When travelling, always check the US State Department's web site:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_941.html
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]COLOMBIA [/FONT]
February 05, 2008
This Travel Warning updates and reminds American citizens of ongoing security concerns in Colombia. The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Colombia. While security in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, violence by narco-terrorist groups continues to affect some rural areas and cities. The potential for violence by terrorists and other criminal elements exists in all parts of the country. For additional details about the general criminal threat, please see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Colombia. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Colombia issued June 4, 2007.
Violence has decreased markedly in many urban destinations, including Bogotá, Medellín, Barranquilla, and Cartagena. Cali continues to experience more violence than most other large cities, and the level of violence in Buenaventura remains high. Small towns and rural areas of Colombia can still be extremely dangerous due to the presence of narco-terrorists. Common crime remains a significant problem in many urban and rural areas.
The incidence of kidnapping in Colombia has diminished significantly from its peak at the beginning of this decade. Nevertheless, terrorist groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN) and other criminal organizations continue to kidnap and hold civilians for ransom or as political bargaining chips. No one is immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. The FARC continue to hold three U.S. government contractors, having captured them when their plane crashed in a remote region of the country in February 2003. In January 2008, the FARC kidnapped six Colombian tourists from a beach on the Pacific coast in Chocó Department. Although the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped Americans, it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to or strike deals with kidnappers. Consequently, the U.S. government’s ability to assist kidnapping victims is limited.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_941.html
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]COLOMBIA [/FONT]
February 05, 2008
This Travel Warning updates and reminds American citizens of ongoing security concerns in Colombia. The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Colombia. While security in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, violence by narco-terrorist groups continues to affect some rural areas and cities. The potential for violence by terrorists and other criminal elements exists in all parts of the country. For additional details about the general criminal threat, please see the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Colombia. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Colombia issued June 4, 2007.
Violence has decreased markedly in many urban destinations, including Bogotá, Medellín, Barranquilla, and Cartagena. Cali continues to experience more violence than most other large cities, and the level of violence in Buenaventura remains high. Small towns and rural areas of Colombia can still be extremely dangerous due to the presence of narco-terrorists. Common crime remains a significant problem in many urban and rural areas.
The incidence of kidnapping in Colombia has diminished significantly from its peak at the beginning of this decade. Nevertheless, terrorist groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN) and other criminal organizations continue to kidnap and hold civilians for ransom or as political bargaining chips. No one is immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. The FARC continue to hold three U.S. government contractors, having captured them when their plane crashed in a remote region of the country in February 2003. In January 2008, the FARC kidnapped six Colombian tourists from a beach on the Pacific coast in Chocó Department. Although the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped Americans, it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to or strike deals with kidnappers. Consequently, the U.S. government’s ability to assist kidnapping victims is limited.
Good point
I only list LA because I grew up there and it's the nearest large city. But I'm actually out in the desert, about 100 miles east of LA
Made the move in September and it's the best decision I've ever made - LA is a shit hole.
Are you in the Palm Springs area? I love Rancho Mirage and wouldn't mind living there someday. I would guess it's almost mandatory to have a pool at your house.
I'm currently in Ventura County and getting sick of the traffic and increasing crime. OTOH, I love the climate by the beach and not even having AC in my house.
I have a bunch of friends that go down there regularly to Cartagena and have a blast everytime they go. Try to blend in as much as possible and stay in the touristy areas you should be fine. Don´t bring your finest Hawaiian shirt and walk around in birkenstocks and socks as it just brings attention to yourself...
The Colombian girls I have seen here in Costa Rica are top notch at the Del Rey, but most of them have had major overhaul work done and they are nuts for silicon over there....
FI
The Colombian girls I have seen here in Costa Rica are top notch at the Del Rey, but most of them have had major overhaul work done and they are nuts for silicon over there....
FI
DING DING DING - we have a winner!
Yes, I'm just east of Rancho Mirage in La Quinta, basically the east end of the Palm Springs Valley. A pool is nice, but very expensive to maintain. So, I live in a gated community and just use the community pools.
Out here it's 100x better than LA and you can always find cheap rentals. I have a *gorgeous* home, 1700sq ft for the same price of what a 1-bdrm would cost on LA's west side.
Good stuff - appreciate the info.I have a bunch of friends that go down there regularly to Cartagena and have a blast everytime they go. Try to blend in as much as possible and stay in the touristy areas you should be fine. Don´t bring your finest Hawaiian shirt and walk around in birkenstocks and socks as it just brings attention to yourself...
The Colombian girls I have seen here in Costa Rica are top notch at the Del Rey, but most of them have had major overhaul work done and they are nuts for silicon over there....
FI
