Medellin Reports

From reading all these posts, I'm starting to realize it's safer in Ted Bundys back seat than Medellin. Are hotel rooms still safe or are they getting past security and robbing them too. I know apartments and air be and BS are just bending over for criminals.

Right now I'm speaking with her on facebook. She's very sexy. I want meet her but I'm very careful who I meet. Is anybody here who met her recently?

[QUOTE=TexasPistol;2881651]So if you're just hanging around El Poblado or Laureles in your average looking shirt, slacks and shoes that you got at Kmart and you're using a cheap phone you're fine. There is virtually zero risk.[/QUOTE]Come again? Maybe 10% of crime is even reported and robberies at knife or gun point of people just hanging out in exactly those more affluent areas are not uncommon, happens to Colombians and gringo-looking folks as well, they will be spotted even if they dress down. But yeah, have nothing of value to rob, and even if you do give it up and don't resist (like the two tourists that's been shot for it recently) and you should be able to keep your health.

[URL]https://twitter.com/DenunciasAntio2/status/1672359851542867970[/URL]

[URL]https://twitter.com/DenunciasAntio2/status/1672033577402286082[/URL]

[URL]https://twitter.com/DenunciasAntio2/status/1672421591420923907[/URL]

[QUOTE=TexasPistol;2881556]I have never heard of a robbery where the robber takes the time to look over the phone and appraise its value before leaving. "Hold on a second. This is only a Galaxy A03? Well that's not good enough. I wanted at least an iPhone 12 Pro. I'm going to kill you. " The same with money. If you're only carrying 100 K then he'll take that. So long as you give him immediately everything which he thinks you have on you, then you should be ok.[/QUOTE]I think they'd be happy to take whatever phone you have but you better have considerable cash on you. I can see them harming you if you have very little or no cash on you.

[QUOTE=Turgid;2881731]I think they'd be happy to take whatever phone you have but you better have considerable cash on you. I can see them harming you if you have very little or no cash on you.[/QUOTE]Got to disagree here. You got to think what their motivation is. They want money and valuables. They gain nothing from killing you. If anything, it might (slightly) put more motivation behind an investigation. A gringo robbery is a non-event but as the murder totals tick up, it's harder to ignore, politically. I think what's most important to survive the encounter is that they believe they shook every last peso out of you.

My biggest advice to anyone visiting Medellin at this point is to do a self-assessment. How street smart are you? I'm white, live in suburbia and don't walk the mean streets. LOL But, I have a very good awareness and more importantly, I know my gut feel has kept me out of several bad situations. It's hardly foolproof but I can usually tell if a person has bad intentions. Random crimes, like a moto robbery, just really can't be prevented. What we should really focus prevention efforts on is who we interact with. I have no plans on curtailing my partying. But I will only do it with people that I trust and my gut feels very comfortable with.

[QUOTE=Gabacho;2881534]I was asking him in perfect Spanish "cuanto vale una habitacion por una persona una noche?.[/QUOTE]Yo mister perfect, it's 'para' una persona. Por una noche.

[QUOTE=TexasPistol;2881651]On a positive note, this fellow says that Medellin is just fine if you follow a few simple rules.

[URL]https://youtu.be/BpgSCZbKyKM?si=xrTshhwiv3BmaZqm[/URL] [/QUOTE]This guy, so he tells us, left Australia disenchanted with the 9-5 life then landed in Medellin during the pandemic. He's been in the city all of two years while positioning himself as an expert on all related topics. But the bigger issue is that he's selling consultation time and "Move to Medellin" courses at a hefty price tag, with his sidekick, a Colombian who lived in the states but, as he told the YouTube audience, was deported. The point is he has every reason to downplay the safety concerns as such threatens the cash flow that pays for his life in Medellin.

[URL]https://www.akjoel.com/consultations[/URL]

[URL]https://medellinmasterclass.com/[/URL]

[QUOTE=TexasPistol;2881651]Regardless of how obviously American you are, thieves need to budget their time and they don't have time for Americans who don't look rich unless you put yourself in a such a vulnerable place (like visiting Bello, going hiking at night) in which case they can't resist the easy opportunity. [/QUOTE]Nope. Anyone who has spent any time in Latin America knows that virtually all North Americans are presumed to be rich, and practically all of us who take these trips are when compared to poorer to average Colombians. The same goes for many Euros and Aussies. It can come down to how well you can blend in. For example many black and Hispanic guys can do a pretty good job of it if they dress like locals. But as many locals have told me, white foreigners often have distinctive facial features that give them away, "es la cara. ".

[QUOTE=TexasPistol;2881651]The horror stories are media sensationalism and Western anti-Colombian propaganda. [/QUOTE]I take it you are paraphrasing this YouTuber AK Joel. The West doesn't need to pick on Colombia as they do a fine enough job doing that to themselves. The judicial system is weak and the police are about useless. Criminal elements thrive and the perceived rich tourists are special targets. Colombia has a level 3 out of 4 with the US State Dept, "reconsider travel," because they have well earned it.

