Thanks to PBH posters!!!

Dillard666 says on Dec 14, 2007, 07:54:

read this thread dude, "Colombian bandits set bus afire, 10 die"

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ColombianoGringo says on Dec 14, 2007, 07:56:

Or he could read a story about people getting killed in schools, churches and shopping malls in the US.

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ColombianoGringo says on Dec 14, 2007, 07:57:

Glad you had fun in Colombia Rob.

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elmodefoque says on Dec 14, 2007, 07:58:

"safest area in colombia?????""" safest place my hairy old balls!!!!
safest area in colombia will always be the caribbean coast.
that chit in the interior is fokin dangerous with them FARC , ELN and even worst common criminals

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one. CURRAMBA, EL MEJOR VIVIDERO DEL MUNDO!

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 14, 2007, 08:00:

This site has been a huge help for me in planning my month long trip. I'm leaving in 2 weeks and I was ready yesterday! It's good to be informed about good and bad shit out there, just don't let it stop you from traveling.

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elmodefoque says on Dec 14, 2007, 08:06:

i'm all for promoting colombia but i don't wanna tell a good gringo friend to get on a bus from bogota to pasto, neiva, medellin, cali and gotto sleep with no worries in the world.
my advise, take a fokin plane. I could travel anywhere i want in colombia, but that's me!!
Now if that modefoque was traveling from barranquilla to cartagena, riohacha, monteria, santa marta, by all means go right ahead, it would be like taking a bus from 42nd st in nyc to washington dc

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one. CURRAMBA, EL MEJOR VIVIDERO DEL MUNDO!

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Dillard666 says on Dec 14, 2007, 08:08:

nueva york bombero this site has been really usefull in planning my trip, and negative threads and comments will not stop me from traveling. Im an adventurous kind of "gringo"

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ColombianoGringo says on Dec 14, 2007, 08:13:

I definitely prefer air travel inside Colombia when available. My parents loved road trips when I was a kid and I developed an aversion to any road trip over 3 hours.

Even so, I took a bus from Neiva to Fusa, then Fusa to Bogota a few days later. Two short trips like that aren't bad. I don't worry about safety too much, because I don't stick out since I am Colombian and I keep my mouth shut.

As an obvious foreigner, you should be more careful about where you go on a bus, especially if you don't speak Spanish.

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 14, 2007, 09:14:

I'd love to take buses all over, but I know better! I've done it in Mexico, but not the same.
I speak decent Spanish, but that's not saving my gringo ass!!!

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billyb says on Dec 14, 2007, 09:25:

elmodefoque says on Friday December 14th, 2007 7:58:

"safest area in colombia?????""" safest place my hairy old balls!!!!
safest area in colombia will always be the caribbean coast.


that may be true, as long as you pay your bill. See below!!


El Tiempo, Caribe

Diciembre 13 de 2007

Porque le faltaron 3 mil pesos para pagar la cuenta matan a mujer en motel

La víctima fue identificada como Elsy del Carmen Martínez Castilla, de 32 años, quien fue atacada a bala por uno de los trabajadores del motel Honolulú la madrugada del jueves.

El informe recogido por las autoridades durante el levantamiento del cadáver da cuenta que la mujer ingresó la noche del miércoles al motel con un taxista, de quien no fue revelada su identidad.

Pasadas las 4 de la madrugada la pareja pidió la cuenta por el servicio de habitación.

La cuenta al parecer se excedió del presupuesto de la pareja que intentó llegar a un arreglo de pago con el administrador.

La falta de entendimiento entre las partes originó un a discusión que luego pasó a amenazas de muerte.

El taxista intentó salir del lugar, pero en medio del forcejeo un trabajador del motel disparó que se alojó en el cráneo de Elsy del Carmen Martínez Castilla.

Su compañero de alcoba salió de inmediato hacia el hospital San Jerónimo intentando salvarle la vida, pero la mujer llegó muerta al centro asistencial.

La Policía no se quiso referir al tema, mientras que sus secretarios dijeron que agentes de la Sijín adelantan las respectivas investigaciones.

EL TIEMPO también quiso conocer la versión del administrador de Honolulú, pero en el lugar dijeron que no se encontraba y nadie estaba autorizado para dar declaraciones.

De Elsy del Carmen Martínez se supo que vivía en el barrio Robinson Pitalúa, al sur de Montería.

Desde hacía varios meses mantenía una relación sentimental con el taxista, al cual tampoco se pudo ubicar.

GUDILFREDO AVENDAÑO MÉNDEZ
Especial para EL TIEMPO
MONTERÿA

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Simon says on Dec 14, 2007, 10:43:

"Or he could read a story about people getting killed in schools, churches and shopping malls in the US."

Buenisima respuesta, parcero!! Lo felicito!

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

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nueva york bombero says on Dec 14, 2007, 10:55:

Yeah, problems everywhere! Did you see the monkeys running all over India? It's crazy out there!!!

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Rob77 says on Dec 14, 2007, 11:47:

Simon says on Friday December 14th, 2007 10:43:

"Or he could read a story about people getting killed in schools, churches and shopping malls in the US."

Buenisima respuesta, parcero!! Lo felicito!"



