What is your closest brush with danger in Colombia?

expatriate says on Jan 5, 2008, 16:31:

In three and a half years of living in Cali, the only danger I have felt is driving my car in Cali, and being a pedestrian crossing the street.

On two occasions I've seen a man lying on the street, dying of gunshot wounds, but if you are not a thief, are not in the drug business, and don't run for office, you are pretty much safe and ignored.

To turn attention to Mexico - Tourists Shun Crime-Hit Mexico Beaches http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080105/mexico_frightened_tourists.html -

When a crime wave hit Baja California in the late 70's, police would drive up and down the highway in RVs with California license plates. When they got pulled over by criminals, the police shot them all dead. The crime wave was pretty much over for another 25-30 years.

travelingirl says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:19:

I agree with expat... riding thru town and trying to cross the street on foot.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

travelingirl says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:19:

Oh, I almost forgot... getting my finger (nearly) bitten off by an ostrich.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

MitchAlvarez says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:21:

travelingirl i am concerned about you now. last night i was up doing some work and on this site and you were up at 5am eastern time until late. this morning when i woke up and logged on to check any new posts and you were on. now i came back home and your still sending commments. lol

your way to pretty to be stuck at home/office all day. get out and enjoy. im sure a nice lady like you can find many dates in your city.

Tengale miedo a una huelga de mujeres o a una escasez de aguardiente. :)

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:22:

My husband who is British has never been in any danger while in Colombia


but me, i have been robbed at knife point.

engage brain before opening mouth

travelingirl says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:23:

HAHA! Yeah, I've been online way too much in the past 24 hours. My plans for the evening fell through though so I thought I'd log back in. However, I do have an awesome movie waiting for me in the dvd player so I think I'll go watch it. :)

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

john_stark says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:24:

Come on, I bet Lord Larry of the Manor is in danger every time he's checking out a hot Colombiana.

MitchAlvarez says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:25:

but beautiful i dont want you to take that like im trying to offend you or anything. im just very suprised to see a princess like you stuck on this all day. i mean its fun seeing your pic all th time and your very on point comments. but amorsito salga a bailar y a pasiar. (look that up ms. cuadros ) lol

Tengale miedo a una huelga de mujeres o a una escasez de aguardiente. :)

Dan says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:26:

I've never had a problem... one guy once looking me over like he was about to rob me... another time, riding in a taxi, the driver hit some water that splashed onto a family and the guy walking started hitting the taxi window where I was sitting (didn't break)... aside from that... I've always had a pretty positive time in Colombia. Even while walking around Bogota by myself.

God Bless America!

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:26:

not need to, he got one right here ;P

engage brain before opening mouth

travelingirl says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:29:

Okay, Miss Cuadros recognized going out to dance but pasiar? Is that a form of "to walk"?
Unfortunatly my little town is DEAD right now. All the students are back home with Mommy and Daddy for the holidays. Over half of the restaurants are even closed. But even if the kids were back, it would still be the 18-20 yr old crowd. haha

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

Dan says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:31:

you make it sound like they're so young and you're so... ummm.. (I stay quiet, jejeje)

where are you by the way?

God Bless America!

travelingirl says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:35:

Hopefully I'm not considered "old" but I certainly would never date an 18 year old. lol. I'm in a college town in MS, for now.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

Dan says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:38:

looking at the picture, I would guess 23-25.

God Bless America!

travelingirl says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:39:

Yay! You just scored mega points, Dan. I'm 27 though.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

john_stark says on Jan 5, 2008, 17:49:

"not need to, he got one right here ;P"

He does but I'm sure he needs to check out the competition. I know I do.

tasco66 says on Jan 5, 2008, 18:00:

Dancing alone one night in some nightclub in Bogotá and being surrounded by a group of beautiful Colombianas…

Bravo, Presidente Uribe for the perfect operation!

chrispej says on Jan 5, 2008, 19:20:

Yeah tasco66, that can be very dangerous when you're a gringo that really can dance!

eywed says on Jan 5, 2008, 19:42:

Driving with my brother in law through the streets of Medellin and the surrounding mountians.
He would pass when he wanted to and it did not matter if there was on coming traffic.

