Where not to go?

Hi all,

In about a year from now, I'd like to sublet my apartment and take a
leave of absence from work, buy myself a one-way ticket to Mexico City
and head South during the following 6 or 7 months. I need a change of
pace, a change of scenery and new challenges, such as improving my
intermediate-level Spanish and discovering and adapting to different
climates and cultures. I'm also open to volunteering on projects or
giving a hand wherever needed in exchange for food and shelter.

I'd like to know what countries or parts of countries I should avoid,
besides Colombia, and if, as a woman on her own, I'll manage to feel
reasonably safe when I'm out during the day (I know, stay inside
after dark).

Viviane

JohnM wrote:
> >I'd like to know what countries or parts of countries I should avoid,
> >besides Colombia, and if, as a woman on her own, I'll manage to feel
> >reasonably safe when I'm out during the day (I know, stay inside
> >after dark).
>
> I don't think you should even be worried about being out after dark.

Are you sure about that? The Rough Guide to Central America (2001
edition) says, in the crime and personal safety chapter, to "take taxis
wherever possible after dark." Perhaps the British (in general) are a
more cautious people?

Viviane

Colombia is no problemo El Sal is where i have lived for 10 years
tropicooltours.com fopr pix
On 25 Aug 2005 21:51:58 -0700, "Viviane" <vivianepb_@m>
wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>In about a year from now, I'd like to sublet my apartment and take a
>leave of absence from work, buy myself a one-way ticket to Mexico City
>and head South during the following 6 or 7 months. I need a change of
>pace, a change of scenery and new challenges, such as improving my
>intermediate-level Spanish and discovering and adapting to different
>climates and cultures. I'm also open to volunteering on projects or
>giving a hand wherever needed in exchange for food and shelter.
>
>I'd like to know what countries or parts of countries I should avoid,
>besides Colombia, and if, as a woman on her own, I'll manage to feel
>reasonably safe when I'm out during the day (I know, stay inside
>after dark).
>
>Viviane

In article <1125896204.344740.160840@g14g2000cwa. .com>,
Viviane <vivianepb_@m> writes
>OK, if you say so :-). Well, I'm not a party animal anyway. There's a
>whole bunch of other interesting stuff to do besides partying, right?

There sure is..

--
JohnM

> I am a bit surprised to encounter "Mylene" as a brazilian name. I
> always figured it was french (my mother tongue).

Yes, it is not a typical name. I was born in the 70's. My father wanted
a name which was not extremely popular and did not sound too foreign...
Combine that with a love for a certain French actress. :)


> Yes, that would probably be a good idea. But from the 2004 edition of
> the Rough Guide to South America, in the crime and safety section of
> Colombia, I get: "The statistics speak for themselves: the world's
> largest kidnapping rate with more than 3000 abductions in 2002 alone; a
> per capita homicide rate 13 times higher thant the US's; a throng of
> vigilante justice militias armed to the teeth; hijackings of domestic
> flights; random firebombing of buses, it's no surprise Colombia ranks
> in the top 10 in Robert Young Pelton's The World's Most Dangerous
> Places. These risks are enough to convince most to skip Colombia
> altogether, especially when there are so many other, safer countries in
> Latin America to visit."

Forgive me if I downplayed the 'danger'. I have no intentions of doing
that. A person who looks foreign will stand out and certainly be more
vunerable. Colombia does have a reputation. I have not been there. I
only know a couple of people who have and have enjoyed it tremendously.
It is really a personal choice after all. I will let you know when I
come back. :)

Enjoy your travels!