Robbed at knifepoint in the Dominican Rep.

morphus says on Dec 27, 2005, 12:41:

which city?

Mario says on Dec 27, 2005, 12:43:

SANTO DOMINGO

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

Mario says on Dec 27, 2005, 12:44:

Albatross I'm very sorry to hear about this happening to you. Very glad you're safe.

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

Colombiche says on Dec 27, 2005, 12:46:

... How are you going to pay for using the computer at the internet cafe now without your cash?

Oh, yeah.......master card!

No me den trago extranjero, que es caro y no sabe a bueno.... (Rafael Godoy)

quindioman says on Dec 27, 2005, 12:49:

happens to the best of us Albatross...I remember the time I had a couple of machetes strategically placed either side of my neck whilst taking a short cut to my Gran's in Armenia...I'm glad they didn't take my shoes....and I'm glad you OK.

morphus says on Dec 27, 2005, 12:56:

Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic?

Mario says on Dec 27, 2005, 12:59:

NO Santo Domingo, Colombia

You may have read of a massacre there in '98 where almost two dozen people were killed by a cluster bomb dropped from a U.S. helicopter and reported as a truck bomb attack by FARC.

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

NewBoy says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:01:

Albatross Santa Domingo in Colombia?

Mario says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:05:

Sorry I checked my facts. It was a CAF helicopter and a U.S.-made cluster bomb (probably a U.S. made chopper too but marked as CAF).

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

toneloc24 says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:12:

Confused on location as well Would this be the Intercontinental in Medellin (Las Palmas)? I did a search on the Intercontinental website (http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/) and it was the only one that came up with a match of Santo Domingo in Colombia. Is this correct?

Now there IS an Intercontinental hotel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I've been to that hotel before.

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

morphus says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:14:

I could'nt even find Santo Domingo Colombia on the map. It must be a town. Why would anyone go there? I can understand being a little adventurous and exploring a little but all those little towns in Colombia are basically all the same. You seen one you seen them all.

cali373 says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:22:

Yes that is correct. a U.S. cluster bomb from a Colombian Air Force helicopter. Seventeen civilians, including 7 children, were killed as a result of the bombing. The bombing was carried out at the behest of Occidental Petroleum which provided the skymaster plane utilized by its security contractor (AirScan) to give the coordinates for the bombing and which hosted the planning of the bombing raid at its offices in Cano Limon, Colombia.

Smile if you are a thinker!

cali373 says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:23:

Sorry to hear about your mugging. Poverty sucks but no excuse for violent crime.

Smile if you are a thinker!

Saltador says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:25:

Also not sure What good realistically would sitting in the back seat have done for you? If the guy was going to rob you, he was going to. Sorry it happened though, thanks for the report.

Mario says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:25:

Santo Domingo Is in northeast Arauca province.

18 dead, 7 of them children, 23 wounded and 2000 million peso's in government retribution to the families.

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

Mario says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:30:

. You can knock a man out cold from the back seat in the blink of an eye. I always position myself on the left and my wife on the right in Colombian taxi's. Why? My brother got mugged while driving a guy home from a bar years ago. The guy was sitting (guess where?) right behind him.

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

litost says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:48:

Wow, there's an Intercontinental Hotel in a small town in the Arauca province... someone please explain this!

walter says on Dec 27, 2005, 13:58:

Dangerous in Colombia?? Claro Que Si Experience #1

I have been in Colombia in and out for 2 years, never had any trouble or problems. Until the last previous 6 months. One incident, I went out to a local bar in Cali . Maybe it was luck I never had trouble in Medellin (which I thought was the most dangerous for gringos..), Bogota, San Andreas, Cartegena, and many other cities..

My fiancee stayed in our apartment due to being pregnant while I went out for a couple drinks to get out of the house... Well after having a few drinks. I left the bar and there was some taxis waiting for anyone who needed a ride. Well I got in a taxi, the taxi driver drove off and he was going really fast.. after getting my directions. Being that I am not from Cali, I wasn't too familar with the city and the city is large...I didn't even bother looking at his creditials as a taxi driver to well either.. He pulls up and stops at a major intersection with trafficlights after 5 minutes of driving... Lights are red. And next thing I know. Three armed Colombianos..with Knives jump into the taxi and pointed their knives to my gut..and neck. Surrounding me and frisking for pesos..

