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I have been hearing a lot of once nice peaceful cities in the USA have huge problems with drug addictions and a result aggressive street people.
Even in Toronto most of the pan handlers have addiction issues. I know because many of them are clients I have worked with or act like clients I have worked with.
In my city 99% of the time people that are homeless it is because they will not stop abusing drugs/alcohol which is required to get assistance for shelters. Also often they are getting government disability cheques and pan handling to get extra money for drugs and alcohol or both. So giving them money just enables them to stay on the streets and continue their addictions rather then being forced in to a situation where they can actually get treatment for their addictions.
When dealing with addicts you need to be firm and stand your ground. If they think they can intemidate you they will try and rob you if no one is around or they see a window of opportunity. All they care about is getting money to get their drugs regardless of who they harm in the process.
Philly, home of the Liberty Bell and cheese steks. I don't think Philly has ever been safe, it was even worse in the 90s, nowadays it has a similar homicide rate to Bogota. Whereas in the 80s it was something like 45 per 100k people. Some of the homeless people there are very very drug addicted. We had a scary experience where one homeless guy said something to a person in our group as we were walking by, and then he started following us. We started to walk faster, but the guy started speed walking towards us! We ducked off into a cafe and thankfully he stopped following us then, but it was still a very scary experience. We have to do something about these sorts of people, put them into shelters or something!
Philly, home of the Liberty Bell and cheese steks. I don't think Philly has ever been safe, it was even worse in the 90s, nowadays it has a similar homicide rate to Bogota. Whereas in the 80s it was something like 45 per 100k people. Some of the homeless people there are very very drug addicted. We had a scary experience where one homeless guy said something to a person in our group as we were walking by, and then he started following us. We started to walk faster, but the guy started speed walking towards us! We ducked off into a cafe and thankfully he stopped following us then, but it was still a very scary experience. We have to do something about these sorts of people, put them into shelters or something!
Well that explains it lol. I had family that move there then ran back to another part of PA.
I would still love to live there, I think Philadelphia is an amazing place. Much friendlier than NYC and more down-to-earth people
I dont think I have ever been there. The only time I go to PA is to visit family and to go the outlet mall. The exchange rate sucks so going to the USA is realy low on my travel list until it gets a bit better. Lots of places with higher crime rates have lots of interesting things to do.
That is so true and I guess can be said about anywhere.
I just finished watching a movie at the Toronto International Film Festival that triggered the same thinking.
It is always much easier to be critical and objective about something else when you are an outsider.
When you are in the mix of things day to day it is hard to really processes things that just seem normal to you.
It took be going to Bogota to see street art and really take notice of all the street art in my own city.
Ironically when I was there I had a moment where I wondered by local people did not take more notice of all the beautiful art work that is surrounding them... but when I got back home I realized I was doing the same thing.
I have no idea why I am thinking this ... but something tells me that Emerald Ring in the Window at Tiffany's in Bogota and I will cross paths again ! Maybe someone will create a Breakfast at Tiffany's remake in Bogota and I will be the character eating her churros bought at a local food cart from a white paper bag staring in to their window smiling and day dreaming !
Best things about Bogota in pictures ...
.... perfect day in Bogota me wearing that beautiful ring eating those yummy churros while looking at street art !
Its certainly easier to be critical as an outsider looking in as day to day you dont notice subtle changes around you.I live in a small town of 7500 people,and theres drug addicts here as well.In fact this area is known for heroin.But theres rarely a robbery,shoplifting however is big business though they usually go to other towns.
Our nearest big town which has 170 000 people has a very high crime rate by British standards,again much of it drug related.
However nothing has ever happened to me here.
When i was in Central America,even some restaurants had armed security ,and these were ordinary ones.Rich people lived in gated communities,with bars across their doorway,razor wire and broken glass on the top.They only went out when they had to and just socialised with the same sort of people. Even middle class people had homes well protected.Shopping was Miami or Los Angeles often.
Its unnerving at first but after a while i never noticed so much.I kept well away from any police,theres just too many crooked ones.Guatemala the first country i went to has some of the most dodgy police in the world.Heavily armed and known for their violence.
Its just amazing what you in the end accept as normal,though when somebody told me if i saw a dead body not to look at it in case someone thinks youre associated with it,it certainly put the wind up me.Luckily i didnt see one
Dare say Bogota works the same way,though ive heard Colombia much better now.As for the emerald ring,take a taxi on your last day,buy it then straight to the airport.
Its certainly easier to be critical as an outsider looking in as day to day you dont notice subtle changes around you.I live in a small town of 7500 people,and theres drug addicts here as well.In fact this area is known for heroin.But theres rarely a robbery,shoplifting however is big business though they usually go to other towns.
Our nearest big town which has 170 000 people has a very high crime rate by British standards,again much of it drug related.
However nothing has ever happened to me here.
When i was in Central America,even some restaurants had armed security ,and these were ordinary ones.Rich people lived in gated communities,with bars across their doorway,razor wire and broken glass on the top.They only went out when they had to and just socialised with the same sort of people. Even middle class people had homes well protected.Shopping was Miami or Los Angeles often.
