BajaNomad - US travel alert

US travel alert

Bajamatic - 10-14-2008 at 06:39 PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081014/wl_afp/mexicocrimeusale...

tjBill - 10-15-2008 at 12:52 PM

You should read the travel alert to Colombia.

Even though I found Colombia to be one of the safest Latin American countries.

It's Brutal Out There!

Pompano - 10-15-2008 at 01:26 PM

I just recently made 3 round trips from San Diego-Tijuana to Conception Bay.

I was petrified most of the way....

...or fried. I forget.

Will be making another run for the border early November. Please advise which passes the banditos are attacking at now. Do they still wear those huge sombreros and crossed bandeleros full of 44-40 ammo? Damn..wonder if I can make some kind of a trade for one of those..sigh.

Sunman - 10-15-2008 at 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
I just recently made 3 round trips from San Diego-Tijuana to Conception Bay.

I was petrified most of the way....

...or fried. I forget.

Will be making another run for the border early November. Please advise which passes the banditos are attacking at now. Do they still wear those huge sombreros and crossed bandeleros full of 44-40 ammo? Damn..wonder if I can make some kind of a trade for one of those..sigh.

Cypress - 10-15-2008 at 01:51 PM

Pompano, Careful, those banditos are everywhere!

Ken Cooke - 10-15-2008 at 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tjBill
You should read the travel alert to Colombia.

Even though I found Colombia to be one of the safest Latin American countries.

In the past year, I've been to Colombia 4 times. I say its a pretty crazy place, but the police/military have a handle on most of the 'locura'.

On Jan 1st of this year, the family I was visiting with had a home invastion. The perportator had to be beaten with a baseball bat, punched, and his left arm was almost taken off w/a machete. Since I'm an American, I was urged to stay out of sight or I'd be targeted.

Lots of shoplifting right before Christmas last year. Store owners running after thieves in broad daylight.

I saw a homeless man raise a chair to an aggressive dog, and within seconds an angry mob of 20+ men began attacking the homeless man. He had to run for his life!

The restaurant inside of the hotel I was staying in was robbed on the first night I arrived. We had to corner the thief and detain him until he gave all of the stolen items back. THis was in July.

I loved Colombia, but I watch who I become friends with (almost nobody), I watch my back, my pockets, and I'm ready to kick butt if I have to. I've been working out since May.

All of my travels have been in Barranquilla - w/side trips to Santa Marta and Cartegena.

Paula - 10-15-2008 at 09:47 PM

Quote:

Had I known things were so bad we should have stayed safe and under the bed in Montana!

Sure am glad we lived to get here!!!!

bajasol - 10-16-2008 at 04:45 PM

"Badges? We don't need no stinking badges."

I think the US is trying to scare people into staying in the States and spend what they have left, in the states.

Ken Cooke - 10-16-2008 at 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajasolI think the US is trying to scare people into staying in the States and spend what they have left, in the states.

So, you see this as a Travel Conspiracy rather than a Travel Alert?

tjBill - 10-17-2008 at 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
I loved Colombia, but I watch who I become friends with (almost nobody), I watch my back, my pockets, and I'm ready to kick butt if I have to. I've been working out since May.

It is obvious you been friends with nobody in Colombia. Because most Colombians would find your comments offensive.

I have spent over three months in Bogota, including a month this summer. Have never had a problem and I've walked all over all the city alone. I know lots of Colombians and they complain the horrible treatment their country gets by the international media. Furthermore, I met a group of backpackers who agreed with me that Colombia is the safest country in South America.

You can check out various opinions online,
http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/my-mom-needs-to-know-h...

This is relevant to Baja because it is receiving similiar treatment in the media.

The Gull - 10-17-2008 at 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tjBill

Quote:

TJ Bill, you have this one pegged correctly.

BTW, your avatar. Is that the view from your house or from the fourth fairway at TJ golf course?

tjBill - 10-17-2008 at 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull
BTW, your avatar. Is that the view from your house or from the fourth fairway at TJ golf course?

Its a view from the TJ golf course. My house does not have such a nice view.

Ken Cooke - 10-17-2008 at 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tjBillIt is obvious you been friends with nobody in Colombia. Because most Colombians would find your comments offensive.