Luckily, I speak some spanish. They wanted my money, and anything else in value. So I told them, you can take what you want. Please leave me my passport it has no value to you. I stayed calm and let them know I have a wife who is pregnant here. If they want my money or possesions, I told them to just take it and drop me off so that I can be with my colombian wife and future son. And nothing would be sad to the police...

They searched me and the driver was so happy that they found $300,000 pesos in my wallet. yea, I know, I know.. that is a littel too much to carry in Colombia, and why I travelled alone in the night by taxi.. But I got comfortable there from never having problems for 2 years...like an idiot I got relaxed...

So in conclusion, they took my watch, money, credit cards...asked for a pin to my cards, but I gave a false number and cancelled them immediately returning to my wife. They dropped me off in a quiet neighborhood..strato 2 or 3...probably their neighborhood...Thanks to God, Nobody got hurt luckily and I learned a few things from this. Colombia is still very dangerous. Don't go alone anywhere and don't be with people you don't know well. Especially in the night. Don't take a taxi that is so eager to pick you up. And don't take any large amounts of money. Act and look poor. And once anyone finds out you are a foreigner that is alone.....you are a target.. So, be careful.

What I think happened is the bartender or waitress. Called their boys up and set me up for the robbery and they got a commision for setting it up... After seeing I had cash in my wallet and that I was alone, and a foreigner to their country , they got me good... I don't feel embarrassed about posting this...Thought I should pass the experience to help you all out if you go down there. This happened in Oct 05. If fact, I am still living in Cali right now..and from this, I got smarter.

Experience #2

Also, I seen two guys get shot up in a drive by near Chipchape..there was a disco tec near Karens pizza...A woman and a man on a motorcycle pulled up to two Colombianos sitting and drinking..while my wife and me were eating pizza with her 5 year old niece and sister. The murderers..shot 7 shots into the two men..killed instantly and took off rapidly on their motorcycle...The policia showed up 30 minutes later...


Experience #3

Driving in our car from Medellin to Cali. There are numerous local police check points. The police chose our car to be searced out in middle of nowhere..They had their check point. Stupidly, my wife (caleña) and I let the police man search our car with the other policeman talking to us to keep us occupied. While the policeman who was searching our car for drugs and weapons was stealing from us. He only stoled my IPOD. Which was obvious as hell after they searched us. We both searched the car numerous times looking for the IPOD I just bought for her as a gift. And the policeman had the never to come up again to ask what was the problem. He totally denied stealing from us. But I told my wife lets go now. We have nobody here but these policeman and the jungle. I knew if they wanted...They could have killed us both and nobody would ever know. So, what I learned. After knowing that when you drive in Colombia and get checked every 20 miles from Presidente Uribles Police Check points..One of us always watched the Police man searching the car. One answers the questions to the supervisor and shows our passport and IDs..

Experience #4

My wife was working and I left the apartment to get our car in the parking lot. A local police station is withing eyesight of our apartment. As I am walking to the car to go see my wife at work. One Colombia Policeman comes at me and ask for my identification. He finds out that I am not Colombian. But from a place he hates. So he arrests me for no reason. Hand cuffs me to a pole at the station while the other young police man talk and support him. I call my wife on the cell. And told her what happened. She comes over. Arguing with the Police and trying to find out who arrested me and why? The policeman tells her because I am a Gringo. And tells her that why do you want to help them. He is not Colombian. He is .......... Boy that pissed her off. Luckily she knows people at the DAS, (customs for Colombia) and a DAS officer came over to fix this situation. The cop who arrested me..fleed on his motorcycle before the DAS agent came. Then the Police Chief came later. They apologized to her and me for the BIG mistake. I promised to find this colombian policeman and take care of him. I thought that was bull. The only reason my gringo butt got off is because my wife knows people in Cali.

