Should I go to Venezuela?
Should I go to Venezuela?
How safe is Mexico? Don’t believe the bad press.
The most volatile nation in South America, it’s on my List of Places Too Dangerous to Travel in Without Appropriate Precaution or Assistance. What, you don’t have your own LPTDTWAPA?
My LPTDTWAPA at the moment: Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen. Mauritania, Nigeria, Libya, and Central African Republic. Sorta North Korea I guess. Honduras, Venezuela, El Salvador, and a couple small parts of Mexico.
Roadside billboard in Cuba
Checking El Salvador off that list felt great, like reclaiming part of the world. Now I have the opportunity to go to Venezuela with Witness for Peace Southwest, and Altruvistas, both organizations I feel privileged to have access to. (And who increase the hope of achieving the ultimate goal of tourism: to help the destination…but more about that soon.)
Another reason to go? More chances at getting wee articles published, so it would be good in a professional sense.
Another reason to go? As with Cuba, Venezuela represents one of the all-too-few remaining countries that do things in a manner other than ruthless capitalism.
Another reason to go? It’s frickin beautiful. Which is enough by itself, but also means it could be a great opportunity in terms of photography.
Another reason to go? Meet cool new people (because who but cool people would go on a tour like this?)
Another reason to go? The things I can learn, from the people I meet, the places we go, and the other people on the trip.
Next door, in Cartagena, Colombia. I miss the air at that latitude…
Another reason to go? It’s actually cheaper than the listed price.
Another reason to go? I want to.
Miss the food too…it’s been too long since I tasted chirimoya
So why wouldn’t I go? The potential danger isn’t an obstacle, so what is?
I’ve finally admitted the fact (that was pretty obvious to everyone else) that I was endlessly traveling to escape from certain parts of life. Would I be doing that still?
Answer: It’s only 10 days. Ergo: no.
Any other reason? Well…the trip happens to encompass my birthday. That’s convenient and inconvenient. It’s kind of fun for me because it would mean the sixth year in a row having my birthday overseas.
I’ve been going back and forth on this question…
The problem? One of the other realizations I’ve finally admitted to (it’s been a busy year) is that I have…trouble…accepting…love. From other people. (Dogs are good to go.) This is a longer issue, but as someone told me the other day “Your birthday is a day for other people to express their love for you.”
It made me all…squirmy. And I had to admit that the thought of NOT being here on my birthday was something of a relief, since I would get to avoid the potential let-downs and awkwardness that can come with that day.
Next door in Colombia
Sounds like a challenge. And I am dedicated to not running from challenges anymore. So, suddenly, whether or not to go is a more difficult question than it was before.
So what do you think? Should I go to Venezuela?
WTF!!! I hat e these stats on Mexico. I live here. They make Canada look more dangerous than the USA for gawds sake, They keep circulating on FB and what may I ask if the credible source?
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Here’s the article I read, which references NationMaster.com which in turn uses UN data: http://www.banderasnews.com/1308/to-amar-how-safe-is-mexico.htm#.U5iSP8ZSrbw.facebook I hope they prove credible, or I’m going to be seriously caught out!
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PS I think Mexico is sensationalized by the USA press and why where I live in Mexico we are flooded with Canadians (snowbirds) every winter compared to Americans who are often too terrified (part of American culture I may add in part based on the sensationalism but not totally) to come here . Lots of cartels. Damn straight! but I feel safe here. That said I am Canadian (and prob biased but…) and lived in USA 34 years (two passports) and USA has GOT to be more dangerous than Canada. I mean really???
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I definitely get the feeling the US is much more dangerous than Canada too, though I haven’t studied any statistics for saying that, which leaves me vulnerable to sensationalism on all sides. And I think that’s where it is: all sides (of the US media at least). I (and the article) think you’re right that we sensationalize Mexico, and I think we do it to the US too; I don’t think either one is as dangerous as “They” make it out to be.
My hope is that Venezuela is in the same boat! I just read the US State Department’s most recent Travel Warning, which makes it sound like Venezuela has more in common with D-Day or a Mad Max movie than the beaches of a Caribbean brochure, despite the fact that the first line reads: “Tens of thousands of US citizens safely visit Venezuela every year…”
America: We Love Being Afraid.
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OK finally “got over” the stats and read the whole blog. I say GO to Venezuela and Take the one you LOVE! Celebrate TOGETHER!
