[Sonsowey]

(02-13-2011 12:18 PM)Tommy Wrote:  

Sounds very strange to me. I always have a phone and credit card on me, like usual. It would indeed drive me nuts... Are there any safer places?

I mean, I dunno about the statistics (doubt there are reliable ones), but my impression is that Bogotá is widely known as having way more robberies than other cities in Colombia. I know people from Pereira, Manizales and Bucaramanga have told me that their cities are way more calm and you can walk around at night without feeling worried. Dunno though, could just be sentimental ''I miss my city'' stuff.

[Tommy]

So did you get robbed once? I don't like that kind of shit. Any people being murdered for a cellphone a few pesos?

[kerouac]

Bogota definitely has a "tense" edge to it, and if you find that you're the kind of guy that gets taken advantage of a lot, or find yourself in a lot of unlucky situations, it might not be the best place in Colombia to check out. (Some people just attract trouble)

I stayed there for over 2 weeks total, and I didn't have one single problem. Quite the opposite actually, I had an amazing time. Yet, there were definitely people who weren't quite as lucky.

I'd say if you feel comfortable in any large metropolitan area, you'll feel just as comfortable here. I think if you can get by in NYC, and I'm not talking UES or any of the nicer parts, then you'll be fine in Bta!

[Tommy]

I'm wondering if it happens all around the city or just in some particular areas? I have no idea but the only place in the world where I hear are lots of street robbers is South America so I can imagin they are quite desperate and happens probably daily in some areas and less in others?

[InternationPlayboy]

Dude, stop worrying so much about getting robbed or you're gonna get robbed. People can see if you're a pussy and an easy target. If you are so worried about getting robbed, then don't go to South America. If you're gonna get robbed, chance are you aren't going to get hurt if you are smart and don't give resistance. Just fork over the $50 your carrying and cut your losses. These people don't want to hurt you, they just want some money for some food or beer or drugs.

[Dash Global]

as long as u stick to the main places and dont be an idiot aka flashing wealth than u will be ok and dont need to worry about it!

[thegmanifesto]

InternationPlayboy,

"Dude, stop worrying so much about getting robbed or you're gonna get robbed."

Ha. True.

"People can see if you're a pussy and an easy target."

There is a certain art to handling yourself in the streets.

Tommy-

I will say that I don't think Bogota is overly dangerous compared to the US if you know what you are doing.

Stay out of bad hoods, and you should be fine.

Do you roll to Gang hoods in East LA?

Buy drugs from the V-13 or Venice Shoreline Crips?

Roll through Southeast DC flashing?

Flash Gang signs in Southside Chicago and step to The Almighty Latin Kings, Black P Stones and Gangster Disciples?

Traffic in Drugs or guns in Tijuana with The Arellano Félix?

I am guessing, probably not.

Don't do similar in Bogota and it should be A-OK.

[Tommy]

Ok so everything should be fine.

Any other places to go near by?

[Rocco81]

Tommy certain areas are worse than others. You will normally not be wandering around a bad area in the middle of the night unless you are looking for street hookers or crack (same as any city) this is the most common place people are attacked or violently mugged. Secondly the borderline areas in the semi bad areas are big targets for hoodlums who can just walk there from shitty areas a zone away. This could be a problem if you are coming back late and they scope you out.

The robbers sometimes do pull knives and guns. Sometimes they will have a lookout man and then the guy with the weapon. From what I saw on the news they will wait until they are right up on you at times then pull the weapon not really leaving you much time to plan a defense strategy. Its also not uncommon they take your shoes so you cannot run after them. Atleast this is what I have been told and what I watched on the news.

Less than the violent crime, I think the amount of petty crime is what shocked me. For instance a good friend who moved there had 2 black berries stolen from him by chicks that he met on cupid. Also he has warned me about the little shit , like cabbies dicking you on money, bill collectors charging extra, parking lot attendees, and various other random people just trying to squeeeze a buck or two out of you.

[Sonsowey]

(02-13-2011 12:56 PM)kerouac Wrote:  

I stayed there for over 2 weeks total, and I didn't have one single problem. Quite the opposite actually, I had an amazing time. Yet, there were definitely people who weren't quite as lucky.

My first 2 weeks were fine too.

The difference is I'm living here. I use public transport that doesn't leave me at my front door. I walk places. I run into friends at one place, and walk to another. And when everyone goes home, we're just going a few blocks away, so we walk.

It's not like people get robbed every month or anything, but robbery really isn't rare.

[Ajiaco]

I've never been robbed at knifepoint or anything here in Bogota, but there are many ways to skin a cat. A dude jumped in through the window of the hostel I was staying at once, and I got pickpocketed without even realizing it once on Transmilenio (I now rock a chain wallet). It sucks, but I learned to be more careful and observant. Getting robbed is not really the end of the world, either.

Some parts of the city are more dangerous than others, although you never know. Candelaria is a place full of backpackers and shady people, a lot of fun, but you have to be careful around there at night. Downtown in Latin America is generally where a lot of shady things go down, but if worries about getting robbed are the main thing freaking you out, well, it's not worth ruining an otherwise fun trip worrying about. Besides, you will be telling that robbery story all the time and milking it for all its worth by inflating how dangerous it felt until you exaggerate it into a whole other experience where you barely got out alive. Enjoy it!

