MDE-CTG bus problems

ixent says on Feb 22, 2008, 03:43:

Would have thought it's definitely safe enough to do during the day. Still, I guess the safety situation of a particular area can change pretty quickly.

tomtom33 says on Feb 22, 2008, 04:32:

In my limited knowledge of bus safety, this has been a safe route for several years. My novia has taken this route maybe 12 times in the last 4 years. She generally travels at night.

Apparently something happened. The day trip at this point in time is "no go" as well.

robi666 says on Feb 22, 2008, 05:02:

As far as I know nothing changed about this route. Did not hear about anything.

"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."

tomtom33 says on Feb 22, 2008, 05:47:

I just spoke to her again. The problem is in a pueblo about 5 hours from MDE. I don't understand all of it, but she said that the FARC was involved. The bus is running, but she feels that it is too dangerous for her. She is considering catching the 4:00 am bus out of MDE tomorrow morning.

ixent says on Feb 22, 2008, 06:00:

Well, it will be 9am by the time she passes the pueblo where the incident has happened, so broad daylight. There will hopefully be an army presence by now as well, given it's quite a main road. So the odds are she'll be ok (but that is not to say that something bad can't happen any place at any time)

robi666 says on Feb 22, 2008, 06:16:

Well, the only thing I know is about an attack of FARC to a bus in Antioquia the last 4th of December.
But, it was not on the route to Cartagena.

Diciembre 4 de 2007
Niño de seis años y su padre murieron en ataque de las Farc a un bus en San Carlos (Antioquia)

Guerrilleros del noveno frente atacaron un bus de Coonorte en El Amarradero, vereda La Esperanza del municipio de San Carlos.
Un miembro, al parecer, del frente noveno de ese grupo guerrillero disparó indiscriminadamente contra el automotor, informó el gobernador de Antioquia, Anibal Gaviria.

Las víctimas fueron identificadas como Hernán Darío Hincapié Naranjo, de 32 años de edad, y de su hijo Esneider, de 6.

Los dos murieron cuando tres guerrilleros del noveno frente de las Farc dispararon con fusiles Ak-47 y Galil contra un bus de Coonorte que transportaba a 24 pasajeros y el conductor.

El ataque ocurrió a las 4:30 p.m. del pasado lunes en El Amañadero, vereda La Esperanza del municipio de San Carlos, oriente antioqueño, lugar distante 8 kilómetros del casco urbano.

El conductor logró maniobrar el bus y llegó hasta La Esperanza, a 2 kilómetros del lugar de los hechos. El vehículo tenía impactos de bala en la parte trasera, el lado derecho, y en las llantas.

Hincapié era un labriego que habitaba en la vereda Vallejuelos, cercana al casco urbano de San Carlos. En la mañana del lunes viajó al municipio de Rionegro para una cita médica de su hijo.

El próximo fin de semana, en la casa de los Hincapié Clavijo habría fiesta. La niña mayor haría la Primera Comunión. Pero el alegre preparativo de este sacramento se convirtió el lunes en tristeza.

Sor Mary Clavijo, vestida de negro, junto a su hija, velaba ayer los ataúdes de su esposo y de su pequeño.

El alcalde de San Carlos, Nicolás Guzmán, dijo ayer que su municipio tenía varios meses de no verse afectado por la violencia.
El último homicidio registrado fue el pasado 7 de julio. Desconocidos asesinaron en su casa al campesino Luis Arturo García.

"Se respira un ambiente diferente, de más tranquilidad. Venimos en un esfuerzo grande por recuperar el turismo, tanto que tenemos el registro de 600 carros en un puente festivo", contó un poblador.

Hoy a las 10 de la mañana, la comunidad se volcará al sepelio de Hincapié y su pequeño. Habrá manifestación en el parque y una marcha hasta el cementerio para rechazar la violencia que no deja de golpear a este municipio, que tiene 22.000 habitantes y que sigue siendo pasto de disputa entre el frente 9 de las Farc y 'paras' no desmovilizados

"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."

Gator says on Feb 22, 2008, 10:04:

We have heard nothing about bus robberies in that area. Really well traveled route with lots of military/police presence.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

vicshere says on Feb 22, 2008, 10:06:

tom have you considered that maybe she was busy ....wink wink nudge nudge

listo

tomtom33 says on Feb 22, 2008, 10:07:

Thanks for the feedback. My Colombiana means an awful lot to me.

morphus says on Feb 22, 2008, 10:17:

Tomtom, would you trade her for all the grillas in Medellin?

tomtom33 says on Feb 22, 2008, 10:23:

No sir. Fortunately she understands my immaturity when it comes to chasing skirts.

Medellin Traveler says on Feb 22, 2008, 15:51:

Why do some of you guys feel it's okay to make disrespectful and demeaning comments about tomtom's novia, after he asks a serious question regarding his concern for her safety!?!