I hope my bad experiences helps you who travel to Colombia. And I hope that it does not deter you. I think if you are Colombian street smart , you will get by, but don't think to be comfortable like I did...Just because nothing happen to me in 2 years and I can speak spanish. Its still one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

Walter


Pregnant I-129f benificiary question


My finacee (my wife to me even if we are not legally married) is currently 6 months pregnant with our first son. Our petition was recieved by USCIS in November 16, 2005... and currently they are processing fiancee visas in 4 months. So, there is a chance our baby will be born in Colombia. My question if anyone can help is...

What if after the approval , she has the baby in Colombia. What will happen? Will she and my son be denied to travel to the USA until my son has a proper visa too?

Or will they only require a DNA test that this is my son and we can go on our happy way?

And since we are not LEGALLY married yet. Will my son, not be considered as an american citizen? We will have to do a certifcate of citizenship since we were not married yet and he was born in Colombia?

Thanks everyone for your help, Happy Holidays!

ColombiaBoard says on Dec 27, 2005, 18:55:

This doesn't make sense.... Santo Domingo in Colombia? an Intercontinental Hotel there?, sorry guys, the only Intercontinental Hotels in Colombia are located in Bogota, Medellin and Cali so either this guy is making up this story or he's confusing Colombia with the Dominican Republic or got the city all wrong.

ElPadrino1 says on Dec 27, 2005, 19:14:

Many Times in Small Latin American Towns owners will name their hotels the same as some of the Large Chains. Thats also why you will see references to Taxis, hotels, restaurants with a New York City, Los Angeles,Houston ect. conatation. Admittedly its kind of Tacky but very common.I remember traveling in the Phillipines around 20 years ago and halfway between Manilla and Bagio city a guy had his Hotel/Restaurant named "Broadway Joe's"(after the NYC Joe Namath)I suspect this is what happened here. And Santo Domingo surely exists in Colombia"FACTS:

Humanidad Vigente Corporación Jurídica denounces and energetically condemns the extrajudicial execution of HÉCTOR ALIRIO MART�NEZ, LEONEL GOYENECHE and JORGE PRIETO at the hands of the Colombian Army. These three historic leaders were under the protective measures scheme of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.

Alirio Martínez was president of the National Peasants Association ADUC- Asociación Nacional de Usuarios Campesinos, Leonel Goyeneche was a member of the Executive Committee of United Confederation of Colombian Workers -CUT Arauca and Jorge Prieto belonged to the Executive Committee of the National Association of Hospital Workers -ANTHOC and the CUT. The three leaders were assassinated in an operation carried out this morning by the Revéis Pizarro Battalion of the Colombian Army in the hamlet of Caño Seco, in Saravena municipality.

SAMUEL MORALES, Presidente of the CUT in Arauca, and RAQUEL CASTRO, a member Arauca Teachers Association –ASEDAR were both detained in the same operation.

These leaders have been spokesmen for the araucana community in the numerous mobilisations, marches, civil stoppages that have taken place in the face of military and paramilitary action against the population that has cost so many lives. At the same time they have led the continual and effective protests against the violation of human rights that took place in the bombing of the village of***** Santo Domingo ********in 1998."

six20five says on Dec 27, 2005, 19:19:

Confused Intercontinental in Santo Domingo?.... heep, heep, does not compute! heep, heep.
Anyhoo, even though it can happen to anyone, this guy probably gave too much papaya (look up papaya rule). Let's remember, this is the same guy that thinks there is an Intercontinental in Santo Domingo, Colombia.

Mario says on Dec 27, 2005, 21:44:

A clear explanation of the December 1998 massacre http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=8907

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

MatteoCapogreco says on Dec 28, 2005, 05:07:

Santo Domingo slideshow http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/colombia/santodoming01.htm

elmodefoque says on Dec 28, 2005, 06:58:

