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HI This Sucks Dollar dropped Bad now I have tickets to Bogota in November I cant change as I changed this ticket to much,,,I will be in Bogota on a weak dollar I want to then travel to Venezeula from Cucuta on Bus,,,I do not want to get robbed by the Military coming from Cucuta and in to San Cristobal,,,If I make it to Merida too where I can I change like 200 or 300 dollars too???? OK Then also I will visit Maraciabo heard its unsafe there,,Is that True??? Any new info post here on all this,,Thanks....
By misterfinger on Oct 8, 2009, 14:45 in Friendly Talkzone.
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stocktrader says on Oct 8, 2009, 14:53: i don't know about West Venezuela, but Caracas is now considered the most dangerous city on earth and that's including Baghdad. I use to love going to Venezuela but criminals are running rampant and with almost absoulte impunity. The west side of the country should be safer than Caracas.
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misterfinger says on Oct 8, 2009, 15:21: OK But I wont get robbed by THE Milatary on the way from Cucuta??????
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stocktrader says on Oct 8, 2009, 15:26: Probably not. Although don't carry large sums of cash. The national guard in the venezuelan border might frisk you and so might the police in the interior for no reason other than to get some cash. the thing that sucks is if you use your atm card you'll get the official exchange rate that is one third the real rate. that means that you are forced to carry dollars from Colombia if you want a good rate.
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misterfinger says on Oct 8, 2009, 15:35: Thats What I mean Stocktrader I* am arriving to Bogota November 5th and the dollar should be like 1600 by then in Colombia,,,What I do too when I arrive at the Airport in Bogota???? Do I exchange right away dollars as I am traveling right away to Villavicencion and Puerto Lopez??? OK On to Venezeula do I just change for dollars in Cucuta??? Then What Change and put my money in my shoes then and keep them there???? I Hard crossing in to Cucuta no horror stories of milatary robberies just when you do it thru Maciaio and in to Maracaibo,,,OK Then I here Merida should be safe where I can then go change my dollars in some travel agency or hotel place right???? OK Then do keep me up to date on this,,Thanks...
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jdixon150 says on Oct 8, 2009, 16:30: I have never felt like I did in Caracaus, and would never return. So your going to save a few bucks, what value do you put on your safety. Would you rather give your money to Hugo. "Life is not a dress rehearsal" Rose Tremain.. 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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cstew47 says on Oct 8, 2009, 16:31: Stocktrader, you can't use your US atm card in venezuela.I tried. Don't go there expecting to get cash that way or you will be in trouble. When you exchange dollars or pesos for Bolivars, take plenty of vaseline.
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misterfinger says on Oct 8, 2009, 16:34: WELL Actually J Dixon I dont think I will end up in Caracas... I think I am just doing from Merida San Cristobal to Maraciabo circuit... I will not want to change that much money or even that little when I am off on this trip from Colombia,,, I will just stay a short stay in Venezeula maybe 10 days to two weeks si I need to change some dollars maybe 200 to 300 is enough..Any info How I do this and where??? OK Then in Cucuta I change to dollars and Merida on black market,,Keep me up to date on these people...
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stocktrader says on Oct 8, 2009, 17:13: cstew- i hadn't used my atm card there since 2002. didn't know you couldn't use it anymore.
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miamimike says on Oct 8, 2009, 18:12: Go to areas like Merida in the Mountains, Venezuela is very safe. Go to Caracas, its dangerous like any other Big Latin American City. It all depends where & How ya go,,,As in any other latin american city, best to keep your politics, religion and how much you earn to yourself,,,You'll enjoy the Ladies for sure, the Venezuelan Chicas are lookers "You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Oct 8, 2009, 18:19: Somebody must have just watched ABC NEWS lol http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/miss-venezuela-beauty-pageant/story?id... "PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!" 1 funny, 0 helpful. |
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ratbag says on Oct 8, 2009, 18:26: Venezuela is great... hottest girls on the planet and not over run with gringos like parque gringo i mean lleras.
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markobhoy says on Oct 8, 2009, 18:33: i have done that route to venezuela a few times and may have to do it fairly soon. i have never had any problems with the venezuelan police, nor the people in general.