Ay Hombe!!!!!

scotty says on Jan 5, 2008, 20:35:

ate a chicken sandwich and got really sick.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 5, 2008, 20:38:

Every time I cross La 11.

arthur brode says on Jan 5, 2008, 21:39:

the most dangerous thing you can do in Colombia is ride a bike.
and i just had this bad boy delivered.lets see how long i last.

http://www.calirentals.net/

Bren68 says on Jan 5, 2008, 22:14:

Closest thing to danger? Apart from the verbal barrage from my ex-novia at the slightest thing, it would have to be the taxi trip to the airport on the day I left Bogota in November. 4am in the morning, no traffic(thank god!!), and he drove at an average speed of about 160 km/h down the autopista, then on to Avenida El Dorado!!!
Just missed a delivery truck by about an inch as he talked candidly on his cell?? Ran every red light at about 100 km/h...... Got to the airport in record time.....only for the flight to be delayed for 3 hours ...?? JaJaJaJa

Absolutely crazy it was!!!!

Chelesupercono says on Jan 5, 2008, 22:42:

Just about to pay 3 super hot pre-pagos for a couple hours of aerobics and realized that I had no cash........

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

Robert Jorge says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:06:

I ate some peanuts, bought from a street vendor outside a bar in Villavo. I was sicker than a dog for several days.

--"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

travelingirl says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:08:

haha, sorry for laughing at your expense, RJ. I've had food poisoning before too, laid up in a hospital for a couple of days. It sucks.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

billyb says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:12:

I've been shot at on two occassions in Colombia, luckily one was too drunk and the other too nervous, so they both missed.

Robert Jorge says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:15:

I was on the toilet (sorry for the potential mental picture) every 15 minutes for 3 days. NO exaggeration. I should have gone to a doctor. I am pretty sure I know what I had, but it is too gross to get into details. But let's just say the symptoms were identical to being exposed to bacteria that comes from ... not washing hands after .... well, you know.

Travelingirl, you can laugh at my expense anytime you want.

--"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

travelingirl says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:19:

BWHAHAHAHAHA!
OMG, my stomach hurts from laughing so hard. I got the mental picture.
I didn't have that problem, mine was just puking over and over. It was the first and LAST time I ever ate at an IHOP.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

goin_south says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:27:

tg... wtf are you consuming? I don't think you've slept for over 24 hours... unless you got a fill-in or twin

and, thank you.

travelingirl says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:28:

I've been keeping some crazy weird hours lately. Mountain Dew. I don't drink coffee.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

christobeldawg says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:29:

I had to choose between two chicas once. That felt very dangerous.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

goin_south says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:35:

...most dangerous moment... Hell! It lasted 6 hours! The "Pablo Montoya" Taxi ride, up the carreterra, from Pasto to Cali to catch a plane ..... juzzzzz n de nick o' time! alll night... potholes, hairpin turns... passing loooooong trucks on the 'canyon side' of the road....FRIGHTENING

and, thank you.

Robert Jorge says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:42:

I almost got in a bar fight ... I don't know how dangerous it would have been though. The wife's cousin was there and a guy who had a long running crush on her kept bugging us. One of the "us" was the at the time boyfriend of the cousin. Luckily, nothing happened. And I wasn't too worried. The 3 guys I / we were with, were all cops (including the novio).

--"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

christobeldawg says on Jan 5, 2008, 23:49:

I had to choose between 3 chicas another time, trying to keep my options open. They decided, collectively, to dump me. I felt then out of danger.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 03:26:

The OP asked a simple question.
no spin... por favor.
Come on... you can do it... tell us.. what your CLOSEST BRUSH WITH DANGER.. don't need to paint...

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 03:32:

well, we wouldn't want you to have to 'kill us' afterwards, either... so,....
MAKE SOMETHING UP. jaj

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 03:33:

did you offer to be their - the AUC - guide?

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 03:34:

then,... I think you need to collaborate on a NEW BOOK for barnes y noble, for 2008

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 03:35:

Let's go! NYTimes Bestseller list.

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 03:37:

If you need help.... or,... more material, that is... I think my pastusa can add 7 or 8 chapters for ya. I mean, the general public wouldn't believe it anyway, if only a gringo in Bogota writing ;)

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 03:42:

this is the changin times....
(B.Obama.) who would have thunk it?