Guys I can not emphasize this enough, Colombia is NOT Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala etc and naïve gringos need to know this. Many gringos go to those countries where they are looked on in awe, like gods by extremely poor campesinos and peasants. In Colombia is a different ball game, while very safe in the wealthy areas of big cities, the same could not be said where poor, and desperate modefoques live. The poor Colombian could not give a rats’ ass that you are a gringo to be admired, they leave that shit to the middle class and wealthy, the poor modefoque see you as a walking ATM machine. Once they take what you have, they gonna open your ass up to see if more money spills out. When I was kid, I was dirt poor in material things but rich in hate, I wanted to take all those rich Colombians and rip their hearts out with my bare little filthy hands, imagine what I thought about gringos. As we all know, I no longer carry that hate with me, as a matter of fact I think and act more like a freaking gringo than a Colombian, but once I’m back in my poor neighborhood , I’m the most corroncho modefoque there.
I remember taking a Continental flight back to NYC from Bogotá. The flight originated in Ecuador and was filled with many gringos and their families coming back from taking pictures of Indians and burros etc. I walked in straight to my seat and this arrogant gringa mother insisted that my assigned window seat be left to her teen age son, already seated there, so they could all sit together and that I be placed in a middle seat somewhere back of the plane. I told that bitch in English, “Lady, this is not Ecuador and I’m no submissive Indian, we are right now in Bogotá Colombia and that is my seat and I intend to sit there�. Problem solved.

platano says on Dec 28, 2005, 07:17:

Morphus, say what? Morphus writes: "all those little towns in Colombia are basically all the same. You seen one you seen them all."

Respectfully, this was not my experience at all. I found the towns in the Amazonas, in Risaralda, in Antioquia, in Cauca, in Narino, etc. to all be different, perhaps because they all have different kinds of people living there. plátano

plátano

tomtom33 says on Dec 28, 2005, 08:32:

Elmo Is that why your nephew insisted that we roll up the windows in his taxi when we were in BAQ centro at night?

litost says on Dec 28, 2005, 09:29:

GIB, nobody's blaming the victim... although you have to admit that for a gringo going to a small town in Arauca nowadays is NOT a smart idea by any standards. What strikes us all the most is the "Intercontinental Hotel" part. I guess it could just be the small town hotel that decided to use the name of the famous chain, but we're still waiting for Albatross to tell us more about it.

elmodefoque says on Dec 28, 2005, 09:53:

Tom, damn right you gotta keep the windows up, my nephew has lived all his life in a poor fucked up neighborhood and that’s where he hangs out too, so he knows damn well the danger that’s all around. When I’m there, I like to party mostly in places like Soledad, real freaking hell holes, those modefoques (my nephews ) are always armed to the teeth. We never had any problem, sure once in a while you gotta pistol whip a dumb asshole to keep him in check, but most of the time is just a lotta freaking fun. Corronchos are very animated and boisterous happy modefoques

morphus says on Dec 28, 2005, 23:01:

platano, i visited all the small towns outside of Medellin and a few travelling around Colombia by bus. there are some nice things to see. Santa Fe outside of Medellin has the best Arepas in Colombia. i like passing through there but just for a few minutes.

morphus says on Dec 28, 2005, 23:12:

elmodefoque, i heard its legal to carry guns in Barranquilla but not in other cities in Colombia. it would be wise to carry a gun there. if i lived in Colombia i would carry a gun everywhere. as a tourist, my odds are still pretty good and will probably never need a gun. one thing that does'nt make sense is when you go into a nightclub, they check your waist for guns but not the legs. you can carry a gun in an ankle holster and get into most places.

elmodefoque says on Dec 29, 2005, 05:07:

Morphus, you definitely need a "permiso" to carry a gun in Barranquilla. My nephews are ex military; they all served in the Colombian army and is very easy for them to get permits. Then of course you got a lotta modefoques with no permit (like me) and when he’s stopped by a cop and asked for el permiso, things might get a little rough. If that modefoque is drunk he’ll probably tell the cop� I don’t need no stinking permiso’ and if the cop is another corroncho, aburrio de la Vida, then all hell breaks lose and if you’re close enough for the first blast to blow out your eardrums, hit the floor modefoque and cover your ass, you don’t wanna walk around with an extra asshole. Funny thing about discharging a gun inside a bar/club, no matter how loud the music is playing, you gonna hear that modefoque loud and clear, then you jump followed by a desire to take a dump, in your pants! When I sleep in those fucked up neighborhood I like to sleep with a hookers under each arm and a gun under my pillow (just like Clint Eastwood, in the Good the Bad and the Ugly) incase one of those desperate poor modefoques breaks in the house, then I’ll do him the favor of getting him outta his misery here on earth and to a better world.

