Do not visit Brazil, ever!
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- moldero0
That shit happened to my photographer friend here in Culiacan last year but it was the COPS who dragged him from ATM to ATM for 2 days they got the max withdrawal out of his ATM for 2 days $5000 each day (its around $450 us). it doesn't help that he looks too "fresca" (looks like a rich kid), I told him his problem was he presents himself as too much of a nice guy which is a perfect victim for anyone that wants to fuck around. he gets more looks from the wrong crowd than me being American driving around in a big ass new-ish truck with California plates which is rare in CUL (the plates). Hes always trying to portray himself as a respectful business man for clients but I tell him "dude your in Culiacan, you need to know the balance of when to act business like and when to act like someone who shouldn't be fucked with", Im not telling him to act like a thug either because just that will draw the wrong attention and get him killed quick, Im trying to tell him to change his body language as hes out and about and not with clients.
ive learned quick from the beginning that there's a certain survival mentality in living in a place like this that effects how I do just about everything in this place, everything from the distance I stop my truck behind other vehicles at intersections for quick escape routes to weird things that might not make sense to some like NOT locking your doors in your truck while your driving, because if they see them locked, they will know your worried about being robbed. (technique does not work if you look like a puss)
its kind of like knife fighting, when your fighting a guy with his knife blade pointed out towards you, hes strictly on attack mode and has a weak defense, but if your facing a guy with his knife pointed inwards, hes waiting for you to come in with your blade to counter, anyone who knows knife fighting knows its better not to face off with that kind of guy. same mentality should be applied to living in certain places of the world.
always be respectful to others but portray yourself as if someone fucks with you, it will be a mistake or at least more of a challenge then robing the other guy. criminals are as scared as the next guy, they want quick easy money, they'll pick the easy guy to rob over the questionable guy to rob any day of the week.
- Aa770
sorry to hear about your experience, but at the same time telling people to never go to Brazil because of your experience is a bit over the top. My wife is from there and I have lived and spent a lot of time in Brazil and love it there. Yes, there is a large crime element, but Brazilians are some of the warmest and most hospitable people on the planet. Yes, bad shit happens....it happens everywhere, even in the first world....but blacklisting an entire country doesn't seem very rational.
Based on your logic:
- I know someone who was hit by a car crossing the street.....dont cross the street ever!
- people have drowned swimming in pools and the ocean....dont swim ever!!
- people have choked and died on a fish bone while eating....don't eat fish ever! In fact, don't eat anything....ever!
- hundreds of cars accidents happen every day.....don't ride in a car ever!
- vaxorcist0
All this reminds me of a family from Columbia I knew that moved in downstairs from a friend of mine.... they never let their kids outdoors, they rarely opened the curtains... if you talked to them, they were very welcoming, and let you in after looking behind you for a second... they obviously had lived a life where being very careful had taken a psychological toll.... and they weren't used to their new country yet....
- ernexbcn0
One of the things I value most of living in a "decent" country is the ability of walking at any hour without worrying you are going to get mugged or murdered. Also being able to do so while enjoying a gadget or using your phone.
In Caracas you need to get rid of any item that might be a temptation so that means you can't even wear a god damned casio watch. Much less walking around with your iPod/iPhone whatever. All my friends "enjoy" their iPods at home...
Being able to live without such worries is priceless.
- ernexbcn0
I hope Brazil manages to lower crime, economically they are doing good the question is if those riches are properly distributed.
With the World Cup coming and Olympics plus the economy boon there's a lot of companies opening offices there.
I know all about express kidnappings and fucking overall insecurity and what's to live basically jailed at home, I'm from Caracas but relocated 9 years ago to Spain. This year so far there has been 13000 homicides just in Caracas, that country is beyond rotten.
- CALLES0
on a lighter note did you think "i cant wait to tell the guys on QBN?"
- CALLES0
sorry to hear... glad you are ok
- Chimp0
Here in Buenos Aires its not quite as bad but a friend of mine was held up at gun point in her own house! The porter had sold the keys to some gang or something.
Being here really does make me appreciate London a hell of a lot more than I did when I lived there.
- ha! I just told a complete different perspective on bs as a few posts up. My family says its worse now :(Miguex
- de que parte de bs as sos?
Miguex - Once / Bario norte. Si, mi novia me dijo que es peor ahora.Chimp
- yo vivia en b norte tambien :)
a una cuadra del alto palermoMiguex - Jejej es cerca de casa me novia! Conozco. Y donde vives en londres? Vivia en Shordich y IslingtonChimp
- vaxorcist0
some years ago, late at night after drinking waaay too much, I was robbed at gunpoint by 2 guys in wicker park, Chicago... but I was too drunk to respond logically... they pointed it at me... I asked if they had a water pistol... they didn't.... I kept walking, they shouted at me... I kept walking and stumbled on some bushes and got up and kept walking and they followed me and I said I'd drank all my money... and they looked at each other and ran back to their car.... and somehow some sort of angels looking over me saved me...
- albums0
"If you run, the beast catches; if you stay, the beast eats"
- raf0
This is "normal", I'm afraid.
My friends who were traveling through Brazil this year and stayed at their friends' in some small town, were advised to leave all valuables before going to Sao Paulo, including not only camera and passports but most importantly their wedding rings.
- cannonball19780
Good advice. I won't be going there anytime soon then.
- necromation0
wow... speechless... The only consolation is, you are alive to tell the tale.
- loool0
I heard there's a lot of crime there, but never really had the chance to go to Brazil...my friend got robbed, the guy entered to his hotel room on the 3rd floor through the window, and when he went to report it, they told him that's the usual thing, and that they can't do anything about it...
sorry to hear that, I never thought such things like kidnappings can ever happen to "non-mafioso" man...
- happens every day in many countries, they force you take money out from ATMs or ask a rescue to relativesernexbcn
- utopian0
Some crazy shit ChrisRG, glad your okay!
- 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.