyone off. Since then I've finally gotten paid and others have returned saying they are sorry and could I please do some work for them with advances. As I said before, the only way of getting anything done around here is by being a total Ahole.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

Lowell says on Aug 29, 2007, 14:48:

kindness is weakness, no good deed goes unpunished, leading by example is foolish, logic doesn't exist and for get about respect.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"