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 03:44:

and, for a few hours... it's the sleepy timez...
zzzz.....ZZZZZ.....zzzzzz....
ciao!

and, thank you.

scotty says on Jan 6, 2008, 04:35:

Bren...that was a good one, "verbal barrage from ex novia" jajaja! i can associate with that

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

scotty says on Jan 6, 2008, 04:38:

GS, dont forget his middle name that is never mentioned by the media Barrack OSAMA Obama

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

E-Man says on Jan 6, 2008, 05:51:

I was on Avenida Sexta in Cali and there were gunshots. My first thoughts were:

1) Get the hell out.
2) Is this the Wild Wild West?
3) A Narco, Borracho or a jealous boyfriend is not happy with someone.

It still does not deter me to go back to Cali or other parts of Colombia since there are good people (including my novia) there. Growing up in the city in Chicago I saw people shot (Humboldt Park), I have been burglarized and also robbed so crime is not really that surprising to me.

Bottom line:

1) Be careful
2) Always watch your back and your property
3) When there is trouble get the hell out of the area ASAP.

By the way they caught a bunch of thugs on Avenida Sexta recently:

http://www.elpais.com.co/paisonline/notas/Diciembre192007/jud01.html

It was good for the police to catch these thugs.

robi666 says on Jan 6, 2008, 06:38:

Well... let's see...
I was going to be kidnapped, I used a couple of times my gun (one to smash an head and one just to scare a man who had a gun himself), I had a friend shoot 5 seconds after he told me goodbie on my doorway and went out gun at hand to take care of him, had to pay AUC, been menaced by my wife's ex novio and had the boys taking care of it, have a "fosa comun" in my finca (you know what it is right?), witnessed the army (helicopters and co.) chasing the whole night one of the Mellizo and his boys of Los Nevados 3 kms from Parque Tayrona, knew things that would put me directly in the witnesses protection program...
Enough or should I go on?

"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."

wendell13 says on Jan 6, 2008, 07:08:

I was walking down Pasoancho at 3 am one morning. Drunk as a skunk. Six guys jumped out of a car with guns. One guy had a machete. I did the kung fu with him . I took the machete and hacked two other guys. Now the odds were more in my favor. 3 to 1.

I bull rushed the three of them. I am in great shape. One guy shot me in the leg. With blood oozing down my leg I gave him a chop to the neck. Flattened him. Only two to go. I picked up my bottle of aguadiente and threw it at the next guy. Hit him square in the temple. Dead.

One guy left. a sicario was passing on the street. I paid him 50k pesos and he took care of the last guy for me.

I later found out that these guys were FARC. It didn't scare me at all. If you don't believe me you can read about it in El Pais in the November 31, 2007 edition.

robi666 says on Jan 6, 2008, 07:16:

Ok, I just tell you about the last time, so you do not call me a liar...
New Years Eve, We were going to a friend's house up on the hill of Medellin (barrio La Toma).
Also had a couple of other well known gringos from PBH with me.
They called two more gringos who reached us by taxi, just by "La Estrechura".
When they jump out of the taxi, I see they get into an hard discussion with the driver. He wanted 50mil while the taximeter showed 35mil. He was saying that they had arranged in 50mil for the night.
So, they pay 35mil and the driver promises them that he's going to shoot them and drive away.
I witnessed the scene with a Colombian friend from the barrio and tell the gringos to walk up the hill to the house and we walk behind them.
After one minute, we see the taxi getting back up on the hill.
I put my gun in my hand and wait...
The taxi driver reaches us, sees the gun, and doesn't stop.
We know that the road ends after 200 meters, so we wait for him. Right now there are more friends from the barrio with us.
We stop the taxi in the middle of the road, I stand by the passenger seat gun in his head, while my colombian friends tell him that if he touches his gun, which is between his leg, we blow his head.
So we talk with him, give him 10 thousand more and it is all ok.
Now, three of my american friends did not realize anything and I was not going to tell anything to them. But the fourth one told them.

"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."

robi666 says on Jan 6, 2008, 07:18:

Wow Wendell, any link to that story? :-)

"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."

Waterdawg says on Jan 6, 2008, 07:30:

Lord , I guess I have been very fortunate ! .. I have lived in LA. for five years now ( 1 in Panama , 2 in Ecuador and 2 in Colombia ) . The only real run I have ever had was a guy on a bike tried to snatch and grab my Gold chain necklace. Funny thing was , that was up North on 92 & 11 here in Bogota.

robi666 says on Jan 6, 2008, 07:35:

I don't know... maybe some people are more prone to get into troubles...
Or maybe, it is just that most of the people do not realize the danger they have run into.

