Medellin Reports

[Balboa]

You have been very lucky as every gringo I know that has stayed in El Centro for at least a week has had problems specifically around the Church area and the north side of the Museum and during daylight hours. Most of them won't go out much at night in that area. Again the area around the Church is not safe and down the street past Avenida de La Grief there is what I would call a drug area that I wouldn't go near period. The typical problems my friends had were guys with knives demanding money, pickpockets, and aggressive trannies.

I am in El Centro a lot and if an obvious foreigner was making a video in the area I described with a nice phone there's a very good chance they would be tackled on the street if there was no police presence.

Excuse me Surfer, you have obviously not seen the proof already posted on the relative safety of el Centro.

Your gringo friends must have been very unlucky.

I’m being silly because the el Centro at night safety debate is ridiculous.
Of course all the ex Navy Seals, Army Rangers, Bronx tough guys, etc, have had no problems.
And they didn’t kill MrE that night for his cell phone, so it must be safe right.

For new guys; use common sense, take precautions, think that it’s dangerous, and you’ll be better off.

[Turgid]

I wish to advise all visitors to Medellin to ignore all reports here by those 'brave' mongers who speak about taking videos in El Centro at night. Are you certain that they really did that? It is a dangerous practice for 2 reasons. One, people have been killed in El Centro for their cell phones. Two, there are some shady characters who, for whatever reason, do not want their images recorded. It is a very dangerous practice. Will these brave mongers be there to help you when you find yourself in a dangerous situation?

[Wolf662]

Again, excellent proof that I was wrong.

Centro is definitely one of the safer areas of Medellin.

Between your evidence and MrE and Pollos real life tests, we have all the proof we need.

Balboa out!

I just posted some facts with no commentary at all. And those facts showed 4 foreigners killed in Poblado & Laurales and none in Centro in 2016. Does that prove Centro is safe, no but it does show Poblado & Laurales can be dangerous also.

[El Bacano]

Well Mr. Enter national may mean well he's obviously not experienced about late night El Central. I lived there for a month and a half last year and even as big strong dude as my self was threatened many times, I do not recommend letting your gaurd down there. The poor Colombian even only armed with a small 22 can still pose a legitimate threat to the baddest of gringos. Men proceed with caution in this seedy area or face an uncertainty you may not want.

[Balboa]

Foreigner Homicides in Medelland in 2016.

On June 4, Mexican national Jess Estrada de La Rosa, aged 48, was shot dead in Beland when he reportedly tried to prevent the theft of a motorcycle in the Los Alpes barrio.

June 15, Israeli Shay Azran, aged 37, was killed with a firearm near the Exito in Laureles. He was allegedly involved in drug and sex tourism according to news reports.

June 16, Danish Tomas Willemoes, aged 41, was shot to the head in Provenza near Parque Lleras in El Poblado at about 9:30 pm. News reports claim this was a murder for hire so it may have involved shady activities.

September 29, the body of Australian Anthony Hasselback, aged 49, who was living in El Poblado was found along a road with two shots to the head in the municipality of Santo Domingo in Northeastern Antioquia. News reports claim he was involved in sex tourism.

November 19, Ryo Izaki, a 22-year-old Japanese man was shot dead in Estadio on a Saturday at about 4 pm after chasing a pair of suspects who had allegedly taken his mobile phone and tablet.

December 3, a Venezuelan member of the LBGT community was murdered who reportedly had sentimental problems.

In December, the body of a 23-year-old Dutch man was found in Laureles. News reports indicate that on December 10 this backpacker had a discussion with a woman and was shot.

December 14, American Jigar Patel from Illinois was attacked by a knife and killed in the barrio Miranda north of Medelland by two assailants.

On December 16, a body of a man from Dominica was found buried in a wooded area of the Santa Elena district. He was reportedly kidnapped from a shopping mall in El Poblado in October. News reports indicate this homicide was related to the collection of money by drug trafficking networks.

That's:

1 Bellen.

1 Santo Domingo.

1 Estadio.

1 Miranda.

2 Laureles.

2 Poblado.

1 no location given.

https://medellinliving.com/2017-security-in-medellin/

Me and wolf shot an incredible Hi-def video in Centro, its for my own use, but it is of damn near Hollywood quality! And I didn't get mugged for my equipment!