discusted says on Dec 29, 2005, 10:10:

get oout of that rat trap man! I have been reading others experiences.I would be like that the movie"The Vigilante".I would hurt alot of people.Why you people stay in that country,sure beats me.There is crime everywhere,but why live in the second most dangerous place in the world? Do not believe the natives(poo pooing) it either to save face.You must have a death wish ,or enjoy all the cloak and dagger drama! Little short Colombians can wield a knife or machete,but without any weapon,they are unable to do a thing.If you are a wuss,use some pepper spray.You can make your own.I will bet you will become extremely paranoid there.learn some karate and kick some butt man!

quindioman says on Dec 29, 2005, 10:12:

lol you have me in stitches discusted...KEEP IT UP DUDE!!!
LOL

Wastelandlive says on Dec 29, 2005, 11:17:

Discusted... Is this a one man mission to wound the economy by forcing gringo's to abandon the country?

Hint: expats from America aren't what keeps Colombia afloat.

Wasteland

Wasteland

KOMACHI says on Dec 30, 2005, 19:30:

I dont like it the person who strarted the topic was not even right about the location, i think after i get robbed somewhere i will not head right inmidiately to my pc to comment about it.
2 hours before got robbed, took a bus ride managed to find cash again managed to get to his destination, arrived to another place... turn that pc real quick and found a reason to pick on well know colombia's safety...
then a bunch of unemployed "nothing to do" fellas reply to an obviously weird incidents that i hardly beleave it happen based on the way he said it happens... so they can still comment " once again" how dangerous is here in Colombia.

it was just a reason to comment.


(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

(^-^)/ ...como quiero a mi chinita y a mi Colombia carajo!!!...

Albatross says on Jan 2, 2006, 05:41:

Sorry about the confusion... it was in the Dom Rep Sorry for the confusion, it was Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, I assumed it was obvious, but since this is a forum about Colombia, I guess it wasn't.

Anyway... like I said, just be very mindful of your surroundings. It's easy after awhile to let your guard down and get too relaxed and that's when trouble happens.

I've been expecting something like this to happen sometime, (sort of like knowing that death is inevitable) but I thought it would be at night or in some dangerous barrio after a few beers or something. This was a surprise, sort of like getting robbed in Times Square just after lunch.

In March, I'm going to Colombia, maybe it will be safer there.

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

litost says on Jan 2, 2006, 08:26:

PLOP!

Rubiazo says on Jan 2, 2006, 11:16:

Maybe if people read DOMINICAN REPUBLIC in the topic line.... ?

Like I said, the taxi scam, oldest trick in the book.

WALK A BLOCK AWAY PEOPLE!

morphus says on Jan 2, 2006, 14:51:

i originally thought it was Dominican Republic before Mario started throwing us off with Santo Domingo, Colombia.

Mario says on Jan 2, 2006, 15:46:

Like the OP, Albatross said: "I assumed it was obvious, but since this is a forum about Colombia, I guess it wasn't."

So actually, I threw nobody off Napoleon. At least I'm not asking "which city?" when at least a city name is clearly stated early in the OP.

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

morphus says on Jan 2, 2006, 15:59:

i asked which city because i thought if it was'nt DR, it could be a barrio in a Colombian city like San Javier or San Diego, Medellin.

Mario says on Jan 2, 2006, 16:01:

OK, whatever.

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

morphus says on Jan 2, 2006, 16:02:

yeah!

Mario says on Jan 2, 2006, 16:10:

? yeah! ? What, you felt like you won something? Too funny.

You asked which city because you don't read everything. The actual question which should've been asked would've been 'which country' rather than "which city" if there was confusion as to the actual location. But again, whatever... this has become boring.

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

morphus says on Jan 2, 2006, 17:08:

i think i won something? all i said was "yeah" and now you have some kind warped interpretation.

i asked if it was Domincan Republic. i thought Albatross would repond faster. you on the other hand were certain that it was Santo Domingo Colombia. you should'nt be answering for other people if you don't know.

Mario says on Jan 2, 2006, 17:58:

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

"The angle of the dangle is directly proportionate to the swerve of the curve."

litost says on Jan 3, 2006, 03:52:

Why do some people have such enormous egos they can't just admit: "ooops, I was wrong" ?