"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."

E-Man says on Jan 6, 2008, 08:13:

Wendel, I think it would scare the hell out of me (I have a 4th degree blackbelt in Karate and have competed in MMA) . If they wanted my money I would give them my money. If they were going to kidnap me I would certainly fight back because once they get you in the car your odds of survival is fewer.

GIB, I agree with you. Funny how age and life experiences change your views on life :)

aztec says on Jan 6, 2008, 08:29:

gringoinbogota, maybe this is a good time to take a vacation. Why not return to the US for a few weeks?

robi666 says on Jan 6, 2008, 09:38:

Street crime is not a big problem.

When you happen to know something, or be threatened, you and your family, then you have to make a plan and work on it. It's money and time that go. Use your intelligence.
You'll be put in front of decisions to take, you'll have to choose between evil, good and something in the middle, accept big compromises.
You'll discover a world underneath and surprisingly near to all of us. Big surprises.
Your nerves and balls will be overly tested.

But, every Colombian knows what I am talking about.

"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."

morphus says on Jan 6, 2008, 09:40:

I almost got run over by a car in a Mcdonald's parking lot.

robi666 says on Jan 6, 2008, 09:43:

Was the driver a novio of one of your girlfriends or a pimp that you didn't pay out, Morphus? :-)

"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."

morphus says on Jan 6, 2008, 09:45:

Girls were all single. I don't know any pimps in Colombia.

robi666 says on Jan 6, 2008, 09:55:

I always judged you bad, Morph.

"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."

john_stark says on Jan 6, 2008, 10:56:

Wendell made the whole thing up. I think he's in the camp that believes Colombia is safer than your own home town.

joetexan says on Jan 6, 2008, 11:05:

In 1985, I almost had my watch stolen, but it was my stupidity. I tried to catch a bus at Calle 19 and Carrera 10 in Bogota, definately a bad neighborhood. That was it, in 35 years of visiting Colombia.

miamimike says on Jan 6, 2008, 11:17:

Two Incidents, both in Bogota: Once a Taxi wouldn't stop and attempted to take me for "the Ride" Unsuccessful. This was a Call in-Radio dispatched taxi and we had the Taxi Driver's name and Lic Number to boot. Don't beleive all the BS "If you call in a taxi its safer then one hailed off the Street", simply not true in all cases!

Number two- I was marked by a group of theives as I walked up the steps to a Large bank not far from Casa Nariño around 10 am.(mark-a white chalk mark on your center back a few inches wide maybe 1 foot long--many times placed by chalk powder in a Little Spray perfume atomizer bottle so you cannot feel it-clever). The idea was for me to exit the Bank and be met by a group of theives a few yards down the street from the bank so they could liberate my $$ withdrawal or worse! I was alerted to this by an Observant Bank manager. I figured the Bank Manager was OK because at no time during our Conversation, other then to call a taxi, did he talk or phone any other person in the Bank. BTW, I made no withdrawals of ANY Kind ! While still in the bank, He called me a Taxi and I left, by his advice) by the back employee door without further incident. A Bank Guard was called and he stood by the back Door, 12 gauge Pump Shotgun at Arms Ready position until I was safely in the Cab. I was dressed in a way not to draw attention but my blond hair, blue eyes gave me away--Unsuccessful Thank God. There are some Good Honest people in Bogota and this Manager was one of them! God Bless him,,,

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." -- Feb. 28, 2008 --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C.,

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 11:28:

touchy this morning, eh gib?

and, thank you.

Desi1 (Moderator) says on Jan 6, 2008, 11:36:

I once slipped on the wet floor at Chippy Chappy Mall. It's very dangerous to walk the Gringo Trail.

toneloc24 says on Jan 6, 2008, 12:00:

True story

Walking out of a bar in Bogota on a small street, watched a streetfight involving two groups of guys, tried to walk past nonetheless, then things took a turn for the worse, guns were drawn and used.

One dude got shot in the face right near me. However he appeared to have lived. Other shots were fired. I went back into the previous bar that I was in, for 30 minutes, when things cooled down and cops finally arrived. Saw the dude who got shot later down the street. Blood everywhere, missing teeth. I jumped into a cab and headed to another spot.