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🙂
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I grew up with Venezuelans so I know that the country is in a pretty rough situation right now. I have a friend who got mugged once…only to find out the person mugging him was his old classmate. He got his stuff back and even got a beer out of it but the point is even well-off people are participating in the violence. Add to that government violence against students and basic necessities like toilet paper sometimes being unavailable and you can guess that the country is not at its best.
However, I tink you should go since you’re going with work and you have a sort of protection normal tourists don’t. My sister went for work recently and she had absolutely no problems so take advantage of it and enjoy!
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Excellent, thanks for the input! The group does maintain close contact with people throughout the areas we’ll visit, and warns us that they’ll cancel or adapt the itinerary if areas get too violent or unstable.
And I’m glad your friend got his stuff back! I have a friend who got mugged in San Francisco by his classmates, and they kept it all!
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hahaha some people are such descarados! Hope you enjoy your trip there!
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I think you should go. Because you may not get another opportunity and it’s another country you can check off your LPTDTWAPA list!
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I like it. It’s easy to say “Now is not a good time, go later” but who knows if later will be better, worse, or even possible? And if things are “bad” right now, isn’t that actually a good time to go?
Though if I check this one off the LPTDTWAPA, I’ll have to keep going… That list may get me in trouble…
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Enjoyable post thanks for sharing!
~ American Male Contributor B.W.
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El gusto es mio.
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I am so not going to vote in your poll. Do I want responsibility for that decision? No. No I do not.
Obviously you’ve put forward a lot of good reasons to go and it sounds like a wonderful trip (security concerns, for the moment, aside).
Your birthday? Look, I’m not much into birthdays. It sounds like a “love language” thing where you don’t like being fussed over but maybe you prefer people to express themselves differently instead (or, I’m projecting, one or the other). You should mull over that, but I’m not sure ditching the trip is going to solve it all.
The poll says you should go. Are you relieved at that result or all tense about it?
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Oh I’m going to blame you either way. Just fyi.
The Love Languages! I just heard about that one, and it makes sense to me; I think your projections are safe on this one. And as for my course of action…I’m gonna hold on to that for another couple days…
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I tend to think rates of crime generally low enough they’re not worth serious worry.
But … i do think there’s something to be said for giving your friends the chance to express love for you in a situation as comfortable as possible. Birthdays are good chances for that because they require no excuse other than the fact that they are birthdays. Of course, the fact that one (or more) friends want to be with you on your birthday is a statement of that love, and might be one that you can accept without feeling uncomfortable.
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Thank you for another thoughtful comment. And I completely agree with you, on both counts. Luckily, I can still create the birthday situation, unattached to a particular calendar day. 🙂
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I see that I voted with the many—go! Just keep your wits about you.
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I knew I liked this blog community! Can do, will do!
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I know Bandera News – small english speaking newspaper Puerto Vallarta – not exactly the NY Times. Googled Nationmaster and seems one can work the stats however, one likes. Here are crime stats per their website between Canada and USA http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Canada/United-States/Crime For example, the graph above has rape in Canada double that of USA and yet the link i just referenced SAME website, Nationmaster, states separately rape 16x more common in USA than Canada so, in short the latter seems more plausible. My next question is I I wonder who made the BS graph?
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Great detective work, boy do I feel silly for posting that now… (The point was to show that Mexico isn’t as bad as They tell us it is…but whoever made the graph shouldn’t have messed with Canada!)
Do they teach you responsible skepticism and a need for proof in Canadian schools? 😉
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Dude, I say go for it. There will be other birthdays to be showered with awkward and uncomfortable love, but will there be another Venezuela trip in the near future? x
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I’m part of the 13% that voted “other” and my helpful suggestion was “well…”. I’ve skipped out on a few bdays and lots of Christmases. I think there’s a balance to be struck, but not by force.
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My Venezuelan friend told me that as of late the crime in Venezuela has gotten to all time highs. He said the drug trafficking there has become like what Colombia is known to be like in terms of narcotics and that the government employs gangs to pseudo-police the streets, but what it really turns out into is killings and kidnappings in broad daylight. Personally I have no experience in Venezuela, but his words do make me a little worried. I would recommend discretion.
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Great writing Hon; Love it ❤
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Thank you!
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