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[This message has been edited by Cali vet]

This morning about 7am I heard a volley of shots ring out across the street. It turned out five theives had entered the neighbors house to rob him. It’s an upscale house in La Flora and he owns a brand new Ford 4x4. The watchman told me after that the guy is a bodyguard so was armed, hence the gunfight. Four of the robbers took off but one (without a gun I guess) got confused about where the door was. The owner could have shot him dead but ran out of bullets so the fifth got away too. Aparently they've been watching his house and know what time he leaves (and when the door opens). Now if the've been watching his house it would be hard to miss the gringo accross the street. Up to now I’d thought I lived in a nice quiet neighborhood. Not only that, my friend who lives in Trujillo up past Buga told me last weekend a bunch of guerrillas in civies came into town and shot dead three paramilitaries and wounded a woman two blocks from his house. Ecuador here I come!

... in response to Oops Not So Safe!, posted by Cali vet on Dec 11, 2003

Maybe you can rent a parking space in one of your neighbors driveways for that 4x4?  I think I'd be contemplating reinforcing that front door.  Sounds like your vigilantes need the boot!

Unfortunately, things elsewhere in Colombia are not looking much better, this one is hot off the press 12/12/03:

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N12339409.htm

It appears that Cartagena will now be on the sh%tlist, excerpt:

~~Still, the latest warning was stronger than the regular travel warnings sent to U.S. citizens. The embassy upheld a ban on embassy staff visits to high-risk areas -- including upscale, northern night-life centers and shopping malls.

"While there is no indication that these (upcoming) attacks will be directed against American citizens or interests, the establishments in the Zona Rosa and Parque 93 remain off-limits to U.S. Embassy employees," it said.

The embassy also warned U.S. citizens to keep a low profile in Colombia's tourist capital, Cartagena -- one of Latin America's best preserved colonial cities, located on the palm-lined Caribbean coast.

"There is credible information that American citizens and interests are being targeted for terrorist attacks in Cartagena. U.S. Embassy employees in Cartagena have been advised to maintain a low profile and avoid frequenting public places, such as restaurants and shopping malls," it said.~~

... in response to That's a close call..., posted by cancunhound on Dec 12, 2003

Yes I read that too but I wonder what terrorists? If they're talking about the FARC where's the news in that and I can't imagine squads Taliban entering the country unoticed.

... in response to Oops Not So Safe!, posted by Cali vet on Dec 11, 2003

Hey CV,

Hope you and the Mrs. are well.  Last month, the house across the street from ours was robbed in broad daylight while the occupants were away.  They cleaned the retired couple out.  Police said it was an inside job because no windows/doors were broken and the robbers knew when to come.  Then a week after that, a house on the next block (who didn't pay the neighborhood guards) also got robbed during the day, mind you we live in a very nice neighborhood also.  I usually feel safe in Cali except for when Christmas nears, that’s when all of the crooks and people who wouldn’t normally fit that bill come out in full force.  It’s always good to play it safe in Cali, more so when this time of year comes around.  -TNC

... in response to Oops Not So Safe!, posted by Cali vet on Dec 11, 2003

... the zero-tolerance policy of the mayor in Guayaquil has
pushed bandits up to Quito and Cuenca. But the smaller towns have almost no crime - Loja included. Venezuelan friend was car-jacked in Valencia as was another acquaintance on Venezuelan coast.
 But hey!!... British tourists get car-jacked in Miami. I guess its all over.......unless someone knows different. Which LA countries are the safest?

... in response to See my post at 12/08... which LA countri..., posted by QuitoMan on Dec 11, 2003

While in Cuenca there was news of a shoot 'em up which evidently shocked the local population. Guess who the perpetraters were...Colombians.

... in response to In Cuenca, posted by Cali vet on Dec 12, 2003

I was teaching english today - always use humour if possible. I was asking my students to disagree with my statements. I said "everybody in Colombia is a thief" knowing that this is a contentious issue in Quito. There were smiles all round and they told me I am almost right!
When the police here catch a gang of bandits its unusual if at least one member isn't Colombian. This problem didn't exist in Quito even as recently as 5 years ago according to another student.
 My lawyer (lady) was robbed in a park 2 years ago in broad daylight. He was a smart and enboldened robber - he made out he was the lawyers husband and shouted at her as if they were having a domestic argument - plenty of people watched but none of the bystanders wanted to intervene in a domestic row.