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

arthur brode says on Jan 6, 2008, 12:01:

Desi,what you slipped on probably belonged to me:)

http://www.calirentals.net/

Desi1 (Moderator) says on Jan 6, 2008, 12:08:

Yeah, Arthur, it did have slight smell of cheap ceviche....

toneloc24 says on Jan 6, 2008, 12:13:

Robi - Since when did November have 31 days??? Go back and look at the post. Jajajaja!!!

PBSH is alive and kicking!!!

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

slguy says on Jan 6, 2008, 12:22:

I think that was intentional, Tone.

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

toneloc24 says on Jan 6, 2008, 12:55:

You mean the tall tale or the date?

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

diabloblas says on Jan 6, 2008, 12:58:

the only scare i've had in colombia was the high seas swamping our boat coming across the border into carpurgana from panama

...but i have no doubt it happens & that i will witness it up close... &/or actually be the victim sometime in the future if i give colombia enough time.

...that's been my experience

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 13:05:

hey, mi amigo, ... g.r.i.n.g.o.n.b.o.g.o.t.a....

I don't believe, anywhere in the thread above, did I call ANYONE a liar.
I only begged you to tell your fkn story that you say no one will believe anyway.

I have been a fan of sorts of your stories and advice, for the better part of 2 1/2 years. Never dys'ed you.
Have begged others off, when they did.

Truth is, my gf (of 3 years) has perilous stories once or twice a month, traveling southern Colombia on business, that would rival - maybe surpass - oh! imagine that! - anything you likely have experienced for the past five years or eons; make you PALE IN COMPARISON gringo. So, I am not one of those that doubt your stories/episodes of perilous living in Colombia. Oh, boy.

I have been held at gunpoint, and other points, right here in the usa, mr john wayne... so just because one time, maybe something unpleasant happens in Colombia or where ever, isn't a reason to run. I've likely lived in more places in this lifetime than you and 5 other people. So, just because I happen to BE IN La for this moment doesn't make one a redneck... so take your pasty white foot and find a MORE WORTHY PLACE TO PUT IT.

IF YOU WILL.
thanx in advance ;-)

and, thank you.

travelingirl says on Jan 6, 2008, 13:18:

for the record, his middle name is Hussein, not Osama

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

diabloblas says on Jan 6, 2008, 13:22:

i've faced weapons personally more than once on more than a couple of continents...but only been violently mugged twice in my 6 decades...once in san francisco & once in florinopolis,,,the florinopolis one resulted in a month of healing...san fran i was choked out but woke up ok

...the muggings could & should well have been avoided...had that bad mixture of wrong place, time, ,,drug/alcohol mental impairment...& didn't see them coming (literally)

...cause i'm a chicken when it comes down to violence & will do just about anything to avoid pain...it keeps happening...probably because i keep putting myself into those dumb situations

... but so far i've successfully counterpunched with my feet/brain all but a couple of times...

...at least the brain works both ways...so far

kat1 (Moderator) says on Jan 6, 2008, 13:30:

my family has been in a brush with danger, specially my dad, but funny enough my husband the only danger he has encounter while in Colombia was last year when he nearly got bitten by snake...:))) i saved him, yep.superkat.:P

engage brain before opening mouth

arthur brode says on Jan 6, 2008, 13:41:

lol Desi.
the Ceviche i eat doesnt smell cause its fresh

http://www.calirentals.net/

Strobers says on Jan 6, 2008, 15:12:

My wife, Mother-in-law and I were followed by two guys when we were visiting the area around where the Gold Museum is in Bogota. They had been following us for a while. We just ducked into a crowd of people and lost them.

Another time this guy from my wife's neighborhood came outside and started giving me a hard time because I was taking pictures of the neighborhood. Apparently, he thought I was casing out the place. My BIL told him to relax and explained who I was. Everything was cool after that.

I think that if you are an obvious gringo, and going solo, you are going to have more problems than someone who can blend in (for the most part) and has Colombian family support. But like I've said before, even if you have a cara de nopal, if it's your time to die, it's your time to die.

"Life is too serious to be taken seriously"

getting better says on Jan 6, 2008, 17:10:

It's a very long time ago that have experienced anything that could compete with your stories, at least 14 years. The last time I met an armed group of the AUN in 2005 I told them to get lost and although they scared me terribly they did so. I saw a FARC guy in 2006 surrendering to the army, giving himself up voluntarily. Many years ago I met the ELN but that is history, they were very polite but they scared me.

john_stark says on Jan 6, 2008, 17:12:

AUN? AUC perhaps? That wasn't very nice, telling them to get lost. You should have offered them a few beers.

getting better says on Jan 6, 2008, 17:20:

Yes AUC correct, it was mid morning and hot, they took coffee and water and then left.