Again, excellent proof that I was wrong.

Centro is definitely one of the safer areas of Medellin.

Between your evidence and MrE and Pollo’s real life tests, we have all the proof we need.

Balboa out!

[Surfer500]

Why is that? I have had a better time with every 30 k Vera Cruz street girl then I did with the 150 k Energy girl who was horrible..

Right on I don't even waste my time with the Strip Clubs or the Casas. I have a stable of Street girls that are solid performers!

[Surfer500]

I did make a video, but I took snapshots out of that to post on here. All I am saying is that neither I nor anyone I know has ever had any problems downtown no matter what time. Took my young cousin and his best friend down once. We all came back in about 2 am. The next day him and his friend said they walked back down to Degrieff about 3:30 am. They were not scared and did not encounter any problems.

It has always been safe for me. Whether it will be safe for you is for you to judge. We have seen news of the foreigners getting robbed and killed in Poblado. Is it safe there? We have seen none of this about downtown, yet downtown is deemed to be unsafe.

You have been very lucky as every gringo I know that has stayed in El Centro for at least a week has had problems specifically around the Church area and the north side of the Museum and during daylight hours. Most of them won't go out much at night in that area. Again the area around the Church is not safe and down the street past Avenida de La Grief there is what I would call a drug area that I wouldn't go near period. The typical problems my friends had were guys with knives demanding money, pickpockets, and aggressive trannies.

I am in El Centro a lot and if an obvious foreigner was making a video in the area I described with a nice phone there's a very good chance they would be tackled on the street if there was no police presence.

[PolloNegro]

Yeah, on second thought, if you showed your Samsung cell that night, and didn't get mugged or killed, it must be all safe.

I take all the danger talk back.

Mr E proved me wrong.

Nice work!

Me and wolf shot an incredible Hi-def video in Centro, its for my own use, but it is of damn near Hollywood quality! And I didn't get mugged for my equipment!

[Mr Enternational]

So you to are implying it's safe for a foreigner to be walking around El Centro late at night when others don't think it would be a good idea.

Well perhaps then next time your in town you can take a video downtown late at night and I hope we all get to see it.

I did make a video, but I took snapshots out of that to post on here. All I am saying is that neither I nor anyone I know has ever had any problems downtown no matter what time. Took my young cousin and his best friend down once. We all came back in about 2 am. The next day him and his friend said they walked back down to Degrieff about 3:30 am. They were not scared and did not encounter any problems.

It has always been safe for me. Whether it will be safe for you is for you to judge. We have seen news of the foreigners getting robbed and killed in Poblado. Is it safe there? We have seen none of this about downtown, yet downtown is deemed to be unsafe.

[Wolf662]

Bottom line is if you can't afford 150 k at night for a girl and think that's expensive you should quit mongering.

Why is that? I have had a better time with every 30 k Vera Cruz street girl then I did with the 150 k Energy girl who was horrible.

Everybody has a different budget, not sure why they should quit because of it though. Different strokes for different folks and all.

Just because some people thinks Centro is too dangerous at night doesn't mean everybody does as this thread has proved. And I am not saying it's not, I just don't think it is Fallujah Iraq circa 2004 either.

[Surfer500]

A couple of years ago I posted pictures of downtown at night and some of the drug addicts and was chewed out about it. I just wanted to prove the point that I was downtown late at night with my Samsung Galaxy interacting with the people that are giving everyone else a fright, and nothing fucking happened.

So you to are implying it's safe for a foreigner to be walking around El Centro late at night when others don't think it would be a good idea.

Well perhaps then next time your in town you can take a video downtown late at night and I hope we all get to see it.

[Balboa]

That means nothing. It is a universal thing for locals around the world to say that their downtown is dangerous at night. Just like one man's junk being another man's treasure, one man's danger zone is another man's comfort zone. Show the stories about something happening to foreigners downtown versus something happening to foreigners in Poblado. The only place that I have ever stayed in Medellin was downtown (besides staying at a chick's house in La Quinta one night) and I have never had any trouble. That is not to say it is for everyone. My 10 could be your 3.

