American NOT kidnapped

[Cali vet]

A news flash in EL TIEMPO from late Friday night says highway police frustrated a kidnapping attempt on an American named Steve Jensen. Phew! Doesn't say where and no other info was provided.

[Pete E]

... in response to American NOT kidnapped, posted by Cali vet on Dec 22, 2002

Don´t drive between cities.People are stopped on the main highway between Cali and Bogota.Especially don´t drive at night.I know lots of people here will say they did it,no problem,but there is a risk.Even if its a 100 to 1 its not worth it.
Gringo = guy with dollars=good kidnap choice.

Pete

[briloop]

... in response to Re: American NOT kidnapped, posted by Pete E on Dec 22, 2002

I strongly discourage anyone from travelling overland in Colombia.

I base my advice on two experiences I have had.  Two years ago, when I was in Bogota, the manager of the agency I was dealing with talked me into going to Ibague, a city about 100 miles west of Bogota.  He told me that his agency was planning to open a branch office in Ibague.

The manager, his wife, and I went to the bus station in Bogota and boarded a 12 passenger van bound for Ibague.  The manager assured me that the route was safe, and that there was a military installation along the way.

The driver of the van drove like a maniac, like something out of a comedy movie.  Yes, there was a military installation along the way, and a few interesting things to see.

We came upon a military checkpoint about 30 miles outside of Ibague.  We were ordered out of the van while Colombian soldiers searched the van and our luggage.  I had to lean against the van so that a soldier could frisk me.

That night, the manager introduced me to a female relative, recently widowed.  Her husband got killed while delivering money from his place of employment to the bank.  Now that I can look back upon this experience, I can't help but think that this manager brought me to Ibague just to meet his relative.

The next day, we saw another military checkpoint, but this time it was in the city. Between the crazy driver and the military checkpoints, I decided to fly back to Bogota.  The plane was a twin engine prop that seated about 30 people.  The flight lasted about 30 minutes.

The other experience involves a roundtrip I took from Cartagena to Santa Marta and back.  It was during the day, on a toll road, in a tour bus with about 50 other passengers.  I consider this to be safe, but if you have any doubts, then don't go to Santa Marta.  Santa Marta is four hours away from Cartagena by bus.  You are only going to stay three hours at the most in Santa Marta.  The trip is probably not worth the time, unless you really want to go see Simon Bolivar's final resting place.