United States Travel Advisories

SmartOldLady wrote:

...a well-known International company recently recommended that retirees (and others) consider a move to Colombia, especially Medellin (but) it is, according to the State Department, a dangerous place to live.

SmartOldLady

International Living seminars via online posts have been pumping Colombia/Medellin lately.

The days of Pablo Escobar (1949-93) may officially be over, but the lingering effects of his era are still seen.

From the Road Less Traveled website, re Medellin:

(1) "Every car entering a parking lot is inspected by a security guard using a mirror on a pole to look underneath it."

(2) What does it say when a city still has double the homicide rate of Detroit...and that's an improvement!

Sources: www.lesstraveledroad.com

  (1) "10 Things I Didn't Know About Medellin"

  (2) "5 Things I Dont' Like About Medellin"

cccmedia wrote:

(2) What does it say when a city still has double the homicide rate of Detroit...and that's an improvement!

Wrong.
Detroit 2014 homicide rate 45.2 per 100,000 inhabitants
Medellin 2014 homicide rate: 26.7 per 100,000 inhabitants

Sources:
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/m … /18808185/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Colombia#Murder


This said, Colombia, and Medellin aren't Switzerland either.

About this 2012 post in lesstraveledroad, and these 10 things about Medellin ccmedia is referring to:

1. The public restrooms are clean
Yes usually true. But is it Medellin specific?

2. Close the door to a car here like you would in the States, and you almost feel like you should apologize to the poor thing for abuse.
True, but not specific to Medellin, not even to Colombia. Just specific to subcompact Korean cars taxi drivers are widely using in Colombia. Yes, a Hyundai Atos  is not a Ford F150.

3.  Bank counters here are open from 8AM to 7PM M-F
Wrong. Usually 9am-4pm.

4. The elevator doors are quick to close and very unforgiving
Wrong. A once in a life experience does not make a general rule. Elevators are just working like anywhere else in the world.

5. Don't wear open-toed footwear here if you're a man
True.

6. Hotel provided with a basket full of everything you might need during your stay.  Potato chips, chocolate, crackers, condoms
Would tend to say wrong. Never had condoms in a hotel room in Colombia myself. More often did I find a bible in the drawer.

7. Every car entering a parking lot is inspected for explosives by a security guard using a mirror on a pole to look underneath it
Maybe not every time but yes it happens.

8. Everything imported costs more here.  Everything from cars to computers
True, import taxes are high. Nothing to do with the VAT though, that is a different tax.

9. Colombians like to party. 17 national days.
Wrong. 20 national days, in addition to 15 days of paid vacation.

10. You can learn a lot of Spanish in a bar
Errrr....

11. They may call it “the City of Eternal Spring”, but they could also say, “the City of the Eternal Rain”
True. Around 140 days of rain throughout the year. So yes, a lot of rainy days.
http://www.tutiempo.net/clima/Medellin_ … 801100.htm