A couple of years ago I posted pictures of downtown at night and some of the drug addicts and was chewed out about it. I just wanted to prove the point that I was downtown late at night with my Samsung Galaxy interacting with the people that are giving everyone else a fright, and nothing fucking happened.

Yeah, on second thought, if you showed your Samsung cell that night, and didn't get mugged or killed, it must be all safe.

I take all the danger talk back.

Mr E proved me wrong.

Nice work!

[Wolf662]

Show the stories about something happening to foreigners downtown versus something happening to foreigners in Poblado.

Foreigner Homicides in Medelland in 2016.

On June 4, Mexican national Jess Estrada de La Rosa, aged 48, was shot dead in Beland when he reportedly tried to prevent the theft of a motorcycle in the Los Alpes barrio.

June 15, Israeli Shay Azran, aged 37, was killed with a firearm near the Exito in Laureles. He was allegedly involved in drug and sex tourism according to news reports.

June 16, Danish Tomas Willemoes, aged 41, was shot to the head in Provenza near Parque Lleras in El Poblado at about 9:30 pm. News reports claim this was a murder for hire so it may have involved shady activities.

September 29, the body of Australian Anthony Hasselback, aged 49, who was living in El Poblado was found along a road with two shots to the head in the municipality of Santo Domingo in Northeastern Antioquia. News reports claim he was involved in sex tourism.

November 19, Ryo Izaki, a 22-year-old Japanese man was shot dead in Estadio on a Saturday at about 4 pm after chasing a pair of suspects who had allegedly taken his mobile phone and tablet.

December 3, a Venezuelan member of the LBGT community was murdered who reportedly had sentimental problems.

In December, the body of a 23-year-old Dutch man was found in Laureles. News reports indicate that on December 10 this backpacker had a discussion with a woman and was shot.

December 14, American Jigar Patel from Illinois was attacked by a knife and killed in the barrio Miranda north of Medelland by two assailants.

On December 16, a body of a man from Dominica was found buried in a wooded area of the Santa Elena district. He was reportedly kidnapped from a shopping mall in El Poblado in October. News reports indicate this homicide was related to the collection of money by drug trafficking networks.

That's:

1 Bellen.

1 Santo Domingo.

1 Estadio.

1 Miranda.

2 Laureles.

2 Poblado.

1 no location given.

https://medellinliving.com/2017-security-in-medellin/

[Bill]

So many conflicting reports, I feel for the newbie trying to figure out the truth from fiction concerning Centro safety.

Imo, it really depends on your street experience, perception and comfort levels.

Centro is very different day and night. Especially in the red light areas around Botero Plaza.

Not talking about the museums and sculpture plaza where day trippers and families see the sights.

Too bad there aren't any recent night time walk about videos where the street hookers hang and the cops rarely patrol. Ground Zero.

Confident guys with self defense training and maybe something in their system will have no problems until a gun is pulled.

In my month visit I witnessed a cop point his gun at an assailant and on another day, saw a knife pulled on a street vendor. Both during daylight hours. As always, ymmv.

Will I return?

Hell yeah, because I'm Bill and I'm an addict. LOL.

[Mr Enternational]

Ok, now with all the tough guy talk aside, the truth is, Centro really is a dangerous place at night. Talk to the locals, ask the police, they'll tell you the truth.

That means nothing. It is a universal thing for locals around the world to say that their downtown is dangerous at night. Just like one man's junk being another man's treasure, one man's danger zone is another man's comfort zone. Show the stories about something happening to foreigners downtown versus something happening to foreigners in Poblado. The only place that I have ever stayed in Medellin was downtown (besides staying at a chick's house in La Quinta one night) and I have never had any trouble. That is not to say it is for everyone. My 10 could be your 3.

Too bad there aren't any recent night time walk about videos where the street hookers hang and the cops rarely patrol. Ground Zero.

A couple of years ago I posted pictures of downtown at night and some of the drug addicts and was chewed out about it. I just wanted to prove the point that I was downtown late at night with my Samsung Galaxy interacting with the people that are giving everyone else a fright, and nothing fucking happened.