So. Is The Caribbean Dangerous?

well what are they saying?

i was sailing there in the 70's and early 80's when i was a teenager... didn't have a problem.

but i seem to be reading / hearing that the standard tourist carry-b locations are getting rather hazerdous. that is, likely the same as the rest of the world... just with a jamaican twist, mon.
 
I get the same thing when I visit Compton, Ca. There are a few folks who might check me out, just protecting their neighborhood. And I empathize with that intent.
So I'm thinking it has more to do with visitors who just don't get it, else visitors who are looking for the wrong things to do around somebody else's family.
 
I don't know but my brother and sister in law were in the peace corp down there and they said that most tourist don't see the real Jamaica because they stay at resorts or go where the tourists go.
 
Yeah, I would believe that. Like the ghetto just several blocks from The White House,
or the poor folks just outside of Disney World.
 
So I'm thinking it has more to do with visitors who just don't get it, else visitors who are looking for the wrong things to do around somebody else's family.
well there's definitely a culture of predatory scams and crime around the world that specifically targets tourists.

you can definitely get in trouble if you don't research your destination and the popular crime methods and locations.

example: (huge image alert)
http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/images/blog/tourist-scams.jpg
 
Well...

Back when my 'cushy' Disney-owned 103 unit family apartment complex was built and sold as 'The Projects', in 1970, the local kids would hang out with the bachelor in the morning. All "friendly like". And he would send them out of his pad when it was time to go to work, with "Take care" and "I'll catch you later".

And after he left, the skinny one (not me!) would crawl through the tight narrow dining room window and let his friends in to rip and fence the guy, to then buy dope for the afternoon party. That was the first and last time that I bothered to make friends around here. After that, I kept to myself.

They also used to steal car batteries, which meant that the good folks had to chain and lock their hoods to keep them. And we still see car windows smashed to steal the stereo and media, this in spite of the complex now owned as a commercial property.
The stereos are often stolen "or stolen" around the time that a really good tune is fenced from one of the locals....

There is also 3 Card Monte to be had on Hollywood Blvd. The dude looks like Chuck Berry. And The Mechanic never loses.
 
Oh yeah. On Hollywood Blvd., around the Dolby Theater (formerly The Kodak Theater) at Highland near The Chinese, you can find "Superman", "Batman", "The Joker", "Monroe", "Capt. Jack Sparrow", etc. These are look-alikes who are not employed or authorized by the copyright owners, nor by the studios or the local Chamber of Commerce. They are dressed for the part out-of-pocket, and on rare occasions, they may be the real deal under that make-up, I'm pretty sure I've seen Depp playing it.

For the most part however, these are self-employed folks who will pose with their arm around you for a snapshot in exchange for a $1 donation, unless they ask for more up front before the picture is taken. I don't believe the real actors ask for the money. They're doing it for fun. But the tourists may well believe that these street performers are hired by someone of authority to do so.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reinactors

There is or was "a Michael Jackson" working the streets after his death. Didn't look like him at all. He was playing the visitors for the $1. They would take the pictures with his arm around their shoulders and then this jerk would hit them up for $5 per person per snapshot, claiming "unauthorized free use of his likeness". And when the victims balked, he got mean and harrassed them for the money under threat. He wouldn't let them walk away.

If you see him, kick him in the nuts.

Now this is a respectable MJ. So if you see this one, don't hurt him.
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Man is not the mammal that needs to have eyes on the back of his blowhole in the Caribbean. I just happen to be in the middle of a pretty good book about mass whale strandings in the Bahamas at the turn of the (21st) century. And it comes with pictures!
 

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Not a place on my list of 'must visits'.

Have to say we've been in some shaky places in South Chicago, LA and Cincinnati that I wouldn't want to repeat. But If you can sense some danger ... react to it, and be mindful of ones surroundings :(

But there are 'no-go' areas everywhere ..... tourist beware :)
 
elton wales--

get your arse out to the caribbean, mate!

charter a small yacht. go snorkeling in the lovely water, mate!


img717816670661923867.jpg



elton-- "waaaa... the sharks, mate.... the sharks!!"
 
