Good-day,
Last winter I traveled through Puru and Bolivia by bus and collectivo, what a life enriching experience. I plan to ride to S. A. in the next couple of years. I have gotten mixed signals about Columbia from varius people from around the world. What's the deal?

Columbia has the highest murder rate in the world bar none. There is a gurrella war going on there not for political reasons, but drugs. Car bombings, kidnapping, etc is very high. For more info look at the striking viking web site. He had made a couple of trips through Columbia without a problem, then was kidnapped and held for ramsome.He endured I believe three months of torture, moving through the jungle, and near starvation. Saying this I have also heard the people there are wonderful, just the violance they have to live with is bad. I hope this helps.

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John

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John

Thanks for the disturbing info. I still lean toward the positive and will gather more information on this. The community sounds like the best option. I wonder what the percentage of hostages that are squeezed for money actually give it up? Are these rebels after only money or a reputation? thanks

I found and posted some info on the travellers advisary about columbia. The reason for kidnappings are many. Money recognition and hurt the government among others. In many parts of central and south america foreign tourists are thought to all be rich, and by their standards we are.

As for recognition they want to be famous, it helps recruit people, erodes the govt, and spreads their power through the use of intimidation.

According to the article I posted, Colombia is the kidnap capitol of the world as well. A dobious honor.

Un fortantanly a country is rouined by a minority of criminals, both in and out of the government. If you decide to go take care.

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John

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John

Hi friends,

Colombia have a bad name, but if you don't visit the danguerous area in this country you will visit the most beautiful country in Latin America. I recomended to visit this country to others and they had very nice time in this country full of very nice people. I'm sure is a mistake to lost the oportunity to visit this amazing country.
Please visit my friend's web site: http://www.hanneshaller.com/diary_19_colombia.htm

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Ya verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero (traditional song)

Jose Pedro Espinosa
Santiago, Chile

right on Dias, the information is much appriciated. looking forward to making the trip, just need to make some "fun tickets" to get down there. its swingin in to winter here in Alaska and hopfully the work will carry through.
Any spots of beauty you might want to suggest to a green horn like myself if i pass through.

take er easy, wade

I guess I can help here... I am Colombian and have extensively travelled all around the country... and yes, it´s beatiful... and yes, it CAN be dangerous, some times for locals but even more for foreigners... However, IT IS posible to cross the country, following some basic rules and having a bit of luck.
If you decide to come, I can assure you won´t be dissapointed. Drop me a line and I´ll help you in whatever I can.

Jorge T.

Hola Jorge,

Aún no he tenido la suerte de viajar a tu maravilloso país, sin embargo se algo de él por mis amigos colombianos que he conocido en Chile y también en otras partes del mundo.
Espero ir a conocer Colombia algún día, sobre todo porque tengo anotado por ahí algunos lugares fuera de los circuitos turísticos típicos que solo ustedes los colombianos conocen y que me han dicho son lo mejor del país.
Un abrazo a todas las colombianas, que aún no he conocido ninguna fea.

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Ya verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero (traditional song)

Jose Pedro Espinosa
Curico, Chile

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Ya verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero (traditional song)

Jose Pedro Espinosa
Santiago, Chile

Hola Jorge,,,first of all Cual Jorge !?!?!?

yo tambien soy Colombiano,but now i live in berkeley california.

sincerlly I just got tired of the violence,and the constant tension.
is being about 8 years for me since i visit,and aparentlly the situation is wrost and wrost..

if you still want to go,be respectfull,try to not look to "gringo" and enjoy the view,colombia is a contry of contrast,, very sharp contrast in fact,I will say the most green place on earth,but can be the darkest also

Ricardo"patineto" from Bogota Colombia...

if you need pictures to recognize me look in here http://patineto.smugmug.com

Jorge saludos por alla....

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dios le da comida al que no tiene dientes

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dios le da comida al que no tiene dientes

Here you have the experience of another "gringa" (female and alone in a macho country) http://www.b13media.com/lois/journal_20031016.html
Colombia is danguerous, but not more than some areas of New York city.

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Ya verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero (traditional song)

Jose Pedro Espinosa
Curico, Chile

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Ya verás como quieren en Chile al amigo cuando es forastero (traditional song)

Jose Pedro Espinosa
Santiago, Chile

I watched a documentary yesterday about the kidnappings in Colombia. They stated that 3000 persons was kidnapped every year (official numbers, could be higher). That makes up 75% of the kidnappings in the WORLD. The fact that people pay the money and the fact that the police ain't doing shit about it, doesn't seem to help either. Last year only 14 kidnappers was convicted....

I don't wanna freighten you, but be aware of the situation and you'll manage better.

Have fun!

thanks fellas,

OKA and i have been studying the map and studying a coupla libations also, looking forward greatly to be on the way. we were wondering about crossing the amazon near the mouth. possible? pain in the ass? air? boat? i'm sure we'll find out.
later,
wade

Hi Jose...you see her views still part of the "Stereotype"the city is much more than that.

Bogota was call the "Atenas" of Sur America for many years,and is no different now,is a very cultural city,many educated person,hell the Arquitecture is as remarcable as what you see here in san francisco,is a lot of history....

the Violent social situation introduce the "Migration" because living on the "land" is just to dangerous.
the militaries come and accuse you of something,if not is the Guerrilla,if not the paramilitares,if not just comun delinquency,a big mayority of the people are Honest,in fact very human(you grow to be that way on a hard enviroment) any way the only refugy they can find is the Citys(like in mideval times a castle is require )so the citys are over populated and for sure many people don't have a job,,is a very sad and complicated social canandrum.

the "Rich" people live a life of opulence(I was one of does"kind of")fancy cars,nices houses,great schools,country clubs,that is about 5% and is you typical Upper class.
the great mayority work like pigs for $150 a month,for sure not sufient to sustain your self,much less a whole family that Includes the Police,,no wonder they get convince to go into the dark side,in fact many become law enforsment to be "Above the law" for example a big part of the military and police force never have more education that 5 years of school,does institutions are for many a way to find a better future,but just a few are very commited to make the contry a better place,but you can end up paying with your life,,even wrost with the life of your family..

sorry if the histories are hard and Incomplete(will take a million posting to try to explain all the angles and factors)plus I don't know them all

in short colombia features some of the nices people a ever meet,and some of the most evel ones also,put it this way,those not get much wrost than a Million people that think they are "James Bond" and they have the guns and a licence to Kill.

I better stop now,is kind of hard for me.



[This message has been edited by ricardo kuhn (edited 18 November 2003).]

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dios le da comida al que no tiene dientes

Okay you want to know the really "Hard core" stuff

Grant:Just tell me if this is to much.

in the last few years a few groups a whole new technic, call the "Retenes".

basically works like this... they make a "Ambush" on a particular road, they stop every vehicle private or public if you are unlucky they will take somebody from your Vehicle, usually they will take the youngest person they can find in the car, they tell the driver "come back with $10,000 dollars tomorrow or you will never see it again"....
man what do you do with something like that.

well many people don't drive any more, they fly or they just don't go anywere.

is also a well know fact that the "Bandoleros" have contacts at the Banks, department of traffic, to know who you are and how much they can ask you.

some are pretty sofisticated Laptops, wireless connections, cell phones,car faxes, so they can stract you data, hackers galore to figure out you weak points, where you live, etc .

sorry if this is to sad, believe me I got to see most of it, and my self and many of my friends suffer from the "Evilness" of a few.

Just don't go there, if you don't need too.



[This message has been edited by ricardo kuhn (edited 18 November 2003).]

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dios le da comida al que no tiene dientes