Most dangerous big city?

Enrique187 says on Dec 30, 2007, 23:27:

Please note that I am not knocking Cali. I would really like to visit. I just want to know if the warnings are warranted.

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TioCharlie says on Dec 30, 2007, 23:41:

All cities anywhere in the world carry an elememnt of danger. As for Colombia, I too have run into questionalbe people. I have found the people in the Cartegena - Barannquilla - Santa Marta area to be very friendly and helpful. But don't get me wrong, there are questionable people there too, as well as drugs (sad to say that much of the country suffers from this problem), FARC, and normal petty criminals. I don't know when the last time you were in Colombia but you can get into as much trouble in Cali as you could in Chicago. Just use common sense, don't go to the "bad" part of town (if you don't know where that is, ask someone), keep your valuables secure, say NO to drugs. Explain to your cousins that you would like to visit Cali and would like someone to accompany you. I do not recommend driving too much to the various cities sue to everchaning situations with paramilitaries.

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goin_south says on Dec 30, 2007, 23:45:

La_Campiña lives there.
What does that tell ya?
Have you read his memoires?
He's very dangerous

'what does it mean, when one of you (colombians) tell another: YOU WERE NOT/ARE NOT. 'COLOMBIAN ENOUGH'?? jejeje..a mixture, I think, of stupidity mixed with a false sense of arrogance.. How 'colombian' do you have to be? to be 'colombian enough

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MitchAlvarez says on Dec 31, 2007, 00:33:

cali esta malo ahora. i say go to medellin or bogota since you want big cities. pereira is small but fun.

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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scotty says on Dec 31, 2007, 00:50:

every major city in the world is dangerous. you think Bogota is dangerous go to Los Angeles, try Detroit, or better yet the nations capital Washington DC. See how it looks in Mexico City or Sau Paulo.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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MitchAlvarez says on Dec 31, 2007, 00:51:

yea but im talkin about big cities in colombia.

"Ingrid callate la jeta!! Stay in France"

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Dec 31, 2007, 01:04:

Enrique, do you have any family in Cali?
I go to Cali and I'm an old lady, all by myself and am not scared. I'm careful, yes, hang out with my friends and in-law relatives, but if that's your city of birth it might be of interest to go back there. I suppose you speak Spanish and look like a caleño too and have no problem in blending in.

There are places you shouldn't go in Cali, but that's true for the most large cities of the hemisphere. There has been drug-related crimes, shootings and other nasty stuff happening in Cali, but that's basically between the bad boys themselves, the problem is that you should be able to know which restaurants ad bars favorite cartel hang-outs and stay clear. There's no cartel in Cali any longer, but the North Valle Cartel is well-represented in Cali itself and then there's ordinary street crime to worry about. There are also street gangs in some poor barrios like Siloe and Distrito. I wouldn't recommend my son to go there alone either, but would allow him to go if there was a cousin or two to watch his back there.

There are a lot of good things about Cali, nice barrios, lovely zoo, good food, beautiful surroundings, good climate (a little warm and humid, but it's not too bad, since it's cooler at night and there's usually a nice breeze inthe afternoons), the people are very laid-back, friendly, hospitable and sweet.As a city it has not developed much lately, the urbanistic growth has been stagnataed and the city has suffered through three or more bad periods with lousy public administration. The downtown are is to be avoided; it needs a clean-up and restoration (some nice architecture that has fallen in a pitiful disrepair).

Your mum is right about the rumba, there's always a party going on in that city. But it's not just Avenida Sexta, barrio Granada and Peñon, bars, restaurants and hotels or the rumbeaderos populares, but also the home of 2 million people who work, educate their kids, shop at the malls, live the ordinary life of ordinary people everywhere in the world.

Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

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robi666 says on Dec 31, 2007, 04:15:

Yes, yes, every big city in the world is the same... LOL, too funny.
I have been living in Colombia just for three years and witnessed two gunshot, was offered to smug drug, know (pretty well) three people who were almost killed during the last year and threatened to be kidnapped myself and had to relay on both the bad guys and Gaula to solve my situation (which is more or less the same thing in Colombia).
I don't even say anything about living in a finca, because you asked about cities.
If I'd put here what I know, I would have to enter the program to protect witnesses.

Never ran into anything similar for forty years of my life.
If you want adventure, I'll tell you where to get it. But if you want safety, stay out of here and do not even bother to decide which big city is more dangerous.

"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."

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robi666 says on Dec 31, 2007, 04:41:

I don't even talk about the stories you hear from people... it is awesome like there is almost none without an horror story to tell.
Sometimes I think there is a reason why people here on PBH do not realize it: I guess that Americans (or Anglo Saxon in general) need more time to get in a real contact with Colombia and Colombians. Being Italian is easier to see things, both for mentality and language. Living here for three years for an Italian is like living here for ten years for an American.

"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."

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JoeG says on Dec 31, 2007, 05:35:

Even the 'safe' north part of bogota can have problems. Saturday night one
of the vigilantes down the street shot a thief. I heard the shotgun blasts and got up
to look...my wife (colombiana) pulled me back in bed and said I was nuts, don't put your
head out the window it might get shot off and don't get involved in people like that's business.

In houston, I would have called 911 and waited for the police. Here, I kept my head
down and waited for the police to show up to investigate, nobody ever showed up.
what a f**ked up place.

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dwr says on Dec 31, 2007, 05:39:

When you hear the phrase "No pasa nada" run!