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stocktrader says on Oct 8, 2009, 18:48: miamimike- merida is very safe. Caracas is not like any other latin city. 56 murders over the past weekend. 40 is now the new normal for a weekend. with over 120 murders per 100.000 habitants its over 6 times more dangerous than bogota. 90% of murders are not solved and the police is incredibly corrupt. it wasn't this bad even 4 years ago, but i was there recently and spoke with old friends that are looking to leave the country not because of politics or economics but because they don't feel safe anymore.
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cstew47 says on Oct 8, 2009, 18:55: stocktrader, I went to Maracaibo in May and almost couldn't get out. I made the mistake of thinking I could use my atm and you can't. Chavez has that country buttoned up. I got raped on the COP exchange. it takes $100 to get out and they only take Bolivars. The currency exchange bent me over the table.
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miamimike says on Oct 8, 2009, 20:44: Caracas is not like any other latin city. 56 murders over the past weekend. 40 is now the new normal for a weekend. with over 120 murders per 100.000 habitants its over 6 times more dangerous than bogota. 90% of murders are not solved and the police is incredibly corrupt. it wasn't this bad even 4 years ago, but i was there recently and spoke with old friends that are looking to leave the country not because of politics or economics but because they don't feel safe anymore. "You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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C5vzla says on Oct 8, 2009, 20:51: just a few comments. There were 30 to 40 homicides per week-end in Caracas when I first arrived in venezuela 15 years ago!! If you are not involved in drug trade, gangs, and don't go to slums where you have nothing to do anyway, you have very little to worry about in Caracas. for a tourist, the main risk is to take a fake taxi from the airport. FYI I have a receptive agency in vzla for the last 12 years, so I see quite a bit of tourists every year. I don't know why people on this board are so inclined at going to Maracaibo... there is nothing to do or to see there. Tourists go here: in that order: Ciudad Bolivar (to see Angel Falls and the Gran Sabana), Los Roques, Merida, Choroni (close to Caracas), Mochima, Santa Elena (to trek Mount Roraima), the Orinoco Delta. I forgot Los llanos (booked from Merida) and Margarita. Maracaibo doesn't figure in any guide book and it doesn't make sense to go there, unless you are on business or visit friends.
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flynn flanagan says on Oct 8, 2009, 20:52: Venezuela is not safe period. Good Luck.
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Simon says on Oct 8, 2009, 21:08: You would have to tie me down and knock me out to get me to go to Venezuela!! "Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon 1 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Oct 8, 2009, 21:20: Simon BIG BIG NEWS! "PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Simon says on Oct 8, 2009, 21:29: I hated that movie. The only thing I liked about it was Megan Fox! "Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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stocktrader says on Oct 8, 2009, 21:49: Caracas is defenitely dangerous. I made many friends there because I use to send playstations from miami to Venezuela back in 2000. These are some of the victims i've known. one friend was killed when he showed his toyota truck he advertised on the newspaper. He was unarmed and the crooks shot him. Another Argentinian friend making tons of money working for Loreal left the country saying it was unsafe and that it just wasn't the same place that is was a few years ago. Another friend got mugged in the Sabana grande metro station. Mind you, thats people I know. I live in Bogota and I don't personally know recent victims of crime. ( Of course there is tons of crime in Bogota ) but not like Caracas..
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misterfinger says on Oct 8, 2009, 22:59: OK Then Now I am very confused...I can not use an ATM Is Venezeula now Cuba???? I will go with pesos and change some at the border then have them for bolivars then have a few 100 in my shoe to change for Merida,,,I here Change at the travel agencies in Merida they can help you on the black market,,,OK Then back to Atms What if I run out of money I can use an Atm or I must go to a bank????
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njc (Dev team) says on Oct 8, 2009, 23:16: Changing dollars in Mérida is no problem, just ask around at a few hostels. Everyone knows at least one person that does it.