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 18:28:

once I walked down a few blocks through the barrios,
with La_Campiña, to get some ice for his girlfriend.
probably more dangerous than I knew ;-)

and, thank you.

droble77 says on Jan 6, 2008, 18:32:

Damn, GIB. You've got a lot of stories. I believe them, but I have a funny feeling you like to push things and take chances, live life a bit "on the edge." I had an interesting talk with a very obvious looking gringo that's lived in BOG for about 3 years, and he definitely didn't have as many stories to tell although some of them were certainly interesting and similar to yours.

It ain't Iraq or Haiti but there's no doubt Colombia's dangerous. Statistically speaking, an expat gringo is more likely to run into trouble, or see something very bad/scary, or know someone that something very bad/scary happened to them. The question is, can you handle it? If you can accept that and go live there with your eyes open, then it's cool.

But a huge chunk of this site is for tourists and backpackers and so on. And let's face it, chances are nothing bad is going to happen to them, considering the places they tend to hang out/visit. I thought one of the goals of this site was to encourage tourism to Colombia?

Visiting and living there are two different things. Let's not confuse the two and scare potential visitors away. Maybe some people on this board do want to scare people away, I suspect they feel they "own" the country because they discovered it before the rest of the world did, thanks to the internet, etc. . .

LilaM says on Jan 6, 2008, 18:42:

Can I ask when was the time here in Colombia that you where close to heaven!!

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

billyb says on Jan 6, 2008, 18:48:

Any time I'm on a horse in a finca :)

manINred says on Jan 6, 2008, 19:32:

oh boy the list is a bit longish...

-getting stopped on the night bus between pasto/popayan
-having the wrong girly come up for a chat
-corrupt police
-crazy scam-artist
-taxi taking us for a joy-ride on the night roads of pasto
-making the wrong move at a casino


and overall, just general skull-duggery here and there :)

slguy says on Jan 6, 2008, 19:33:

Tone, I think it was his way of certifying that his tale was BS.

I was pretty damned close to heaven last time I was in Bogota, in April. Wasn't life-threatening, though - although at the time I think something similar to "OMG, I may die!" did pass my lips....

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 19:42:

LilaM.... new thread, cariña....
Don't expect any 'heavenly moments' from GIB.

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Jan 6, 2008, 19:44:

Hey, GIB.... stop it... ;)
You should have something to ad.
Five years worth... I hope.

and, thank you.

LilaM says on Jan 6, 2008, 19:46:

jaaaaaa GS

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

toneloc24 says on Jan 6, 2008, 19:50:

SLGuy - I called BS first time, but apparent some others didn't. Go back and read the responses. LOL!!!! Some people believed him.

I swear, PBSH lives.

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

robi666 says on Jan 6, 2008, 20:21:

The passage from the Guajira to Bahia Cinto in Parque Tayrona was the very first danger I faced in Colombia in 2005. After hurricane Dennis (?) up north, all the air got sucked from south, so I had 40 knots right in the face.
I was single handling my 48 foot catamaran and pretty tired after one week of sailing from Martinique, heading to Cartagena. But that's how Colombia said hello to me.

The day after, the boat was quietly anchored under a blue sky and I could see the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada painted in one of the most beautiful scenery that I've ever seen in my life.
So, that was Colombia, dangerous and beautiful...

Of course, nothing in comparison to escaping at 14 knots hurricane Ivan from Grenada to Los Testigos, but that's another story...

"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."

osuspain says on Jan 6, 2008, 20:27:

Funny incident….

My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I were going to “Las isles de Rosario�. We stopped to buy some juice right out front. The guy asked if I wanted it with water or milk. I said water, he had it with milk and we drank it headed to the boat. We are at the top and all the seats are close together. I began sweat profusely.

I asked my husband if he was sweating and really hot. He said no…I said I took a shower this morning it is maybe 8a.m I am not hot but something is not quite right. All the sudden I get up and was like WHERE IS THE BATHROOM.

Jajaj Had diarrhea for 30 minutes used all the toilet paper jajaj and felt awesome after that.

Dangerous….