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morphus says on Dec 31, 2007, 06:30:

You can go months or years in Colombia and feel safe. But all it takes is one incident and
B-A-N-G! You're DEAD! The main elements of danger in Colombia are:

1. Muggings - There are Colombians that will put a knife to your throat for a mil peso. You can try to be careful as much as possible but the risk will always be there. Its better to turn the money over or end up with a COLOMBIAN NECKTIE (thoat sliced, tounge pulled out of wound).

2. Impulse Murder - If you have a nack for pissing people off then Colombia is not for you. Its very easy to get into an arguement with a Colombian and cause them pull out a gun and BLOW YOUR BRAINS OUT. Its very easy to get away with murder in Colombia. Colombia has one of the laxest laws in the world when it comes to murder. Murderers only get a few years in prison and thats premeditated. 2nd degree murder only carries a couple of years in prison so you're Foked if you piss somebody off.

3. Crimes Of Passion - Mess with a Colombian's wife or girlfriend and you're DEAD! Same as above. MURDER is a slap on the wrist in Colombia so watch out. Make sure the girl you date is single. Especially in the lower stratas. Colombian guys in the lower strata have to work hard for the chucha and they are willing to KILL to protect it.

4. Kidnappings - Its not always guerillas. It can be small time banditos too. If they hear that you have a little money they will go after you. All it takes is a 2 Colombian guys and a GUN or a KNIFE and they got you. The average foreigner in Colombia would freak out and crawl up into a ball at the sight of 2 Colombianos with a gun or KNIFE. If I was a desperate Colombiano I could'nt think of an easier way to make some quick cash than to go after a foreigner or tourist.

5. Colombian Frontier - You don't want to go there. There are guerillas that will RIDDLE YOU WITH BULLETS and Injuns that will CHOP YOUR HEAD OFF and decorate their living room with it. Good luck!

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arthur brode says on Dec 31, 2007, 06:35:

Cali dangerous lol
what a joke
i spend my time chasing after Caleñas Downtown.its gotten so bad that some of them remember me from the past

http://www.calirentals.net/

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Man Tequila says on Dec 31, 2007, 06:44:

As a tourist, Cali did not seem more dangerous than Medellin. I took standard precautions and did not feel unsafe.

I would also concede Buenaventure is unsafe and skews some of the statistics for the Valle.

But this does not mean Cali is safe, far from it. They cancelled the horse parade they had in the fair in previous years because "mala gente" were killing the horses. I had lots of calenos warn me that the park by Rio Cali was unsafe, and one family ushered me out of there near the end of a public concert. I had a few people give mebusiness cards and say I could call them if I got into trouble. Most taxistas insisted Cali was not dangerous. A few said people in Cali often kill others pa' na' but that tourists during the feria were fairly safe.

All things considered, I would say that Cali is much improved but certainly more dangerous than Bogota and Cartagena, and at or above the same level as Medellin.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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Gator says on Dec 31, 2007, 06:44:

ALL BIG CITIES ARE DANGEROUS-WORLD WIDE. Generally speaking it all depends what barrio you wander around in. If you chose to wonder about certain areas in walking shorts, sandles, and a multi-colored flowered Hawaiian shirt, waving $100 bills crying, in English of course, "Where are the putas?" Or better yet, in very bad Spanish, "Te quiero puta!"

goodbye, Enrique187. It was nice to know ye.

"Only after you have lived here for a while and the vail has come off do people feel free to share things with you. Or if you don't ahve the "Is this safe to walk down the street look." You can hear it right away. I have got my own US stories that are some pretty bad ones I can share with people here and do often when hearing their stories. To make them feel better. ;)"

Well made point, GIB.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

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gringoloid says on Dec 31, 2007, 06:48:

gator, you missed a good thread last night.

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Sr Tertius says on Dec 31, 2007, 07:41:

You tell'em John Wayne!! HA HA HA!!

"When the finger points to the moon, the fool looks at the finger" (Chinese proverb)

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Strobers says on Dec 31, 2007, 07:57:

Getting out of bed nowadays is a big danger. Live your life the way you want. No matter what you do, if it's your time you are going to die. Plain and simple.

"Life is too serious to be taken seriously"

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morphus says on Dec 31, 2007, 08:01:

Just hang around a nursing home and watch the people sitting in their wheelchairs. Living a long life is'nt what its all cracked up to be.

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kalder says on Dec 31, 2007, 08:50:

That's funny Joe :)

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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aztec says on Dec 31, 2007, 09:41:

Cali is beautiful although a little hot. Majority of the people are very nice and helpful. Some of the most beautiful women in the world live there.

Having said that I must admit that Cali is also a tragedy. Contrary to some comments here the city has gotten much more dangerous in the past few years.

All of my wife's family except her brother have left the city because it is unsafe and I am not talking about the run of the mill street crime. I am writing about the extortion telephone calls. Right, the professional elements have learned they don't need to kidnap you or your family. Either pay or your child is injured or killed!

Really frightening when you learn how much information they have about your whole family.

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robi666 says on Dec 31, 2007, 09:57:

Same in Santa Marta Aztec. It is getting number one crime there.

"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."

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Catfish35 says on Dec 31, 2007, 10:11:

DATS RIGHT:

My Motto:
Live fast, die young, and leave a good looking corpse!!!!

Catfish

"So many guns, and so few brains". sam spade

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morphus says on Dec 31, 2007, 10:13:

Was'nt that James Dean's motto too?

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wendell13 says on Dec 31, 2007, 19:21:

Cali can't be too dangerous because it seems everybody and their uncle are buying new condos and cars ...jajaj

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billyb says on Dec 31, 2007, 19:29:

"I do not recommend driving too much to the various cities sue to everchaning situations with paramilitaries."

Believe me, it's not the ever changing Para situation you need to worry about.

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