Did I mention I hate water with a passion? Don't do beaches, water etc. May make an exception with a life raft on .... but not a favourite of mine at all :(
 
May make an exception with a life raft on ....

HA! Yes, never say "never" to a life raft! And make sure you're not with someone who's gonna hog the whole thing... Kate!


titanic.jpg
 
Now I would like to visit Haiti ..... see some voodoo in action :)
 
Hey elton, what part of LA was it that was shady? Do you remember the name of the town, or the area (east, west, etc.)? Was it in The San Fernando Valley or was it in the downtown area?
 
We were staying in the Heritage Inn, E Imperial Highway, Fullerton. The area appeared pretty good and we did a fair bit of walking. But when we tried to travel into LA along Imp Hwy, the area went down somewhat and more and more debris being dumped onto the road. We turned off into a housing area and that was a real eye opener. A few cars were driving straight at us at speed and then veering off at the last moment ... not too funny with children in the car. Glad to get back to the highway and back to the relative safety of Fullerton. If memory serves, Santa Monica was full of homeless who made us feel uncomfortable by following us around :(
Typical tourist with camera etc.
 
Did I mention I hate water with a passion? Don't do beaches, water etc. May make an exception with a life raft on .... but not a favourite of mine at all :(
and dr. joy says that hydrophobia is usually related to a love of aquariums.
 
elton, it sounds like you found Montebello, Ca, southeast of downtown L.A.
We often see news of trouble in that part of town. And Santa Monica draws the transients due to being near the sea. They hustle just about everyone, tourist or local. Some of them, if they see you have anything, they'll hit you up for it.

There was a guy on Lankershim Blvd. one night working the corner at the stop light. He was panhandling the cars as they were stuck waiting for the green light, asking for money at the driver's windows for a bogus bus fare that he then never bothered with. He was just collecting $$$ well past his stated need. And walking around in the lanes of stopped traffic, right up to the windows. A cop showed up and he ducked them, playing cool and looking scared. I tried to flag them about it and they ignored me. When the bus arrived, he decided to hop on and he bummed the ride paying nothing for it.

EDIT: I normally give the needy a break, but this guy was intimidating people with "the nice cool jerk" routine and hanging on several times over being annoying about it.

Fullerton is near Anaheim and Buena Park. Did you visit Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm?
 
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interesting. but, how do you play it cool and look scared at the same time?
 
Yeah, we did Disney ... it was wonderful. Also Universal the other side of LA. That was cool too.

Did want to see a Dodgers game but the Virgin Airways rep talked us out of that as the ballpark was in an area of high crime. With young children we were very risk aware.

Overall though, Fullerton, La Brea etc was a great base for our first family holiday. Also visited San Diego and considered going into Mexico ... but thought better of it and went to the zoo and Sea World instead.

This was the holiday that got us interested in the US. Have been traveling ever since and at the last count have been to 34 states and counting. Another 6 planned for next May when we visit New England for a tour.

And Dr Joy is correct .... aquariums are great but we no longer have one :(
 
Well Ike, he WAS LOUD, Surfer Joe dude walking up in the darkness with the "HI! ARE ARE YOU? HEY>>>I NEED A DOLLAR FOR THE BUS...AW C'MON I NEED IT. A DOLLAR? JUST A DOLLAR??
CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME A DOLLAR?? OKAY???...AW C'MON. A DOLLAR??.." And then standing there a little longer. And after the light changed, he walked back to the sidewalk, pulled out his wad of bills and counted them. And waited for the next stop light. And then started over again.

But when the cops drove up, he went stone silent. He sat down on the bus bench with wide eyes and his head hung down. He looked like he was starting to have an O.D., but he was chillin'. As soon as they left, he was back to swagging and bragging. Just hanging out with the people. Working men and women and families and housewives.
 
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now THAT is what i'm talking on
 
swagging and bragging. Just hanging out with the people. Working men and women and families and housewives.

So mostly like 90%+ of all politicians then?
 
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