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miamimike says on Oct 8, 2009, 23:40: I was just checking the Online Ed of the Miami Herald and here's a good example of Crime happening even in Good Neighborhoods. This crime occured in the Kendall area of Miami, good example of "Dar Papaya" "You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Simon says on Oct 8, 2009, 23:46: I bet they went to the Seminole Hard Rock casino in Hollywood, where else? "Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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misterfinger says on Oct 8, 2009, 23:53: SONO AMS IN Venezeula???? What happens if you run out of money???? WOW I Never knew this was like that,,,Can I go to a bank at least or same story?????
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misterfinger says on Oct 8, 2009, 23:53: I Meant to say no ATMS IN Venezeula???? Why is that cause of Chavez?????
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njc (Dev team) says on Oct 9, 2009, 02:03: Unless you want to pay 3x normal prices for things, you need to do some research.
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misterfinger says on Oct 9, 2009, 02:08: I Heard some Atms do work out for sure.....
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cstew47 says on Oct 9, 2009, 03:38: Take your chances. I could not us the atms and asked some locals. They confirmed that it is not possible with a US card. Why is it Chavez' fault? Are you not reading the news? Chavez has made it his policy to isolate Ven from the US and its allies. Don't think in terms of a US or Colombian type government. This is not very far removed from Cuba and it will be even more similar the longer Chavez is in power. This is a dictatorship, pure and simple. You are forewarned, now be forearmed.
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C5vzla says on Oct 9, 2009, 06:08: you can use a foreign credit card in ATM's in Venezuela but you will have exchange at the official rate of 2.15. If it fails at the ATM, you can have a cash advance inside the bank, but again at 2.15. I see tourists doing that everyday in santa elena and sabana grande...
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tasco66 says on Oct 9, 2009, 06:13: Skip Venezuela, Venezuelan soldiers and police see Gringos as walking ATMs... Newsweek on Uribe: "he's delivered the trifecta of peace, security, and prosperity" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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miamimike says on Oct 9, 2009, 06:51: Simon says on Oct 8, 2009, 23:46: flag "You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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stocktrader says on Oct 9, 2009, 09:49: miamimike- what do you think about gringos that go around these really bad hoods in colombia? even living in estratos 2 and 3? that's crazy isn't? i grew up in miami and in 25 years I have never been to liberty city or little haiti. i read posts here about people going to bello in medellin and ciudad bolivar in bogota. even candelaria at night is the equivalent of being downtown miami at night. (full of bums and cracksmokers) . No white gringo would go hang out at the bad neighboorhoods in the bronx, east LA, compton etc. so why do they do it in Colombia?
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misterfinger says on Oct 9, 2009, 14:35: What is this thing on being robbed by Venezeulan soldiers????? Do they rob in front of the bus service coming from Cucuta to San Cristobal and Merida checkpoints or is that route safe enough???? I Know in Caracas I here they rob backpackers but I am asking on Western Venezeula from San Cristobal San Antonio Merida to Maracaibo how safe is it??? Can someone reply on this then???
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miamimike says on Oct 9, 2009, 20:24: stocktrader says on Oct 9, 2009, 09:49 (today): flag "You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Oct 9, 2009, 20:36: "Another time a Young Colombian Girl was picked up by a group of Latino Thugs and was raped and murdered on Miami's South Beach." "PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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El Expatriado says on Oct 9, 2009, 20:38: I have spent quite a bit f time there (Venezuela) . Defintely much more psycological unease about safety there than in Colombia. Not to mention it is more disorganized and corrupt.
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miamimike says on Oct 9, 2009, 20:41: PCL-that is true but the END Result was that she was Murdered and the Crime Originated in South Beach. And btw, just where was she raped? There is a LOT of Violent Crime,rapes taking place in South Beach but the MB City Fathers/Politicians don't want it publicized as to scare off the tourists. Those of us who live in the area know better,,, "You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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El Expatriado says on Oct 9, 2009, 20:45: You can use your ATM at the CITI Bank branch in Maracaibo. I lkived there for 4 months and used it all the time (or at least, in emergencies, when I ran out of Bolivares). I believe the branch was on cino de Julio.