... in response to Oops Not So Safe!, posted by Cali vet on Dec 11, 2003

CV,
Guarded high rise condo here I come!Even the good neighborhoods worry me.Some body can just drive right up to your house.The guards with no guns can't stop them.
Went to Jose's place today.The guys at the entrance have guns.The place was small with dumpy furniture,so I will keep looking.Good location though,right behind Chipi Chapi.
Thanks for all your help.

Pete

... in response to Re: Oops Not So Safe!, posted by Pete E on Dec 11, 2003

Well Pete its not like you were not warned. Cuidad Jardin, on the other hand, is almost a neutral area. Crooks never know when they might mess with the wrong person,but the negative is you could get caught in the crossfire. Make sure that you post your number when you settle in and I will show you the apartment when I get to Cali.  jim

... in response to Re: Re: Oops Not So Safe!, posted by jim c on Dec 11, 2003

Jim,
Send me a mail and I will give you my cell phone number.
I like Ciudad jardine but everybody says its too far from the action.I have a new real estate angle that will be based more on value than location.It hit me last night the thing to do would be to get a lease option with right to sub let.For the right deal I would even entice them with a years rent up front.A leae option can tie up the equitybin the property for just renting it.As long as I can get it legally blessed.
And if I could sub lease it I could increaee its value by adding furniture and renting short term.
We will see,just an ah ha that hit me last night.
I shopped furniture yesterday.Its cheap as you know.Beautifull dining room table with 6 chairs for $250.

Pete

Pete

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Oops Not So Safe!, posted by Pete E on Dec 12, 2003

I was thinking how 250.00 is about what each chair cost if you get a nice dinning room set here....... the cost of living is so much better there.....my wife was telling me how they have a stay at home nurse with her grandfather, and she stays there with him all day, 5 days a week and it only cost 200.00 ..a MONTH!...I was like thats cheap!!.....wish I could make the salary I have here but live there....dreammmmmm, dream dream dreammm......I dont think my wife would let a nurse stay with me all day though if we lived there :)

... in response to Thats cheap, posted by Golden on Dec 14, 2003

I was looking at dining room sets with a hutch this year in California.The best  price I saw as $2000.Some places wanted $4000.The Colombian ones are more simple but very nice.Furniture they make here is cheap.A couch and 2 chairs,$240.Electronic stuff,like TV's in particular,are alot more.Cars are alot more also.Big duty I think plus anything that runs has value.Stuff that would get junked in the US.
And taxis are cheap.Chipi chapi to my hotel in Junambu,2600 pesos,less than a dollar,maybe 5 miles.

Pete

... in response to Oops Not So Safe!, posted by Cali vet on Dec 11, 2003

Speaking of close calls, 2 weeks ago in front of my apartment building 2 men were shot in the head while they were sitting in their car, it was a planned hit..of course nobody saw anything.. I arrived 2 minutes after the incident so I was lucky not to get caught up in the crossfire.. This is life in Colombia, most people don't bat an eye because it's so common.. By the way this was also a upscale neighborhood in Cali...

Everyday life in the big city..

Pacino

... in response to Re: Oops Not So Safe!, posted by Pacino on Dec 11, 2003

My wife and I came out of the Don Jaime Hotel and everybody was running down the street, even the girls from the beauty salon.

Seems someone got shot in a taxi on the side street, about 50 yards from where I had bought a newspaper about 30 minutes before.

Then two cops, maybe 21 yrs old each, ride by on what looked like a 100cc motorcycle. The one on the back is waving his pistol as they ride by.

Very entertaining scene in a macabre sort of way.

... in response to May 2001, 11:00 AM. 1/2 block off Sexta ..., posted by Freddie on Dec 11, 2003

WOW! crazy stuff

How many people from this board actually live in Colombia or SA?
I guess I thought it was only one or two?

jim