May 2nd Travel Advisory from the British Govt

Mr. Hollywood says on May 2, 2006, 16:17:

Everything they say about the potential run-up in terrorist violence around the elections is completely credible. And given the expectation that Uribe will win, I'd say it's safe to expect terrorist violence to spike leading up to the inaugeration, as well.

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juanalejo says on May 2, 2006, 17:50:

Inaugurations are always on the 7th of August, so still a few months to go.

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MacGringo says on May 3, 2006, 04:42:

I couldn't get onto the web page to read the article.
Because of the elections, does this mean, in general that terrorist violence increases? Does violence or attacks towards tourists increase?
I'll be in Bogota from June 17 - July 10.

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toneloc24 says on May 3, 2006, 12:31:

GringoD Yeah, one would think that TOURISTS are being kidnapped and murdered on a regular basis, but it's just not getting reported anywhere. One big cover-up. LOL!!!

In actuality, as has played out over the past few months, who have actually been the targets? Colombians. The sister of Gaviria, Transmilenio, Ingrid Betancourt, etc. This has always been the case.

Tourists might get targeted for petty street crimes, like pickpocketing. Maybe for millionaire (ATM) runs, although I question how often. Colombians face the wrath of the truly terroristic acts.

Standard advice to be followed, election time or not. Colombia is a dangerous place. Less dangerous than the past, but still dangerous. Just be aware, not paranoid.

If you attempt to speak decent Spanish in this very-Spanish speaking country, the risks go down. You will make friends who will look out for your best interest, your life. Sometimes they are overly cautious for you, but that comes with the territories of having Colombian friends. LOL!!!

If you insist on not trying to adapt to the environment and culture into which you will be surrounded, meaning not being able to communicate (speaking AND listening to what's being said), the risks increase.

As a tourist, I just returned from another trip to Colombia recently. Again, never a single problem. However, I haven't become complacent. Speaking Spanish, I find the taxi drivers to be more fearful of me than me of them. Once we talk a bit more, they relax and become ambassadors to their respective cities.

"Don't tase me, bro!!!!"

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MacGringo says on May 3, 2006, 13:58:

Cheers Gringo D for the article.

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juancegomez says on May 3, 2006, 14:51:

All in all, scary but overall pretty realistic Other than that, I'd point out that the specific "political times" that could best be avoided are probably the days/weeks immediately leading up to May 28 and to August 7, independently measured.

In other words, if I were a tourist that already intended to visti, I wouldn't come here immediately before / after both of the above dates, but I wouldn't rule out finding some sort of "hole" in my calendar between the two dates (say, sometime around the middle of June up to the middle of July).

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utopiacowboy says on May 3, 2006, 16:03:

I always make the cab drivers nervous because they know I am going to slam the door of their cabs. Some of them just about kill themselves running around the cab trying to get to the door before I can slam it. Too late buddy! BANG!

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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daver says on May 3, 2006, 16:11:

UTC,

I can't get that one right. I had two cabbies on my first trip to Medellín who nearly shit themselves when I slammed the door shut.

OK, now I understand that Colombian assembled automobiles are about as tuff as all the fluff in your drier, but I try to close it gently and it only half closes. So I try again, and it only half closes, and then again, and then the cabbie is mad because I took 3 door closures of the life of his door.

My wife has it down to a science, but I just can't seem to find that perfect force needed.

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utopiacowboy says on May 3, 2006, 16:18:

You can never hope to emulate her soft yet sufficient touch, Dave. It's not even worth trying because it just leads to door frustration for both you and the cabbie as you repeatedly try to get the door shut without slamming it. Better to just unleash the brute and let it rip! Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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utopiacowboy says on May 3, 2006, 19:12:

Of course, GringoD, my Colombian stepkids are door slamming veterans by now. I would have loved to have seen the looks on people's faces last summer when they were back in Colombia slammin' it up. You're right, nobody tells you until the first time you do it. Or in my case the 200th time.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

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Rubiazo says on May 3, 2006, 22:09:

Which is it somebody else had said that nobody died in the Transmilenio bombs this past month. They threw a Molotov into one bus, but it didn't go off and everybody got off safely. I think they are confusing it with the time they tried in 2003 and did kill a couple people.

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juanalejo says on May 4, 2006, 16:02:

Transmilenio It was not the red buses, it was the green feeder buses. Two fire bombs were thrown into these buses in south Bogota, killing one child and strongly injuring another kid and a man, both who died later on. As Tinto says, about 20 people were injured in the incident.

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juancegomez says on May 5, 2006, 19:48:

Yes, they were the green buses, but.... Actually, from what has been recently revealed, the explosives were apparently internal, not external, in an abandoned bag. I wasn't sure about this either, but after reading a bit that seems to be the case in at least one of the instances.

That being the case, they must have been relatively low-medium power, compared to the explosives used in other terrorist acts.

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