I got back from an 8-day trip to Barranquilla/Cartagena this past Thursday with my wife. I had an interesting experience down there with a cab-driver. We were at the Hotel Prado, where we ran into a couple of gringos at the outside bar. Gunter Kook was sitting there with them, I guess he was working with one of them with some girls.
Anyway, Gunter was leaving the Hotel when we were, and we agreed to hop in the same cab. It was mid-morning and there were people walking around as usual in the city going about their business. One guy was talking on his cell phone and about to cross the street about 20 yards in front of us. He wasn't paying very good attention, and as we approached him, he stepped into the street without looking in our direction. At this point we were plenty far from him for this cab driver to move a little to the left. I kept waiting for the driver to swirve to miss him, it was like we were in slow motion. What does he do? He aims straight for the guy, and ends up hitting the guy as he stepped off the curb and into the street! It wasn't like the guy flied onto the hood of the car or anything, but it was more like a glancing blow to the guys leg. He was still standing, but he could have very easily been seriously hurt. I couldn't believe it.
The cab driver stops after a few feet, cussing this guy..gets out of his car and goes walking towards him. He comes back to the cab, with the broken part of his side-view mirror in his hand. He then said something like "that'll teach him not to talk on his cell and walk across the street".
I always knew that pedestrians did not have the right of way, but I was truly shocked at what happened.
Now, to the point about danger in Colombia...I don't think it is kidnapping or murder, but rather getting hit by a car. Whether it be if you are in a cab that has an accident or getting hit by a car or motorcycle while you are walking. I have not seen a wreck down there yet, amazingly, but my wife always tells me how many people die by getting hit by cars while riding motorcycles.
Later,
Mike
www.sparhard.com/colombia.htm