Whereas in Colombia the criminals are let free to continue their organized crime and killing sprees (read: aguilas negras...), in the US, criminals are captured and jailed, often for life. Ah, and let's not forget capital punishment! Why do you think Colombia suffered the bombing spree in the late 80's? Escobar and friends were trying to scare the country out of supporting extradition to the US, where laws have some meaning.

Most of those who have shot randomly at people in the US are lunatics who needed mental help. The paras on the other hand simply enjoy killing people. They like it so much they sometimes film it. They hold murder seminars with live victims.

You want to compare some shooters who lost some screws in the US to organized murder in Colombia??? Some of the crap that goes on here in Colombia is too gross to even describe in this forum.

I'm not trying to generalize, because obviously most Colombians are decent people (even if they can't drive for shit!) But, it gets ridiculous watching some desperate people here try to sugar coat what is really going on in Colombia. You pat each other on the back for pointing out crimes committed elsewhere like there was any comparison. And those who relish saying the gruesome days are in the past, that is only the case for the major cites. Massacres are not a thing of the past in Colombia. They have simply become such a normal occurrence that the news becomes ancient history much faster here. As a method of mental survival, people here have had to become numb to the violence outside the cities.

Oh, and that line about internal conflict is BS! There is very little internal conflict going on anymore. Most violence here is committed by organized crime. They are not the least bit interested in political goals. They are interested in money, territory and power. And any criminal that bargains for political recognition simply knows that the best dressed criminals in Colombia are in the congress. The so-called recruits are either paid or their families lives are threatened if they don't work for one criminal group or the other.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

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gringoRob says on Dec 14, 2007, 12:03:

Ok, not sure how this digressed into a Colombia is dangerous/people die on bus thread... I just wanted to thank you guys for the info posted here! I had a GREAT time in Bogota for seven days and wish I could go back today!

Having said that I don't look like the typical "gringo"... I have dark skin and keep a low profile trying to blend in as much as possible and not attract attention. I'm sure it helped that my girl is from there and knew where to go and could talk the talk. Of course we didn't go anyplace dangerous... unless you count the cab rides! LOL!!! Those guys are freakin nuts!

-- Rob

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gringoRob says on Dec 14, 2007, 12:31:

Ohh and more on the trip. I was there for six full days. Some of the places we went include... Plaza de Bolivar, Parqe 93, Usaquen, Monserrate, Museo de Botero, La Candelaria, Museo National, The planetarium, malls (Andino, Hacienda, Santa Barbara, Atlantis Plaza), Zona T - Bogota Beer Company, Casa de Cerveza, Chamua restaurant in Rosales, La Calera at night for canelazo (very cool!), Aqui en Santa Fe and I'm sure there was more... all was great!! The only thing I didn't like too much was the food at Bogota Beer Co. It absolutely sucked and the place was too "American"! jajaja!

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Simon says on Dec 14, 2007, 16:50:

"Most of those who have shot randomly at people in the US are lunatics who needed mental help."


I see, so whenever people are shot in the US it's a random incident caused by lunatics, even though it seems to happen again and again, but when it happens in Colombia, to you it's 'everyday stuff`', how convenient!





"I'm not trying to generalize, because obviously most Colombians are decent people (even if they can't drive for shit!)"

Colombians are actually excellent drivers, we drive erratically yet you almost never see an accident, not even a fender bender even when we brake at the last moment. Just check out our taxi drivers, those guys have incredible reflexes. I can only imagine how the roads in the US would be clogged with accidents if gringos drove how we do.

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

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Simon says on Dec 14, 2007, 16:55:

"Ok, not sure how this digressed into a Colombia is dangerous/people die on bus thread... "


By having the typical foreign prick take a cheap shot at us:


"Dillard666 says on Friday December 14th, 2007 7:54:

read this thread dude, "Colombian bandits set bus afire, 10 die""

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

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Robert Jorge says on Dec 14, 2007, 18:14:

Simon my friend; again you are a little too sensitive. To be fair, "yes", a lot of crime in Colombia is done by lunatics just like in the US.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Robert Jorge says on Dec 14, 2007, 18:19:

I think Rob's point was that despite what happens in Colombia, you do not hear about just plain old wackos doing chit too much in Colombia. In the US, our news headlines are constantly displaying stories of school shootings by dorks and nerds, drug addicted perverts burying 8 year old neighbor girls alive, etc. for infinity. If anything, it was just an observation by Rob and I would agree he has a point. One could also interpret it as a compliment towards Colombia. He was saying there are a lot more freaks and wierdos in the US indirectly.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Simon says on Dec 15, 2007, 10:36:

"the US has 350 million people Colombia has 60."

Actually, the US has 300 million people and Colombia has 42-45 million (since there's still some doubt about the last census).

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

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dwmte7 says on Dec 16, 2007, 07:27:

well, brother simon, there's plenty of violence in colombia, per capita. that doesn't in the least make it someplace bad. hardly. the same holds true of the u.s. neither is it a bad place. we're slinging shit at one another for issues that hold up the world over. ugly, senseless shit happens all over our lovely planet. where ever it happens, it is a bloody shame, but we can't turn away from her (our planet, our countries, our towns and homes) they're all we have. the most important message to remember, is that we, collectively, don't add to it. we can't change others, but we can change/control ourselves.......hopefully.

i love colombia and i love my own country, however, i choose to live in colombia. i guess it's just because there's more 'there' , there.

dwmte

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