Everyone in that country has actually been worried about my well-being while I traveled in Colombia. I was told specifically not to make friends with strangers. This was advice by local citizens of Barranquilla. I am on the phone to my gf there nightly. Last week, she told me about a riot that took place near her home in Barrio del Bosque - near the minimum-security prison.

No disrespect meant. I have only spent 1/3rd the time in Colombia as you have, but in that amount of time, I have seen plenty. Granted, I'm not spending much time in the more touristy locales. I've concentrated my time mainly in Barranquilla - the downtown of that city and the barrios south of town in Soledad. That's where the real stuff goes down.

Bogota has been described to me as, "Encerrada" - the people are more cautious, and it is a safer place than the Atlantic department. I have only changed planes in that city, and not explored. So, I cannot comment on their security situation at this time.

But, I've met plenty of good people in Colombia, and even they told me to be careful, that its' no place for an American. :?:

Barrio Los Cedros - Soledad, Atlantico.

Ken Cooke - 10-17-2008 at 07:27 PM

Cool guys that worked the hotel. They were constantly tense, because the hotel I stayed at was in a sketchy part of town - near the downtown.

Andres & Oscar were the night crew at the hotel:

In the hotel's restaurant the first night I arrived into town, I witnessed a drugged-out zombie try to open the cash register with a screwdriver then, steal cash from each of the women's purses as one waited tables, and the other cooked in the back. Pictured below, is Blanca - my cook for the entire time I was in Barranquilla:

My gf Leidys and I in the Fedecafe section of Downtown Barranquilla. She tells me all kinds of bad stuff about her town. I asked her not to keep reminding me, since ignorance sometimes actually is bliss.

Ken Cooke - 10-17-2008 at 07:32 PM

The National Security Guard was recruiting, and I got to try on their uniform:

The young proprietor of the Internet Cafe adjacent to my hotel. Jesus Smith ran a tight operation, but in the end, the global downturn killed his business (last month), and he is now out of work - not even 18 yrs. old.

...one last squeeze on my ex-gf Onelis. We broke up, and she was actually peeed that I was out and about with strangers. Yes, Puerto Peñasco and Tijuana clothing in Colombia - I'm proudly ALL BAJA ALL THE TIME.

Ken Cooke - 10-17-2008 at 07:37 PM

I know quite a few people in Tijuana. Here's the off-road crew just before my latest trip to Colombia. I'm wearing the David K "Got Baja?" baseball cap in the very back:

Ken Cooke - 10-17-2008 at 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tjBillYou can check out various opinions online,
http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/my-mom-needs-to-know-h...

This is relevant to Baja because it is receiving similiar treatment in the media.

Tell you the truth, my mother doesn't want me to go back to Colombia. Sure, the Uribe gov't has gained control back from the FARC, but

the same week

I was in Santa Marta, there was a young Austrailian woman (fashion model) kidnapped and held in a safe house until her family wired $33,000.00 cash to get her out of the country. I subscribe to Google News alerts on Colombia, so I hear plenty.

Australian girl kidnapped in El Rodadero Santa Marta

I love Colombia, and I can't wait to go back. Just like I love Tijuana and I can't wait to go back. But, you just have to watch your back.

THe last time i was in Tijuana, I was at the ATM, and 2 guys dropped in on me suddenly, offering to "help me" with my ATM - since they assumed I don't speak Spanish. I couldn't get my card back fast enough so I could kick their tails, but they slipped away before I could run after them.

tjBill - 10-17-2008 at 09:46 PM

Nice pictures, Ken

Many Costenos from Barranquila come to Bogota for work due to the high unemployment on the coast.

Here's a humorous video clip about the media treatment about Colombia. This video could easily apply to Baja.

http://mx.youtube.com/watch?v=qgW8Y7F8DN8

Ken Cooke - 10-17-2008 at 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tjBill
Nice pictures, Ken

Many Costenos from Barranquila come to Bogota for work due to the high unemployment on the coast.

Here's a humorous video clip about the media treatment about Colombia. This video could easily apply to Baja.

http://mx.youtube.com/watch?v=qgW8Y7F8DN8

I saw the video and I loved it. Colombia is my favorite country I have ever visited...Baja is a close 2nd.

Here's a video for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkk-zKOmNDk