Do not visit Brazil, ever!
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- chrisRG
One of the main reasons why I've choose to live in London (besides I love the city) is the Brazil's problem with security.
All my family and friends are from Sao Paulo, and I have to come here often. But past week when leaving an agency I was freelancing for I've been a victim of Express Kidnapping, I was stopped on a red light when 2 guys in a motorcycle caught me on my mom's car, I was tied in the back seat and punched in the eye with a gun, they drove around the town looking for a ATM so they could get some money from my bank account, after 2 hours of terror with a gun in my head I was released in a dark alley, wearing only my underwear.
The city often has burglary on restaurants and buildings by 10-20 thieves at a time, in what is called "trawler".
I can't describe how pissed and frustrated I am, I wish things were different but they are not.
So, if you ever wondered about visiting Brazil, re-think, and yet, if you want to come, go to anywhere else but São Paulo.
I am fine, my eye is getting better, but I feel like I have to do something about it.
- 20020
World Cup gonna be fun
(glad to hear that you are ok)
- Miguex0
Sorry to hear that man, I remember having a bad experience in Rio a while back, nothing like you describe. In fact any problem I've ever had was just grouped into the "meaningless" category after reading your story.
Glad you got out ok man.
- chrisRG0
when I was released I went to the police, and I heard from the officer: "this happens often, it's normal, happened to a friend of mine 2 days ago"
it's normal? wft?!?!
- 20020
yeah I have heard that kidnap mugging very common. Police won't and can't do anything.
At least you didnt get sold off for body parts (aka kidney etc)
- Weyland0
friends told me a story of how when you get a cab at the airport, some dude shows up in official garb and takes a polaroid of well-to-do tourists and the cab they entered because they've been known not to turn up at the hotel ... jeez
Stray strong, glad to hear you got out in one piece
- Miguex0
It's very common in argentina too, that's why they have a name for it "Secuestro Express" meaning that you don't need to be rich to get kidnapped, you just need to have a couple of dollars in the bank.
It sucks metallic balls, but it's the way things are there, growing up in argentina I developed a tick of looking behind my shoulder, from all the times I got mugged, when I first moved to california I was leaving in Golden Hills (San Diego) an area that many locals consider ghetto, I was blown away... my tick slowly went away.. people leaving toys on their front yards, house doors either opened or closed without locks, I couldn't believe it..
Now I got used to leave here, and don't even think its risky to work w a laptop at a coffee shop or talk on my iphone on the street...
perspective is everything huh?
- 20020
Lots of resorts in Mexico are having passwords provided armed car service to and from airport
- zoozoo0
that is terrible.
- 20020
What car does your mom drive?
- ukit20
That's crazy...glad you made it out OK.
Lets face it, this can happen not only in Brazil but in many part of the world.
- pango0
It was Sao Paulo for me too.
A guy walked into our car (not in our car) at a traffic light pretending he was hit by our car. Our car was at full stop. Good thing some pedestrian saw what happened and was completely on our side. Not sure what he was trying to pull...5 years ago.
- 20020
India Launches Long-Range Missile
Indian media say the government has test launched a new nuclear-capable missile that would give it the capability of hitting the major Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai.
- ukit20
I still want to visit Brazil though
- zoozoo0
me too
- 20020
Well
- mmm... might be worth the risk.Amicus
- yes... for this, yes.necromation
- totally hahahaMiguex
- 20020
And
- BuddhaHat0
I'm really sorry to hear that, and I'm glad you got out OK. That would have been a horrible ordeal.
I agree with you about parts of Brazil, I started off in the south where it felt generally pretty safe, but as you move closer north towards SP and RD, you do feel less comfortable.
In Buenos Aires I got bad vibes from some of the local peeps as soon as I walked out the door at Exeixa. Some of the people offering taxi rides look like people offering a free ride to a robbery, beating and abandonment in an unknown back-alley.
Two Irish girls I went to a bar with in San Telmo also got robbed at gun-point on the street in broad daylight, and I had only parted company with them maybe 30 minutes earlier.
I was really lucky, the only thing that happened to me was at a busy intersection. I felt some tugging at my back, I turn around and a dodgy guy was walking away from me. I checked my backpack, and both the big pockets on it had been unzipped, he just hadn't had the time to get my camera out before I noticed. Now I get why people walk around with backpacks on their chest.
I absolutely loved Brazil and Argentina, but you have to be super careful, and sometimes you're just gonna be really unlucky.
Hope your eye heals up 100% soon, Chris!- The amount of times I've heard of similar stories in BA is incredibleChimp
- lvl_130
damn, that is insane.
had the wife's bag swiped while we were sitting on a bench (camera, several memory cards with photos, passport, wallet with all credit cards and IDs, $700 pesos that we just took out to pay for an apartment rental).
that was in fucking mendoza! chill wine country east of Buenos Aires. we felt like lost suckers.
Glad that you are okay though Chris! really makes our shitcapade seem miniscule.
- utopian0
Some crazy shit ChrisRG, glad your okay!