[MiXX]

(02-13-2011 10:04 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

Flash Gang signs in Southside Chicago and step to The Almighty Latin Kings

Growing up in the tough streets of Brooklyn, NY, the Latin Kings were my worst enemy. I went toe-to-toe with many of these fucks during my teenage years in the late 80's early 90's, simply because I would not join their stupid crew - I've always been Alpha and my own man.

To stand my ground, I had to spill lots of the red stuff in many hand-to-hand battles.

Today, these idiots rely more on guns than schoolyard fights, I have more respect for the black and gold of 1987 that I fought with daily than I do for idiots in 2011. Those cats back then rolled up their firsts for bare-knuckle brawls, and if you win, you lived another day.

Mixx

[BaronStanley]

If you are that concerned about safety, then Lima is your best choice. It is ridiculously safe in the Miraflores area (the nice area of town)... safer than most American cities. Lots of cops and security around every. They have their own additional security force in addition to the normal police force. Shit, they even have cameras on buildings that monitor whole district. Outside of Miraflores it can be sketchy and dangerous just like other cities in South America but as long as you aren't retarded you wont have any problems.

[Rocco81]

Thos LK Nuevo Ricans got nada on La mara Mixx.. jajaja

[InternationPlayboy]

(02-16-2011 12:59 PM)BaronStanley Wrote:  

If you are that concerned about safety, then Lima is your best choice. It is ridiculously safe in the Miraflores area (the nice area of town)... safer than most American cities. Lots of cops and security around every. They have their own additional security force in addition to the normal police force. Shit, they even have cameras on buildings that monitor whole district. Outside of Miraflores it can be sketchy and dangerous just like other cities in South America but as long as you aren't retarded you wont have any problems.

Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay are supposed to be pretty safe as well from what I hear.

[BaronStanley]

I lived in Buenos Aires... it is not that safe. Two Australian guys I knew got robbed at gun point during the middle of the day sitting in a cafe in Palermo (the nice part of town). And most of the locals I met have some sort of story about them getting robbed at some point. Not that BsAs is THAT dangerous, but its by no means safe. The murder rate is relatively low for S. America. Lima is definitely safer than BsAs. I don't know about Chile or Uruguay.

[Tommy]

I decided to go to Asuncion in Paraguay. I'm going to learn spanish in a private school and hang around for atleast 3 months, later on I will probably go to Argentina and Colombia.

[Dash Global]

interesting choice! hope u can gather some good intel for a nice data sheet!

[lottery]

Seems like the more dangerous a city is, the more exiciting it is, the more whores to hit on and shit like that, so its about what city you want to hit, although i wouldnt recommend a city like caracas from what i heard.

[BaronStanley]

Asuncion.... awesome. Cheapest capitol in the world. Please report back with info on that city as there is very little information about it anywhere.

[MiXX]

(02-16-2011 05:23 PM)Rocco81 Wrote:  

Thos LK Nuevo Ricans got nada on La mara Mixx.. jajaja

This is true.

Mixx

[Tommy]

Some people say Paraguayan girls are ugly. Well, i've been on several social network sites and added tons of them to my friends list and they all look very European. So far so good.

The Ministry of Education and Culture of Paraguay[21] refers thus to the population of the country: "The dominant ancestry is European, which represents a large proportion of the population, mostly descendants of Spanish, Germans, Italians (who have contributed to repopulate the country after the War of the Triple Alliance)
Mestizos: 74.5%
White: 20%
Mulatos: 3.5%
Indigenous: 1.5%
(Source: Wikipedia)

After the war between Paraguay and Brazil most of the Paraguayan men had died during combat and the male population significantly decreased. So basicly what I read here is that after the war Spanish, German and Italian men basicly took over the job and contributed to the country by making lots of fresh European mixed babies.

[joetraveler]

Nicaragua is cheap and safe. Also the Andean countries (Ecaudor, Peru, etc.). However, every country has safe and bad areas. do some research before you go

good luck

[Celtic]

How bad exactly is La Candelaria? I'm looking at studying Spanish in Bogota this summer, and a lot of the universities are right by that neighborhood. I also heard there is good nightlife there. I get the feeling it'd be super convenient to stay there, but it's not worth if I can't go out of my hotel at night without taking a big risk of being robbed.

[Dash Global]

(02-26-2011 02:35 PM)Celtic Wrote:  

How bad exactly is La Candelaria? I'm looking at studying Spanish in Bogota this summer, and a lot of the universities are right by that neighborhood. I also heard there is good nightlife there. I get the feeling it'd be super convenient to stay there, but it's not worth if I can't go out of my hotel at night without taking a big risk of being robbed.

During the day ur fine. Night time can be alittle iffy from what ive heard. Def need to keep ur wits about when walking alone at night.

On the same note ppl told me I shouldnt walk in Rio at night and I did it every night for over a week and never had anything bad happen to me...