Its unnerving at first but after a while i never noticed so much.I kept well away from any police,theres just too many crooked ones.Guatemala the first country i went to has some of the most dodgy police in the world.Heavily armed and known for their violence.
Its just amazing what you in the end accept as normal,though when somebody told me if i saw a dead body not to look at it in case someone thinks youre associated with it,it certainly put the wind up me.Luckily i didnt see one
Dare say Bogota works the same way,though ive heard Colombia much better now.As for the emerald ring,take a taxi on your last day,buy it then straight to the airport.
When I was in Bogota I did not really feel that unsafe in the places I was. I think before I got there I was so confused as to what to expect to the point I was getting a bit scared. Visiting somewhere is different then living there. That would also be an interesting place to explore how people with wealth maintain safety. I was watching this movie about Marocco and the same sort of huge extreme exists there too. They same extremes to some extent exist where I live too... but I likely notice them as much.
It doed not really sound all that fun to have so many security measures needed so in a sense might be better just not to invest in having really nice things.
My moms friend carries a rifle with him every time he goes to any bank in Dominican Republic lol. I haven't been there since I was a kid but I would not bring my iPhone, computer or any jewelry if I go there. I would get a cheap prepaid phone if I go. I hear that people also like stealing sneakers which wouldn't be a problem for me since I barely wear sneakers. I know someone that had their birthday cake stolen out there. Something like that would get me really really pissed off. Nobody messes with cake!!!
The city I live in has crime here In the North America but even so I always like to be aware of my surroundings because a lot of creeps out here steal phones and assault women. I don't wear much jewelry so I would just have to watch out more when I take out my phone or money. It helps that I live in a good area and I like to go to other areas that are safe. I tend to avoid the horrible areas filled with gangs and violence.
Completely paranoid and unrealistic view of the DR, you will be surprised when you go there and absolutely everybody has smart phones. basic common sense should be used, nothing more than that. You base your opinions on things you heard, and have the nerve to write them in a public forum. opinionated and ignorant.
Completely paranoid and unrealistic view of the DR, you will be surprised when you go there and absolutely everybody has smart phones. basic common sense should be used, nothing more than that. You base your opinions on things you heard, and have the nerve to write them in a public forum. opinionated and ignorant.
Ha very funny I have relatives that told me the things that happened there and people who have traveled there. I was there a few times when I was younger but things seemed better back then. No offense to you but me being half Dominican from Spaniard decendants would probably get me beat up if I were to walk around by myself because I look like an outsider. I wouldn't walk around bymyself if I go there especially during the night and no not in the resort areas but in areas with the locals. Not to sound weird or anything but my cousins who are mixed might not experience problems but I look 100 percent gringa which I am anyway and that would make me a target. It's just better for me to be smart if I go there again someday I would not bring my iPhone out there. I know about the high crime rates out there. I still have family that live out there.
My moms friend carries a rifle with him every time he goes to any bank in Dominican Republic lol. I haven't been there since I was a kid but I would not bring my iPhone, computer or any jewelry if I go there. I would get a cheap prepaid phone if I go. I hear that people also like stealing sneakers which wouldn't be a problem for me since I barely wear sneakers. I know someone that had their birthday cake stolen out there. Something like that would get me really really pissed off. Nobody messes with cake!!!
The city I live in has crime here In the North America but even so I always like to be aware of my surroundings because a lot of creeps out here steal phones and assault women. I don't wear much jewelry so I would just have to watch out more when I take out my phone or money. It helps that I live in a good area and I like to go to other areas that are safe. I tend to avoid the horrible areas filled with gangs and violence.
Maybe DR is different, but this seems like an exaggeration. Absolutely noone goes to the bank with a rifle where I've been, that would be just as laughable as doing it in the US. People walk outside with phones and everything, the biggest concern would be getting your phone swiped for your pocket which is why if you enter the poor neighborhoods in Chile or Peru they recommend to wear your backpack in the front and put everything from your pockets in there
Maybe DR is different, but this seems like an exaggeration. Absolutely noone goes to the bank with a rifle where I've been, that would be just as laughable as doing it in the US. People walk outside with phones and everything, the biggest concern would be getting your phone swiped for your pocket which is why if you enter the poor neighborhoods in Chile or Peru they recommend to wear your backpack in the front and put everything from your pockets in there
The rifle comment I made was just about one person I know that says he carries it around because he's been robbed before when he came out of a bank in Santo Domingo. I don't know anyone else who does that. I almost had my phone stolen here in the U.S. By a puertorican guy and another time by a Dominican guy. I figure if they do that here in the states that makes me think it will be way worse in Latin America. That's why I stay in good areas only and don't venture out into the areas that aren't safe anymore. They don't care where I'm from etc if I'm seen as a target that's it. That's why I prefer to play it safe, if I have to be in a neighborhood that isn't safe or if I travel to a country that has a high crime rate then I won't bring my laptops, iPhone or any jewelry that I think is valuable. I would prefer using a cheap phone and just go more casual.
Last edited by Yourgermanicanish; 09-20-2017 at 06:28 PM..
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....
! Maybe someone will create a Breakfast at Tiffany's remake in Bogota and I will be the character eating her churros bought at a local food cart from a white paper bag staring in to their window smiling and day dreaming 
!
