Hey guys!

[Traveller]

I have been reading a lot of you posting when and where you are arriving into Colombia. With the current situation in Colombia, right now, I don't know if that is the best thing to do. You guys don't get the local news like we do here. (We get the same news in Quito that Colombia has) There is a lot of stuff going on in Colombia. I am not going to go into all the incidents, but you guys do know that some of the head honchos for the FARC have been extradited to the US. It is a concern that the numbskulls might want some retribution for that. Plus, about 3 months ago, the FARC made an announcement to attack "Gringos" in Colombia. Uribe is starting to kick the knuckeheads in the butt, but it is stirring stuff up with them.
At this point, I suggest using your risk management skills and simply be careful. think about it from their point of view. You aren't going to stake out the airport all the time because there might be a "Gringo" geting off the plane and maybe not, you can't waste all your time waiting. But, if they know exactly when your flight is coming in, it makes it much easier for them.
No, I am not being paranoid. Take a look at the situation in the last six months in Colombia, if you aren't going to be on your guard in Colombia, where are you going to excercise your caution? Remember, this board is for Gringos planning to go to Colombia. The various rebel groups might know about this board and they might not, but assume they do. Those of us who are, or were in law enforcement have a phrase when doing investigations, "totality of the circumstances." Kind of like, "If it walks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck." Lot of ducks walking around with guns in Colombia.
So, don't post your arrival times and dates. Don't post where you are staying. If you are staying at a hotel, see if they will send a taxi to come get you. Most of the agencies will send someone out to get you. Just because a "Gringo" hasn't been picked up in awhile, doesn't mean the possibility does not exist. Once you are in the city, I agree, you will most likely be fine, but that long trek from the airport to Cali is a different matter. Seriously, at night, would you know if you were going toward Cali or out to Palmira?
All I am getting at is, be careful and be mindful about posting travel info nowadays. Heck, anywhere you go in this day and age.

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Hey guys!, posted by Traveller on Nov 17, 2002

Traveller

This is good advice, but it goes beyond just posting info here.  You may not even want to tell your girlfriend when you will be arriving!

In April I went to Cali and met Milena.  When I came back to the US we kept in contact almost daily by phone.  I planned a return trip May 25 or something like that.  I told her about it.  About May 10 I got an email from someone I didn't know.

They claimed to work for Colombian military intelligence.  They said they had information that the FARC knew I was in Cali in April, were tapping my phone calls, knew the date of my return (it was quoted in the email), and they had orders to kidnap me or kill me if I resisted.

I freaked!  To make a long story short, it later became obvious that the emails were from someone who wanted me to forget about Milena.  I think it was her ex-boyfriend.  I changed my flight plans and did not tell Milena what day I would arrive.  I still almost got myself killed.

I called her the night I arrived in June.  She came to the agency to meet me.  What I found out later from the agency owner was that her ex-boyfriend came looking for her that night, with a gun!  He was scared away because the police keep a 24-hour guard across the street from the agency.

Thankfully now Milena is with me here in the US.  I have no plans to return to Cali with her anytime soon, thank you very much.

Steve

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to The biggest danger may not be guerillas!, posted by DallasSteve2 on Nov 18, 2002

Pete

I'm glad to hear you know some successful Colombian/American couples. I'm sure they exist. Not to be cynical, but rather I am really curious: how many years together do the 10 successful couples have? I think it's important to know to put this into perspective.

You mentioned the saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger".  I heard that in The Fifth Element, one of my favorite movies.  My ex had a variation of that regarding food she would eat after it had fallen on the floor. She used to say "Lo que no te mata, te engorda".

Salud

Steve

[Canadian]

... in response to The biggest danger may not be guerillas!, posted by DallasSteve2 on Nov 18, 2002

[This message has been edited by Canadian]

I don't understand how the ex-boyfriend had so much info on you. How did he get your email address;did she tell him?

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Re: The biggest danger may not be gueril..., posted by Canadian on Nov 19, 2002

I'm told the ex-boyfriend is an electrical engineer and placed some sort of tap on her phone.  That is the story I got from the security guard he talked to outside the agency.  He is the source for this information, and I believe him because he, the security guard, knew a number of details about the situation he wouldn't have otherwise known.

Steve

[Canadian]

... in response to Re: Re: The biggest danger may not be gu..., posted by DallasSteve2 on Nov 19, 2002

I'm glad she is with you now and the ex is out of the picture. Good Luck to both of you............Canadian.

[Calipro]

... in response to Hey guys!, posted by Traveller on Nov 17, 2002


 I'll be arriving in Cali on Dec 19th at 8:42pm Flight 921.
I was always more fearfull of gringos on this board trying to mess with my airline reservations (by knowing my itinerary) than the FARC having a greeting party for me at the airport. Just a different take on the situation in Colombia I guess.

[Wasp]

... in response to Re: Hey guys!, posted by Calipro on Nov 17, 2002

At this stage in the game, FARC should be more worried about being indicted by the US Justice Dept. , than we should be worried about them.

[wendell]

... in response to Re: Hey guys!, posted by Calipro on Nov 17, 2002

I think it is silly to worry about FARC finding out your arrival time via this board.  If they are reading this board they can find out arrival times of  flights from MIA.  I have made the flight a dozen times and there have always been gringos on board.  If that is their plan all they have to do is go to the airport to grab some gringos.

[Hiker]

... in response to I agree with Calipro, posted by wendell on Nov 17, 2002

Nope they don't have to go to the airport.  They only have to stop your taxi on the road into town.  I think it is very foolish to post your arrival time.  There are people on here who post how much money they make a year etc... then post their arrival date and time in Cali.  Not very smart in my opinion.

[wizard]

... in response to Hey guys!, posted by Traveller on Nov 17, 2002

No sense advertising your arrival... It's like putting a target on your back and saying here I am, kidnap me... With over 4000 kidnappings in Colombia to date this year alone, this is good advice... Not being paranoid, just safe...

una caja fuerte mejor que apesadumbrada...

wizard