My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I were in Palmira. We took a taxi and the driver stated he had to make a detour to pick up his wife. My husband said ok, we are not on a time schedule…I touched his leg and whispered we should take another cab. The taxi had started to drive a little out of our way.

My husband through a CHIT FIT and said he can “read people�, he knows that we were fine that we were not in Iraq; he will not let anything happen to me. We made it to the house jajajaja but discussing it all in front of the driver.

Yup the driver did get his wife jajaj. His family lectured him for a while stating that I had all the right to question what just happen that I am the “Gringa� he is the “Colombian�. What is a normal day for him may not be one with me.

adrimm says on Jan 6, 2008, 22:00:

Car accidents... 2 of them.

Rob77 says on Jan 7, 2008, 05:11:

"I thought one of the goals of this site was to encourage tourism to Colombia?"

"Visiting and living there are two different things."

If encouraging tourism is the main goal of this site, it should be encouraging safe and responsible tourism. That means not whitewashing the facts. It means educating people that just because some folks visit for a week and walk the tourist path without incident, does not mean there aren't inherent dangers in Colombia, especially for people who stick out like a sore thumb. Those dangers don't disappear because you are only here for a short visit.

Every time I read stories in El Tiempo about the highest rated crime areas in Bogotá, Zona Rosa comes up out near the top. Makes a lot of sense too, since every thief or gang of thieves know where the money is. It is also a popular spot for El Paseo Millonario, since everyone walking that area is loaded. My impression is people have a false sense of safety in the Zona Rosa.

Yes, visiting an living here are different, in that living here opens your eyes to how life really works here and how to avoid dangerous situations. There are tourists who post how their short trip went without a hitch, and talk about how they hope to move here soon. I think they deserve to hear about the good and bad of living here for a foreigner.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

morphus says on Jan 7, 2008, 05:48:

"I have been held at gunpoint, and other points, right here in the usa, mr john wayne... so just because one time, maybe something unpleasant happens in Colombia or where ever, isn't a reason to run. I've likely lived in more places in this lifetime than you and 5 other people"

BOO HOO....there tears of a clown...LOL

Chelesupercono says on Jan 7, 2008, 06:12:

Comparing Colombia to the USA again.......so lame......so big tuff guy how did you do against the FARC and the Narcos in the USA? kick their ass too did you? What a joke, go watch your Rambo movies.....

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

diabloblas says on Jan 7, 2008, 07:31:

i don't care if it's all b.s... but gib sure is entertaining...love john wayne movies & stories when i get stoned

rob 77...when does visiting become living there?...is it a chronolgical thing?...a relocation of possessions....what were your preconceptions before you moved here?....were you wrong?....are you a better person today than before you made the move?...how many times have you moved & been wrong? right?

...not meant to be antagonistic but i'm actually looking to learn something here...gib is purely for entertainment

diabloblas says on Jan 7, 2008, 07:46:

hey man i mean it...you are entertaining....if you can take your act on stage i'd come to see you

...but then i never miss an opportunity to watch george w talk...ain't he a hoot?

robi666 says on Jan 7, 2008, 07:55:

"What do I do go start a freakin war there?"
I wonder if people here get that this is not an exaggeration. Maybe, we should explain it a bit...

"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."

elmodefoque says on Jan 7, 2008, 07:58:

gee, of my nearly 100 trips to colombia i can't think of anything really really dangerous.
Back in the 70's 80's and early 90's I was stopped a number of times by FARC, ELN and many times by PARACOS during family trips up to Minca but nothing outta the ordinary happened, it takes 5 to 10 minutes to check ID's , we give them a few pesos for drinks and continue.

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one.Curramba, el mejor vividero del mundo!

elmodefoque says on Jan 7, 2008, 07:59:

now if i were a gringo, i'll be chitting in my pants

over 5 million colombianos in USA and only 27 barranquilleros, i'm one.Curramba, el mejor vividero del mundo!

diabloblas says on Jan 7, 2008, 08:06:

gib...within the past 2years i spent time in pakistan & afghanistan

parts of pakistan & all of afghanistan scare me

....i've spent months travelling in colombia spread out over decades...

colombia doesn't scare me....but it does make me feel alive

pedro says on Jan 7, 2008, 08:17:

I ate a plate of soup for lunch, served really hot. Wolfed down the first spoonful and burnt my lip on a steaming hot piece of tortilla.