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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Oct 9, 2009, 21:00: "PCL-that is true but the END Result was that she was Murdered and the Crime Originated in South Beach. And btw, just where was she raped? There is a LOT of Violent Crime,rapes taking place in South Beach but the MB City Fathers/Politicians don't want it publicized as to scare off the tourists. Those of us who live in the area know better,,," "PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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miamimike says on Oct 9, 2009, 21:41: I read the Miami Herald's Neighbor's Crime Report weekly and I see a lot of crime occurring on the Beach. I truly belive a lot of the high level crime doesn't make the news because it would scare off the tourists. Seems like every other week a Miami Football or Basketball/Baseball player is getting arrested in SB for one thing or another. I remember not long ago where that MidEast Guy was shot because a MB Cop thought the guy had a Gun when in fact it turned out to be a Cellphone. For me the best thing about SB are the Art Deco Hotel's Architecture and the MB Cinemateque on Espanola way, other then that, I'm rarely there due to plastic artificial Wanna-Be types that frequent the area just to "Be Seen". It was fun for a few months when I first moved to Miami in 1995 but I soon tired of the place, lack of parking, Beach Towing Vultures and the High Prices. Head off the Beach you get the same meal for 1/2 the price,,,And free parking in many cases. The Good Colombian Tabernas aren't located on the Beach btw,,, "You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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Paisa/Calena/Luver says on Oct 9, 2009, 21:49: Yep, tremont towing is much worse and has many more Vultures on patrol, I went to LIME on alton road for some tacos to go, I parked next door at the 711 and 2 minutes later literally I hear my car alarm ringing and see my car leaving on the back of a wrecker. Well $200 later id rater park my truck next to a fire hydrant. My homeboy just bought over a 6 pack and a hot STEVES PIZZA... boy am I in heaven tonight.. take it easy tonight and go out tomorrow. "PAY ATTENTION! I wonder if that person knows that when we push the FUNNY button, its because we are reading something outrageous, trying to be cynical, derogatory, sarcastic and/or obnoxious!" 0 funny, 0 helpful. |
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misterfinger says on Oct 9, 2009, 21:56: Any new info on that CitiBank in Maracaibo for emergency purposes?????
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stocktrader says on Oct 9, 2009, 22:21: Did you guys live in miami in the late 80s early 90s? Crime was terrible. Tourists getting murdered. My mom got robbed and beaten in the south dade metro station. shortly after she got robbed they hired security guards in most stations and changed the license plates of rentals so that they couldn't be identified easily.
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misterfinger says on Oct 9, 2009, 22:36: Lets Get Back to The Subject of Venezeula Folks OK Please...
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C5vzla says on Oct 10, 2009, 08:50: misterfinger. just relax and go for your trip. Venezuela received 858,000 international tourists last year. you are one in a million, just relax. Of the hundreds and hundreds of tourists that I have met (I am working in tourism), I have yet to meet the first one who was robbed by a military or police. I will agree that they are not as user-friendly as the Colombian military and police but what you read here are comments from people who don't know the situation, have never been to venezuela or hearsay.
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misterfinger says on Oct 10, 2009, 17:16: Are you sure on that??? OK I Hope so but I know They Rob coming from Macaio Colombia and vice a versa thats for true,,,Heard IN Merida actually the police do help you out,,,Lets keep talking on this and P.S. Atms for Mastercard what banks in Venezeula?????
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C5vzla says on Oct 11, 2009, 09:26: just yesterday I crossed the border at maicao. I took the amerlujo from santa marta to caracas, 185.000 pesos. we crossed the border no problem , stamping passports in colombia and venezuela. the bus was stopped at a national guard narcotics checkpoint just before the maracaibo bridge and they searched the bus. they were suspicious with the 4 bags of coffee I was bringing back, looking at them in detail and sniffing them, and that's it.
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misterfinger says on Oct 11, 2009, 14:10: WELL I Here the route you took is notorios for Military robbing folks,,,Any info too on The Cucuta Route here too?????
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C5vzla says on Oct 11, 2009, 15:03: crossed the border at maicao like 3 or 4 times and cucuta like 6 times since last year and nothing to report.
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misterfinger says on Oct 11, 2009, 22:27: All Safe you Sure???? WOW Then Cool I will try Cucuta Route But Maciio I dont know yet???? That Route Scares me....I can coming back but what if Milatry rons on the way back that route????
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