Traveling to Bucaramanga

Robert Jorge says on Nov 25, 2007, 23:03:

I have never been to Bucaramanga - though I have been all over Bogota and lived for a while in Villavicencio. Anyway, judging from what you wrote, I wouldn't be any more concerned for your safety than if you were going to visit a friend in Chicago and then Cincinnati. You'll be with trusted friends and family. Both cities are secure and relatively safe. If you were to go into the wrong barrio, act like a target, you would likely face good ole' fashioned street crime. But you are not going to do that, you have friends that will keep you in the right areas, and as far as terrorist types of things - you would more likely be struck by lightening than be involved in a bombing or kidnapping.

I sympathise with the "parent issue". I can't convince my folks to go to Colombia for my wedding! And my folks are extremely well traveled. Good luck with the folks. But at age 22, it is your decision, no? Also, welcome to the site.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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vicshere says on Nov 26, 2007, 04:35:

if you have friends in Bogotá and B/managa...what are they saying about your safety in those cities.....why take the word of a stranger on the internet....you would think first hand information would be much better......I am not saying that 2 above posters are wrong.....

listo

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Gator says on Nov 26, 2007, 05:47:

Don't come here local knowledge is far more valuable. Nothing particularly wrong with Buca. There is crime but that is a commonality all over the world.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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betty81 says on Nov 26, 2007, 07:40:

Thanks for all your help...I have realised there is no convincing my parents, but I guess that's life hah. My mother has told me she is sure I will not come back from Colombia alive.

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betty81 says on Nov 26, 2007, 07:42:

I'm extreamly excited about my trip, I've heard so many wonderful things about Colombia

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msaucey says on Nov 26, 2007, 12:58:

Betty, don't be scared.... Yes, like with any trip there is always a chance for something bad to happen... But, if you were to think like that for everything you wouldn't get to experience much....

One of my close Persian friends called me because she was freaking out.... She was scheduled to go to Medellin for 3 weeks and was starting to get frightened by all the stories people were recounting from 10 years ago... Needless to say, she went, she loved it and couldn't get enough.... Heck she was upset she didn't get a chance to see anything outside of Medellin..... So, she's bound for another trip....

Do keep in mind, like with any trip, there may always be dangers... Heck, I got freaked out traveling on the subway in Chicago at night, because it veered off course and I was bound to South Chicago.... Got off and grabbed a cab back to the hotel.... So, always be prepared for instances... Never carry too much money, because if you get robbed, just hand over what you have, the less you take with you, the less they get....

Have fun and enjoy.... We need more B/monga posts, let us know how your trip goes....

The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed. - CS Lewis

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betty81 says on Nov 26, 2007, 13:41:

Thanks for the encouragement, I think that's what I needed haha. A few weeks ago I talked with one of my professors who did some research in Colombia, about ten years ago...he said, with the advice of his Colombia coworkers, he stopped going to Colombia because it was extremely dangerous. He recommended that I avoid Colombia. I was feeling very discouraged at this point but I'm guessing his information was quite out of date.

Also I remember reading somewhere that it is a good idea to always carry your passport with you incase you get stopped by the police…this seems like a good way to lose a passport. Is that really necessary?

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Colombiche says on Nov 26, 2007, 13:55:

Bucaramanga is not any more dangerous than some parts of Peru or Mexico, but I bet nobody would be freaking out if you said you are going to Macchu Picchu or Cancun. Misguided paranoia.

I had a friend from Toronto who was totally freaked out about going down to Colombia. Before she went down her family was freaking out over her going down there. I picked her up at El Dorado, took her around Bogota. She was pretty impressed because she was expecting Bogota to be some crazy jungle. We shopped til we dropped, dined, drank, clubbed for a fraction of what it costs to have fun up here. I also took her to Manizales. She fell absolutely in love with Colombia, my family, the food, the people the landscapes.....

Go and enjoy Colombia. Let your friends guide you, We will see you back here telling us how much you liked it.

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

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Robert Jorge says on Nov 26, 2007, 20:12:

Don't worry about carrying your passport. Others may disagree, but I never did. I didn't want to lose it! If you are really concerned, just carry a copy of the front pages. I would keep the passport hidden and/or locked up wherever you are staying.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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Robert Jorge says on Nov 27, 2007, 05:03:

Controversial here with some - but a fact.

He who farts in church, sits in his own pew.

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scumbuster says on Nov 30, 2007, 13:12:

I am as gringo as you can get. I only know about 10 words of spanish, but I have been to Bogota 4 times at 2 weeks per trip. I have never even had an uneasy feeling in Colombia. If your with friends they will take care of you, and only take you to places they know are safe. My wife is Colombian and every trip I want to go out and explore. She guides me to the places she knows are safe for us. Its like any big city. You need to take simple precautions. If you went to NY you wouldnt strole through Harlem at 3:00 A.M. There are bad areas but the locals know what areas to stay away from. Go and have a great time. You will love Colombia.

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scumbuster says on Nov 30, 2007, 13:31:

I have never carried my passport with me in any country I have visited since I forgot my passport in my coat when I went to the ballet in Moscow. Needless to say it was gone when I got my coat back after the performance. I spent a good part of the next 2 days at the US embassy getting a replacement. Then a nightmare trying to get my visa replaced. I had to pay $150 to some guy at the airport to pull some strings and get a stamp in my passport so I could catch my flight. I have never had occasion to need it until last month when we flew from Bogota to Santa Marta. I was with my wife in a little grocery store on the outskirts of Santa Marta. The local police came in and started frisking people in the store and asking for there ID,s. As we were just exiting the store one of the police asked my wife for our papers. My wife explained we were just at the beach and we didn’t have any ID with us. He asked where we were from. On hearing I was from the US he looked at me and with a very heavy accent said, my brother lives in Manhattan. We both smiled and he motioned for us to go ahead and leave. After this though I will carry a copy of my passport with me and keep my passport in a safe place until I go to the airport.

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Gator says on Dec 2, 2007, 09:31:

Just take the damn passport to a place that does color copies then to a notary IN COLOMBIA, pay about $3USD to have it notarized and carry that. I keep that copy in my wallet. Only once, in addition to my Cédula de E, did I have to show the copy and it was completely satisfactory to the Teniente.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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vicshere says on Dec 2, 2007, 15:21:

I agree to with gator....but in 5 years ...the times I have been asked for my ID...not once has anyone asked to see my passport or copy...actually I don't carry it any more....i just point my hoots at em and every is fine

listo

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