Can't report any real pants shitting experiences, myself. I would have been oblivious to exactly which disagreement was my closest brush with danger. Reason being, you can't be sure who has a weapon to hand, and how close they were to using it on you.

Most dangerous things would probably be:
- hanging out among coke-head backpackers with an attitude and a death wish.
- arguing with taxi drivers over a 1000 pesos, when I think they're being abusivos.

que nota!

mranderson says on Jan 7, 2008, 08:27:

Why not argue with a taxi driver over a 1000 pesos? If I'm going somewhere and it's only the minimum fare I'm not going to pay 4200 pesos. Besides here in medellin the meter is in pesos so the guy has no arguement. The only time I ever pay more is late at night I round up to the next 1000 which is usually only another 5 or 6 hundred pesos.

When I came back from the airport the taxi driver was arguing with me for a tip. I grabbed my bags and said "for what?" and walked away. That was easy though cause I had exact change. Besides I paid a little more than what it should have cost anyway.

pedro says on Jan 7, 2008, 08:29:

Taxi drivers -- I'm mainly talking about Cartagena.

Medellin "la mas educada" has got its taxis sorted out pretty well.

que nota!

mranderson says on Jan 7, 2008, 08:35:

I read all these horror stories about taxies and I think most of them come from bogota. I don't like taxies in bogota either but I think it's a different story in medellin. I've only been in bogota twice but everytime I step into a taxi there I feel like the guy is taking me for a ride. I've been living in medellin almost a year now and only 2 times has a taxi driver tried to rip me off. And that was by turning off the meter real fast and try to overcharge me by a thousand or so pesos.

pedro says on Jan 7, 2008, 08:41:

GIB, you really can't project your Bogota experience onto Cartagena. It's a completely different system.

In Cartagena there are no meters. There are official fares and recargos. But they add on an extra "sense of entitlement" recargo about one time in three.

I am talking about a carrera I've done 100 plus times, I know what it costs.

que nota!

mranderson says on Jan 7, 2008, 08:44:

Yea and the driver keeps changing highways and seems like your going the same exact way. That happened to me but I had no idea the route to the bus station so I was pretty much screwed. It ended up costing me 8k pesos which I think was probably an extra 2k pesos because of the scenic route. OH well..I was in an unfamiliar city so nothing I could do. Maybe I got lucky that I didn't get the complete tour of bogota.

Lowell says on Jan 7, 2008, 08:51:

My worst? Out of control riderless horse cart crashing into the cab I was in with my wife and our child. One of the poles that attatch the horse to the cart nearly came through our window.

Yea, I don't get the bit about arguing about chump change, when it's common knowledge that the custom here is not to make a scene. Duh.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

diabloblas says on Jan 7, 2008, 09:08:

over the years since i made the switch from technician/engineer to sales i put more than a modest amount of effort into developing a de facto smile.

...i used it to make money then...now it contributes to the serenity around me in retirement...it works like a yawn

Desi1 (Moderator) says on Jan 7, 2008, 09:14:

A couple of things that could have eventually become a bit risky.....
1) Crossfire between police and thieves, in a schoolbus with 30 kids onboard. Cali, barrio Lido. The thieves were running on the left side of the street, the police onthe right. We were smack in the middle; just drove through.
2) Lost in a tiny two-motor Avianca aerotaxi over the southern part of Colombia (macizo colombiano) over the Andes. The unexperienced pilot lost about 30 minutes looking for the airstrip in Ipiales. It was his second trip there "had no problems yesterday". The only time in my life I've been asked by the pilot if I knew where an airport was located. (Inthe air)
3)Reversing a truly steep hillside in barrio Miraflores, Cali, with the schoolbus loaded with kids. Didn't make it up the hill and the brakes broke down. It was a T-crossing down in the bottom of the hill and was saved by hubby's expert steering.

Burglarized once, pickpocketed twice. No big deal.

I agree, the biggest danger you encounter in a normal visit to Colombian city would probably be to get to the other side of the street.

Cheers,
Desi

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 7, 2008, 09:21:

Oh, I just remembered the time a taxi driver tried to take my wife and I for an unanticipated late night detour into the no-man's land just south of the Palacio Nariño. The guy "accidentally" missed making the correct turns twice, then explained that he had to go up ahead a little ways to circle back. We bailed out and ran across Plaza Bolivar as I threw 10,000 pesos in his lap so he couldn't argue.

I can never say for sure what he was up to but it sure felt like he was setting us up.