In my opinion.

[pandabear]

I have visited both Cali,Columbia and to Panama City,Panama. In my
opinion,I liked Panama City better than Cali. Both places the people
were friendly, but I felt uncomfortable in Cali, Every where I went
in Cali, there were armed police. I know that both cities have bad
sections and it is not advisable to go into these areas alone. When I went to Panama City,it seemed to be less tense and I could go more
places alone, without a sence of being afriad.
Columbia has it's reputation of violance and crime. Panama seems to be a safer place to visit. When I was in Cali I stayed with groups of
people and never strayed away from the group, whereas in Panama I felt save walking around by myself.
In Columbia I was introduced to many ladies, some I corresponded with
briefly, until the commuication stopped from the ladies. I felt why beat a dead horse and I moved on. In Panama I corresponded with one
very special lady, whom I visited and had a lot of fun. I am allowing
time to pass with this beautiful lady, to ensure that both of us make
the right choices.
Panama is a pretty country with several places to visit and travel,
without fear of being kidnappedor worst. It is important that you have a traveling companion who knows the area. I certainly would not
feel safe traveling in the Columbian country side.
This is my opinion of the two countries.

[Kiltboy1]

... in response to In my opinion., posted by pandabear on Oct 24, 2003

I think pandabears observation of cali is correct, HOWEVER--Panama is a place that has been AMERICANIZED for 60 years or so. My dad was an MP in Panama in 1948. You should be so lucky as to be with the women he was with at that point in time. Cali, unlike Cartagena or Bogota , has only recently seen its share of "GRINGOS" . I remember when i went to Playa Del Carmen Mexico for the first time. It was around 1987 , and my first time out of the US. When we got off the  ferry from Cozumel--you would have thought we were going to be shot--there were MP's everywhere with machine guns. It took me a few hours to settle down , but once i did , i realized they were there to protect me from the bad guys. This is exactly the same with Cali. The police and military are there to protect you from the bad guys.If you have never been to a spanish speaking country and know very little spanish, then you need to go with a group like TLC , which specializes in holding your hand and making you feel comfortable.
My point here is --do not avoid going to cali because you are uncomfortable with the police presence . Go there in whatever capacity makes you feel safe--group , solo , with a buddy. Just my take on Cali, or any other new frontier.

Andy

[Calipro]

... in response to In my opinion., posted by pandabear on Oct 24, 2003

[This message has been edited by Calipro]

I live in Phoenix Arizona and there are armed police every where. They have shot so many people this year that the city is finally forming a citizen review panal to review the police shootings.

P.S. Are you the guy I met on the TLC tour that when I asked him if he would like me to show him the various marriage agencies in Cali , he asked me if I was sure I knew what parts of the city the rebels controlled?

hehehe!!