Reasonable risks

[Darkstar]

I was planning on going to BAQ this week and in light of recent events I decided not to go based upon the risks I'm willing to take. I have to take into consideration that I have an 11-year old daughter who counts on me. It's my decision, everyone must do the same before going.

Anyway, the agency was quite upset and very rude when I informed them. I was never asked for a deposit and there is no such policy outlined on their website. If I had paid one, I'd be glad to let them have it. In the case, the timing was just very poor.

I was very excited and really looking forward to the trip and agonized over the decison I made, but i the end I felt it was for the best at this time. I'll re-evaluate the risks and make plans to go at a later date, but not to this agency. I guess it's good I found out they had this sort of attitude before I went.

Here is a copy of the e-mail I received. Let me know what you think. I'm sort of upset at the moment and need some feedback.

Thanks,

Tim.

"Tim, give me a break, this is barranquilla, not Cali, get a map of Colombia and check it out.  You are making a bad decision but its yours and will have to live with it. In the future you will required to make your payment in full in advance. I guess you have never been to Colombia and don't realize how large the country is.  For example, if 17,000 red necks in Tennessee decided to set off bombs and start a revolution, would that effect the people in Miami Florida, 400 miles away.  The planet Love forum is a case of the blind leading the blind, We hope you find safty in your home while more informed men from the United States will be here in Barranquilla meeting your would be future wife. We are booked up for Sept and you are the only
cancel. For the record no one has ever been kidnapped in barranquilla. Barranquilla is the safest city in Colombia.  Educate yourself on foreign affairs and you will have more opportunities in life.  We feel sorry for you."

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Reasonable risks, posted by Darkstar on Aug 22, 2002

Tim

There's no easy answer to your post and there are no guarantees travelling anywhere.  When you leave the US you are no longer protected by our laws and our police, but bad things can happen to us here, too.

What I can tell you is it always seems like a bad time to travel to Colombia.  In 1999 I  made my first trip.  It was just a few weeks after rebels hijacked a commercial airline, I think from Bucaramanga.  They held dozens of people hostage for months.  Was I scared?  Better believe it.  I thought air travel was safe in Colombia and then that happened.  I made two trips to Bogota that year and nothing happened to me.

This year I went back again.  I scheduled a trip to Cali and a week before my trip rebels attacked the center of the state government in downtown Cali.  They kidnapped about a dozen legislators.  They are still held hostage, I believe.  Was I scared.  H*ll yes!  If the police can't protect the legislators in session, the rebels can attack anyone, anywhere, anytime.  I made my trip to Cali and nothing happened to me.

Before my second trip to Cali this year I got an email from a person claiming o be with Colombian military intelligence.  They said they had uncovered a FARC plot to kidnap me when I returned to Cali.  Was I scared?  I was litterally shaking when I read that email.  It turned out to be a scare tactic from my fiancee's ex-boyfriend.  I went back to Cali and nothing happened to me.

But let me qualify that statement.  I found out later that my fiancee's ex-boyfriend came looking for me with a gun one night.  He was scared away because the police keep a 24-hour guard across the street from the agency I was at.  I'm not going back to Cali anytime soon, but it's not because of the FARC.

Steve

[Cali vet]

... in response to It always looks like a bad time to trave..., posted by DallasSteve2 on Aug 23, 2002

That's a real bummer. What lousey luck. Well you are right to stay out of Cali for the time being. Despite being a good sized city there seems to be a dam**d efficient grape vine and remaining anonymous in Cali is pretty much out of the question unless you never went to an agency, Chipichapi, Unicentro, Ave Sexta or even La Catorce etc. Maybe you could have your fiance meet you in Manizales. That's a decent place not too far from Cali.

[JeffA]

... in response to Re: It always looks like a bad time to t..., posted by Cali vet on Aug 23, 2002

Additionally there are excursions from Cali to MAnizales, especially to the thermal baths. My Cun~ado frequently travels between manizales and cali, no problems. Flights into Manizales and/or Pereira from Bogota are short and inexpensive, and ACES has delicious sandwiches for the flights.

Remember if you go, though, that manizales is frio, feo, y faldudo to lowlanders (and whenever I say that, it irritates my wife, jajaja.\
cheers,
Jeffa

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Re: It always looks like a bad time to t..., posted by Cali vet on Aug 23, 2002

Cali vet

We made a trip to Aruba in July.  It's one of the few countries that don't require a visa for a Colombian citizen.  It's a beautiful island and we had a nice time.  

My K1 petition has been approved.  My fiancee is gathering her docs for the visa interview in Bogota and with any luck she'll be here in September.

Ever been to Fandango on Avenida Sexta?  I wish I could go back just to go dancing with her at Fandango again.  I love it because it has big windows and you can watch the people going by outside while you have a drink inside.

