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Colombia is safer than it used to be. But Colombia is still extremely dangerous.
Bogota has 7 million+ people but has a lower crime rate than 30 American cities. Colombia isn't perfect, but due to Uribe's efforts it has greatly improved. The drug cartels and rebel groups have been marginalized. The northern half of Bogota is often compared to a prosperous American city. There's security everywhere. One of it's malls has over 500 stores, there are many multiplexes playing current American movies in English. And there are numerous cities and towns that are equally safe. Yes there's crime, but nowhere near the amount you are thinking.
In reading the stats from Nationmaster it looks like these figures are from 2002-03. I'd be curious to see numbers more up to date. Colombia has much to be proud of in recent years. Alvaro Uribe has been a wonderful leader. My prayer for the people of this much maligned country is that the positive action continues. As an American I am saddened and ashamed that a great deal of the problems of Colombia have been rooted in our (US) drug consumption. As the drug flow is increasingly coming out of Mexico, it shows the willingness of Colombia to drive these cartels out. I feel as though American critics especially need to own up to that. This is not imply that they don't have other troubles, they do and it is their responsibility to face and correct them. My visits have taken me to Cali, Medellin, Cartagena, Popayan, Santa Fe Antioquia, Guatape, Rio Negro, Pereira (Zona Cafetera) and Manizales as I am exploring the idea of retiring to South America. I used the bus system for intercity travel and found it much better than the US equivalent. I was quite taken by the Medellin area. It was pretty well organized and offered a great deal culturally, the climate was very pleasant. The people were friendly and warm. If you are sensible and cautious you will be rewarded in your visits. There is great poverty however and these places you don't want to get into. If you are not putting yourself in a position for inviting a problem (too much drinking, looking for drugs). Additionally, do yourself a favor and leave your bling home, it is out of place anyway and if you have any sensitivity to others you won't be a showboat. Colombia isn't for everyone though. It is to me a diamond in the rough.
I agree. Colombia is a wonderful country and most of its problems are the fault of the US and other wealthy drug consuming countries.
The only problem I have is with people saying that Colombia is safe. It is anything but.
I must have a serious vision problem because I haven't seen a single post claiming that Colombia is safe. All I see is that Colombia is safer and that there are wonderful safe places within Colombia that are worthy of being visited, and those are the places the would-be tourist(s) are being recommended to.
Now that I think of it, my vision is fine. The problem lies with someone else trying to push some sort of anti-Colombia agenda, but what do I know; I'm not a mind reader.
For the record, Miami is one of the most violent and dangerous cities in the U.S. and yet, plenty of people visit the place every year without a problem! How is that possible you ask? Because they stick to the areas that are safe!
Do the same everywhere else in the world and you'll be fine!
Not really, kidnapping is organized crime. They only kidnap wealthy people who can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in ransom or if you belong to the military or politics.
The only problem I have is with people saying that Colombia is safe. It is anything but.
You are the one who said that getting thrown on the streets is quite common there, also that the place is "extremely dangerous"
I'm not the type of person who describes Colombia as a rose garden, as I lived here(I'm in Medellin right now) many years and visit frequently. I can't say though that is extremely unsafe. ON a regular basis you will not get killed, kidnap unless you are a criminal. If you go out you will get not be robbed but the possibility is out there, much more than in the USA. You have to be very careful when withdrawing money from ATMs and banks.
If I had taken the U.S. Consular Reports to heart, over the years, I would have never experienced a good part of the world.
Just last week, after having not been in Tijuana for a year and a half, I spent two days there and never felt unsafe at any time, and I even frequented the open Swap Meet in the lower area of the Zona Norte district. Been going there for 14 years now, many times walking around the city until 4 am, never an unpleasant incident to report. It sad, pathetic, the people that let the news media decide their future travel plans.
And how do other countries that the media likes to beat up on, get even with us? They'll take one incident in this oh-it's-only-an-isolated-incident country and blow it out of proportion, letting future would-be travelers in that country believe it happens every day, every hour up there! Bravo! Tit for tat!
I sure hope the foreign media picked up on the unemployed man, right here in Las Vegas, who went down to the NYNY casino one night, and from a balcony, started shooting people at random. And the deranged individual who mowed down 23 people with his car outside the Paris Hotel/casino in broad daylight a couple years ago.
Not really, kidnapping is organized crime. They only kidnap wealthy people who can pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in ransom or if you belong to the military or politics.
That's a myth. "Fast Food" kidnapping is very common now where they nab you and drain whatever they can from your cards and maybe, if they want, let you go in 24 hours.
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