[QUOTE=TexasPistol;2881651]I'm not entirely convinced, however it's interesting to hear a different perspective after all the doom and gloom lately. [/QUOTE]The locals will tell you that Medellin is a dangerous place, for them and especially for tourists. That said there's of course plenty you can do to minimize risk, but keep your head on a swivel, scanning your environment, etc. As when you are comfortable you are more at risk. So look at your "doom and gloom" at one end of the spectrum and Pollyannas with a financial motive like AK Joel at the other and the truth probably lies in the middle.

[QUOTE=TexasPistol;2881651]Have a happy new year everyone. Have fun and stay safe, whatever that means exactly.[/QUOTE]You also, as well as all on the forum. I've read some of your recent posts and found them helpful.

[QUOTE=TexasPistol;2881579]Prices were reasonable for Barcelona.Nuria at Vecinitas brothel Avinguda Diagonal, 345,08037 Barcelona, Spain 110 euros per hour.
.[/QUOTE]So why would you book two hours with someone you had never met? And there are lots of brothels in Barcelona for 80 euro an hour, 50 the half.

[QUOTE=Dcrist0527;2881778]Got to disagree here. You got to think what their motivation is. They want money and valuables. They gain nothing from killing you.[/QUOTE]That isn't what he said though. He said nothing about killing. This is what he said:

[QUOTE=Turgid;2881731]I think they'd be happy to take whatever phone you have but you better have considerable cash on you. I can see them harming you if you have very little or no cash on you.[/QUOTE]It's common for thieves in a head on, "gentleman's" robbery to beat the victim up if they have little or nothing to give up. This is done out of frustration. That though is likely more common somewhere like the states where robbers are often junkies in need of a fix. It's wise though to carry around about 200 mil, peanuts to North Americans but a good bit of change to a Colombian.

But this all assumes you're going to get a "gentleman's robbery" in the first place, with an opportunity to cooperate and hand over your stuff. Hit and runs are common in Latin America where a group just swarms in kicking ass, empties your pockets, and runs. Though based on anecdotal reports these don't appear to be so common in Medellin, but are more so in Brazil.

Just comes down to what that pussy is worth to you. You can take some precautions while accepting some risks or go to a safer place. It's an individual decision. Some people just hate the idea of staring at a machete or down the barrel of a gun, even if it likely will end well.

[QUOTE=Dcrist0527;2881778]Got to disagree here. You got to think what their motivation is. They want money and valuables. They gain nothing from killing you. If anything, it might (slightly) put more motivation behind an investigation. A gringo robbery is a non-event but as the murder totals tick up, it's harder to ignore, politically. I think what's most important to survive the encounter is that they believe they shook every last peso out of you.

My biggest advice to anyone visiting Medellin at this point is to do a self-assessment. How street smart are you? I'm white, live in suburbia and don't walk the mean streets. LOL But, I have a very good awareness and more importantly, I know my gut feel has kept me out of several bad situations. It's hardly foolproof but I can usually tell if a person has bad intentions. Random crimes, like a moto robbery, just really can't be prevented. What we should really focus prevention efforts on is who we interact with. I have no plans on curtailing my partying. But I will only do it with people that I trust and my gut feels very comfortable with.[/QUOTE]The "mean" streets of Medellin have become a shit show it does not matter how street-smart you are if the group targeting you are organized technically aware and somewhat professional this European got robbed out of 15 k in crypto and he had an iPhone so the robbers scanned the face these guys are not idiots, in my opinion, the spot has been blown up and need to look for greener pastures.

[URL]https://youtu.be/iv7UaV-167U?si=p3fMN0V03ZOFuh22[/URL]

Dead body just collected in Centro. Looked like coming from the ST hotel Botero Real on the side of the church.

[QUOTE=AdamWl;2881835]Dead body just collected in Centro. Looked like coming from the ST hotel Botero Real on the side of the church.[/QUOTE]Yup that is Botero Real right there behind.

[QUOTE=Dcrist0527;2881778]Got to disagree here. You got to think what their motivation is. They want money and valuables. They gain nothing from killing you.[/QUOTE]They gain nothing FROM YOU by killing you. But maybe they have other things to gain by killing you that has nothing to do with you or your belongings. Maybe YOU should think what their motivation could be, but that you never really know.

[QUOTE=AdamWl;2881835]Dead body just collected in Centro. Looked like coming from the ST hotel Botero Real on the side of the church.[/QUOTE]Given the age of some of the guys going in there, the habits of some of the women, and the amount of drugs in the mortar of the church (at least before the most recent renovations), I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.

[QUOTE=Huacho;2881799]Yo mister perfect, it's 'para' una persona. Por una noche.[/QUOTE]Same shit.