Medellin es una chimba! www.medellintraveler.com

RAAAY says on Feb 22, 2008, 15:54:

M.T.............you smokin some funny shit over in Windy town...?

Only one person said something semi stupid.............and nobody listens to him anyway.......


When are you coming to Medellin again...??

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

durito says on Feb 22, 2008, 16:05:

Flying will always be safer than the bus -- but, good luck convincing her of that.

Most people will take recent occurances far more seriously than anything else. So, when a bridge collapses in Minnesota, suddenly lots of people in the US wont drive over a bridge.

I have no knowledge about the particular incident that happened on this route -- but my thoughts are that it didn't instantly become unsafe (vs. unsafe before) -- someone just got unlucky. In fact, given that incident, it's probably safer now.

Medellin Traveler says on Feb 22, 2008, 16:13:

RAAAY,
I know, but I didn't want to point fingers, 'cuase they always end up getting easily offended, but have no problem offending others.

Next trip to Medellin? I don't know :O(

I have lots to take care back at home, waiting for Chicago to warm up before I can take care of a few things, that need taking care of before making another trip. :O(

Medellin es una chimba! www.medellintraveler.com

RAAAY says on Feb 22, 2008, 16:19:

Time to move here permanent...........keep Chicago for vacations...........summertime vacations

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

Alma del Norte says on Feb 22, 2008, 16:43:

"In this city of Chicago, when the evening shadows fall
There are people dreamin' of the hills of Donegal"

La vida es una rutina

RAAAY says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:13:

Hey..............very good Alma.............I'm from Donegal................ten beers and I can sing the whole song........................

Pass the Peroni..

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

Alma del Norte says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:16:

You can't beat the Crusty Whore himself...

La vida es una rutina

RAAAY says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:18:

Yeah.................he died recently................he was something else......

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

Alma del Norte says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:19:

No way!!! I'm truly shocked, When!!

La vida es una rutina

RAAAY says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:22:

Shit....I just tried to look it up.............was it one of the Dubliners...?

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

RAAAY says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:25:

It appears he's doing a show tonight in Castlebar.................so.......there's a good chance I'm mistaken.....................unless it's his ghost.........................sorry about wrong info......especially of that nature....................



Fri 22/02/08

WESTPORT

CASTLECOURT HOTEL
Sold Out
Castlecourt Hotel | 098 55088
Hot Shot Records | 096 21637


Sat 23/02/08

WESTPORT

CASTLECOURT HOTEL
Sold Out
Castlecourt Hotel | 098 55088
Hot Shot Records | 096 21637

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

Alma del Norte says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:25:

Christy Moore you plank. I'm gonna have to do more research now! When are you going to spend more time at the other place? the HUBB. It's like having a stalker isn't it?

La vida es una rutina

RAAAY says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:28:

Ha Ha.....................hummmmm.............who could you be.........
Funny...I was just going to log in there................

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

Alma del Norte says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:30:

Thank f****for that, he's playing Thu 13/03/08
BALLINASLOE. I've just smoked 2 Marlboro Rojos and I'm going for a lie down.

La vida es una rutina

Alma del Norte says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:35:

Ah well, I have a different persona por alla, unlike you.

La vida es una rutina

Alma del Norte says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:44:

Buenas Noches.

La vida es una rutina

RAAAY says on Feb 22, 2008, 17:44:

Slan agus beannacht................oiche mhaith

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

vicshere says on Feb 22, 2008, 18:03:

maybe you didnt get your email but you were to stop addressing me or my comments...or did you just forget

listo

tomtom33 says on Feb 23, 2008, 04:03:

I took no offense at Morph's comment. We are friends.

manINred says on Feb 23, 2008, 10:22:

I can believe that. This route I was adviced against taking by my relatives, since they told me it was dangerous. I travelled it about 4-5 maybe more times, never had any problems.

Oftentimes they'll close down a portion of the highway at certain times at night, and the buses will have to wait an hour or two if you take the night buses.

It's good that people are updating others about the safety situation of the roads. It is important to do so in all of colombia, not just the more sketchy south.

tomtom33 says on Feb 23, 2008, 13:56:

She called this morning after she passed the danger area. Of course there are road problems now. There has been a lot of rain in them thar mountains.

LilaM says on Feb 23, 2008, 19:19:

Glad to hear that tomtom33, I was reading that the problems despite of the rain was that, two policemen were killed in Tarazá wich is right on the way to the coast... for sure she is going to arrive safe.

"Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer." Ed. Cunningham

tomtom33 says on Feb 24, 2008, 03:37:

Thanks for the info on the police deaths.

She arrived last night after a 16 hour ride. An accident south of Turbaco slowed them more. For those who don't know, that ride should take about 12 hours.

robi666 says on Feb 24, 2008, 03:42:

The protest in Puerto Valdivia and Tarazà.

http://www.eltiempo.com/tiempoimpreso/edicionimpresa/nacion/2008-02-21...

"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."