Steve

[Cali vet]

... in response to Aruba, posted by DallasSteve2 on Aug 23, 2002

Well that's good news, glad to hear it's working out well despite the gun happy ex.
In fact my fiance has been pressuring me to get with the disco thing so I'll take your advise and try Fandango.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Reasonable risks, posted by Darkstar on Aug 22, 2002


When I was considering looking South for my bride, I had the very same concerns and came to the very same conclusions.

Reading on the board here about guys getting stopped at gun-point, and hearing automatic gunfire in the distance clinched it for me.

I, too, have a daughter, and I could not justify the risks.

The fact that the agency gave you grief over it is hardly surprising. Not only are they losing a money opportunity, they do LIVE there, and so they don't know anything else. Also, I am sure it is not as dangerous for them to be there as it is for a "Gringo".

And, in answer to their query, YES! if 17000 rebels in Tennesse blew things up, it would affect people in Miami.

The Rodney King trial verdict reached far beyong California...

Having said that, have you considered the other places?

I still think that Brazil offers wonderful potential. There are those who have been to Mexico with good results.

After all, South of the Border does not begin and end in Colombia!

(BTW, I dont' read this forum as much as I used to. While I was in Brazil, I received an email from a woman in Kherson. That lead us to a few months of correspondance, followed by a trip to see her... and I am now engaged and waiting for INS approval to bring her over.... So stay in the serarch and take heart... your wife-to-be is searching for you, too!)

[Hoda]

... in response to Re: Reasonable risks, posted by MarkInTx on Aug 23, 2002

Can you tell the guys, if the visa process for Fiancee/Wife is different than that of Colombia? I'm hearing, that there are different waiting/processing times based on the country of your spouse.

Congrats again....Hoda

[Hoda]

... in response to Reasonable risks, posted by Darkstar on Aug 22, 2002

I have children myself & understand the "safety" issues mentioned. I investigated as deep as I could before my first trip in Sept of 99. Was I nervous? Hell yeah!! Now, as a "Vet" in traveling to & around Colombia. I've acquired a higher 'comfort level". If I was making my first trip now, I'd have even greater concerns. The political "Climate" is much hotter now, than in Sept of 99. Then again, you have to realize that there are dangers in every country. Your personal safety, can't be guaranteed anywhere.

Good luck! I hope things kool down enough for you to feel comfortable in visiting.

[wizard]

... in response to Reasonable risks, posted by Darkstar on Aug 22, 2002

I also was scheduled to be in Colombia this week but based on the recent intercepted FARC radio communications, I have decide to wait awhile... Only you can assess your comfort level when traveling to Colombia, but watch your ass... No one else will... Agencies are in business to make money so your change of plans affects their bottom line... I guess turnabout is fair play... This time you will be a no-show instead of girls not showing up for citas...

[Cali vet]

... in response to Reasonable risks, posted by Darkstar on Aug 22, 2002

Tim, give him a break, but don't ever give him your business. What an insulting response to your legitimate concerns. This is the third time in a week I've heard really negative reports about that guy. What a way to do business, he must have his head stuffed totally up his ass. There are two other established agencies in Bq and at least one in Cartagena all with owners who can behave like responsible adult business owners. The two in Bq are classycolombianladies and barranquillabeauties. If I had your responsibilities I too would want to wait to see how Mono Jojoy's threats shake out. Barranquilla let's not forget was where the new president was almost killed during his campaign close to la Murillo, the main drag. The guerrilla are just as endemic there as they are in Cali. In fact threats to faculty and students are common at the public university Atlantico where I imagine most of his chicas are attending classes. Better luck next time.

[Red Clay]

... in response to Reasonable risks, posted by Darkstar on Aug 22, 2002

We rednecks here in Tennessee would like to point out that Miami is 900 miles away from Tennessee, not 400.  Very disappointing that the cosmopolitan, educated staff of this fine agency [lol] wasn't aware of that.

I'm sure they will get tons of guys dying to pay a hefty fee in advance for their "services".

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: Reasonable risks --For that BQ agenc..., posted by Red Clay on Aug 23, 2002


And we Texans are even farther away...

But listen, if 17000 rebels rose up in a civil war in CALIFORNIA, things would be tense in Miami.

When was the last time a civil war was relegated to one city?

The agency guy is a complete idiot.

[Jeff S]

... in response to Re: Re: Reasonable risks --For that BQ a..., posted by MarkInTx on Aug 23, 2002

We're a rarity in this home of Berkley, PETA, The Sierra Club, Maxine Waters and Barbara Boxer.

-- Jeff S.

[Hoda]

... in response to Re: Reasonable risks --For that BQ agenc..., posted by Red Clay on Aug 23, 2002


business from the guys living in Tennessee...lol!!!