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James Hetfield · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Los Angeles

US State Department Travel Info stuff of nightmares. Pull up any Latin American nation, read all the SAFETY and CRIME advisories:
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_998.html
Common sense: Don't take a nap outside your ATM machine, don't wear priceless diamonds, don't get drunk after midnight in favelas. BUT US State Dept says Latin America is a nightmare cesspit of robbers, muggers, thieves, pickpockets, rapists, killers, kidnappers, carjackers, drug gangs, pirates, slavers....

Read BRAZIL on that website. US State Dept goes on for PAGES about all the nightmare horrors that WILL DEFINITELY happen to you if you dare drink a beer on a Rio beach after sunset. You must be STONE COLD CRAZY to consider visiting Brazil after reading that US State Dept website. Shocked

AGREE OR DISAGREE ABOUT CRIME IN CITY WHERE YOU TEACH? Think US State Dept exaggerates?
You walk around and drink in pubs after sunset? You been victim of armed robbers, muggers, thieves, pickpockets, rapists, killers, kidnappers, carjackers, drug gangs, pirates, slavers? Any local horror stories? Razz

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I'm usuually to tired to walk around after class. It depends on how you look, act and speak. And where you are. who you're with. the US is the murder capital of the world, but they forget to put that on the US State Dept site, right?

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 3:09 am Post subject:

Thing is, those state department websites are frightening, and frighteningly consistent. I don't know if their motivation has to to with liability, or ideology, but I do know that they identify many places I feel quite safe in as too dangerous for words.

It's a "boy who cried wolf" thing to me. If they say someplace is dangerous, people could listen. But they say everyplace is dangerous. Spent time in Colombia. Loved it. Urban Ecuador is safer than a lot of urban areas in the US.

Most places are safe enough to get by, if you can refrain from taking senseless risks. And don't carry too much cash!!

Best,
Justin

yankeechemist · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 50

I lived in Bonaire for a while and had ZERO issues. From what I can deduct. Most places tend to be safe, just use common sense. The only places I have heard that are truly bad are Belize city and parts of Guatemala. Although people I know who went to Guatemala had no issues. That state dept site probably says nothing about mid america towns with high crime rates.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Funny...much of Latin America sees the US as a crimeridden nightmare.

I think most places are much safer than the butt-covering State department lets on. In Mexico's case, there's been a lot of press lately about narco deaths and an uptick in violence. It will affect you if you're a cop or a narco (the people getting killed) and if you're in the border region, but most of the rest of the country is pretty tranquil.

I think petty theft is one's biggest worry here. Pickpockets and such, or getting taken for a taxi ride that's a little longer than it should be, to squeeze and extra dollar out of you.

Of course, there's always going to be someone that has a horror story, or knows someone that knew someone that once got mugged. It happens, as it does everywhere in the world. What's more important are the stories you don't hear, namely, the majority of us that have never had anything happen at all.

Wish I had a great story to tell of how someone tried to mug me, then I broke his arm, and we all fled through some dank and dangerous favela whilst being chased by rabid dogs until saved by some caped crusader and finishing the night in a cantina. Life is just a little more boring than that I'm afraid.

James Hetfield · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Los Angeles

Anyone got any cool horror stories? Razz

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:00 am Post subject:

My coolest "horror stories" (being robbed with violence) took place in Europe and the US.

Best,
Justin

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

tyreless · Joined: 17 May 2008 Posts: 11 Location: Colombia

Looks like Colombia has become a lot safer since it's officially prohibited to take knives and firearms into some bars and the TransMilenio bus system in Bogot�. Crying or Very sad

Looks as though I'll have to start using taxis. LOL

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I?ll be in Bogota next feb, albiet just for a layover. Entering on a Peruvian passport though, not American

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

kingkristopher · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 62

Well, I don't know about the US, but Latin America is DEFINITELY more dangerous than Canada. Growing up even in urban Canada (not Toronto, but close) violent crime, especially murder was an afterthought. The year I left Canada (2001) there were 60 homicides in T.O. To contrast that, in my destination city, Caracas, there were approximately 50 homicides the first WEEKEND I was there. In fact, Caracas has one of the highest murder rates in the world. BTW, the USA is not the murder capital of the world, it is not even in the top 20 (#24) in terms of murder rate (murders per 100,000 people).

Yes, you can avoid a great deal of problems by being smart, but you can't avoid them all. In my 26 years living in urban Canada, I was never a victim of a violent crime, nor did I know anyone who was. Obviously, that's not to say that violent crime didn't happen where I lived, just that it never effected me, or anyone I know personally.

In the eight years plus I have lived in Latin America, I have been the victim of a couple robberies (despite the fact that I blend in quite well and I am not a novice tourist), witnessed many other robberies, beatings and even murders, and I have yet to meet someone who has travelled extensively in L.A. who can't recount similar stories. Sometimes it's not even a matter of knowing which areas to avoid or when. I remember once I was robbed in Quito outside my house in a nice neighbourhood (El Batan for you Justin) just after dark. I remember another time when armed gunmen boarded an intracity bus in Venezuela (between Valencia and Puerto Cabello) and proceeded to rob everyone on board. Crap like this happens all the time down here.

Is this better or worse than the U.S? I don't know. But one would be foolish to discount the warnings of the US State Dept. on this matter. Yes, they are probably overblowing it a little since it's a matter of liability for them (they have to warn prospective US travellers of any potential danger), but these threats definitely DO exist. If you have spent any significant time in L.A. without being the victim of a violent crime then I congratulate you, you've had much better luck than most.