If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#31
|
|||
|
|||
Travelling to Rio
Oh really!
Well I think that you've just been lucky, because that kind of behavior is just plain dumb. What do you think the local people feel when they see someone being robbed? They're simply as afraid as the one who is under attack. In every ****in' guide I've seen about Rio it says that DO NOT WALK during the night. I've lived there over a year without amy problems, because I used a TAXI after sunset. During the day Rio is probably the most beautiful city, and no problems. It just makes me mad when whining litte wimps, who are looking for trouble, come here and start blaiming others on their own stupidity. Unfortunately Rio has ****loads of Favelas, in which ther are all kinds of criminals. The problem of favelas is the fact that most of the people living there are just poor hardworking people, only a small amount of recidents of the favelas are these criminals. Its true that these druglords are true leaders of these favelas, but cleaning them is quite difficult. This results as one of highest crimerates in the world. Police in Rio wont do anything bercause they can't do enything. Do you really beleive they can find anybody with vague description you may be able to give them? The robbers were back in their favela long before you even encountered the police. Anyway, its just fine that you hate Rio, actually its excellent, because Rio and brasilians do not need a single loud and arrogant Americans to abuse their country and people. Its so saddening to see how these GRINGOS go to country like Brasil and behave like they own the ****in' place. I wish that Brasil would take in use a test of intelligence for the tourists coming from USA. I bet that 90% would fail. Kurko On 9 Mar 2004 08:34:16 -0800, P E T E R P A N wrote: I walked many cities at night, including LA, San Francisco, New York, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Denpasar, Jakarta, Buenos Aires, Montevideo ... without any problems! It is the stupid, nasty *sshole like you and dumb thugs, thieves, robbers and the savages, who would p*ss on sidewalks and someone else' cars on the busy streets of Rio in broad day light, who should be removed from the gene pool! Stupid, ignorant nasty trash like you are a shame and a grave threat for all mankind! As everyone can see, this nasty guy Kurko confirms that Brazil is a very unsafe, lawless place, populated by a lot of dumb savages like himself. Visitors to Brazil, Rio and Sao Paolo, have a very high probability of getting robbed or beaten. Don't expect local people to help when you need it! Kurko wrote in message ... Hello! Excuse me, but by all means who is such a stupid **** to walk during the night in any major city in the world. Actually these "thugs" should've removed you from the genepool. Kurko On 7 Mar 2004 18:10:33 -0800, P E T E R P A N wrote: Dear JohnM, For one thing, the entire incident happened very quickly, in a matter of 1 or 2 minutes. I was in fear for my life and I did not have a lot of time or in position to think of all alternative courses of actions. I just acted instinctively. This was the first time I faced potential violence in some 30 years. I was never in more fear, even in downtown Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York City at night! The local Brazilians all think I was very lucky to escape death or serious injuries that night! You could have suggested precautions or solutions, rather than trying to pick holes in my story, which just shows that you are not sympathetic to a lone tourist in distress, but are probably siding with the thugs, victimizing unsuspecting preys! I do not believe you have good, unselfish motivations in this case! When the initial thug confronted me, I had walked past the café a few houses. The customers were sitting inside the cafe due to the rain. I was roughly past the Hotel Mirasol with its large glass front across the street. When I glanced other thugs running toward me from other corners, a vision of my lifeless body lying in a pool of blood was very clear in my head! Instinctlively I felt back tracking towards the café would put me closer to the incoming thugs. I pulled the first thug out to the middle of the street, roughly in front of the hotel Mirasol, and screamed "HELP, HELP, HELP…" but there were no response from anyone, anywhere. In a matter of seconds, I decided that " POLICIA …" may work better and immediately started bellowing. I had to make quick decisions and ran fast basically to save my own life. I saw running cars with head lights on Rebata Reveiro and I quickly ran towards them. When I rethink the whole incident, the closest hotel would have been the Mirasol, which would have staff in the lobby. But I am not sure if they would bother to open their door to assist a tourist in distress. The Copacabana Hotel Residencia was definitely not interested in helping or taking any actions. The police also acted very casually, as if they ran into these violent incidents many times everyday. Despite the warm personality of the policemen and their willingness to help, I had reservations that they could be effective after dealing with them. I had my distrust then, and I declined to get into their patrol cars for the search or to return to the hotel! A number of people, presumably with more experience in Brazil, have since written me private emails suggesting I skip Brazil. I found, through my own experience, some serious flaws of characters in the Brazilian people in Rio, such as the couple guys I found the first day who would pee openly on the streets in broad day light, sometimes on someone else cars' doors, right on very busy streets like Rebata Reveiro or Copacabana. Every street in Copacabana stinks of urine and fresh sewage! These are bad things that happened in the best parts of Rio, not in the favela, where the impoverished residents may deserve excuses for their uncivil actions. I also found some disturbingly bad attitudes among various young, old, educated and wealthy Brazilians in Rio, Sao Paolo etc… which I will write down when I have time. My opinions of Brazil and her people, after much reviews of the events, facts and rationalizations, to be honest, very low. I do not stand to gain or lose anything by posting my information and opinions on Brazil. I do it only to inform fellow travelers. I advised a new friend in Rio, a pretty girl from Spain, against walking in the rain at night in Rio which she felt was romantic! A number of people emailed me suggesting not walking in Rio at all! Your attitude helps convince me firmly that Brazil is not on top of the list of countries I want to visit! JohnM wrote in message ... In article , P E T E R P A N writes -- snip snip -- I had gotten out of the internet store late at night and stopped to buy cigarettes at a small coffee shop next door, which still had a dozen people, customers and waiters. As I walked out of the shop, I stopped on the sidewalk to lit a cigarette. That was when this dark, scruffy guy, wearing a white shirt, came out of nowhere, talking to me in Portugeese. I thought he wanted a cigarette so I offered him the pack. He ignored my offer, kept talking firmly and threateiningly in Portugeeze, repeating the phrase "No problem...". I moved out to the street. He blocked my way, grabbing and holding my shirt firmly with both hands. I pulled away, he refused to let go. At the same time, out of the corner of my eyes, I saw a few other guys running toward us from the dark street corners. The street was dark, wet and deserted. Suddenly there was noone on the street but the thugs. -- snip snip -- Erm, continuity problem there, as my editor might say. Was the street wet, dark and deserted, despite the coffee-shop you had just walked out of with its dozen people inside? Why didn't you just walk back in if the guy attacked you 'as you walked out'? -- Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/ |
#33
|
|||
|
|||
Travelling to Rio
I think that the original poster just needs to learn a little about
Probability and Statistics. Just because he was assaulted once in Rio, while never in other cities, does not imply, all by itself, that Rio is any more dangerous than the other cities. I agree that this tragic experience was brought about by ill advised actions... why would anyone walk the streets of *any* big city at night? Didn't he know that he could get mugged or something? It seems like this is something that he does all the time, and so it was just a matter of time and pure coincidence that it finally happened in Rio. I live in LA, one of the cited cities, and I would *never* walk around downtown LA at night... one look at those streets should be enough to dissuade any sensible person. Don JB wrote: Peterpan, you've seen a lot of crosstalk showing you the fact from basically two different points of view, both were im my first post. Don't let some harsh posts from some scb participants upset you. For some of them the points I summarize below are so obvious that they are upset to find somenone that ignores them. First, don't walk after dark in any big city, unless you're looking for trouble. It may be a valid advice even in your home town. Big cities are, and have always been, a hideout for criminals because it's the best place to be anonymous. Nighttime, again, is favourable to such people. It seems you're kind of romantic and like to walk alone at night, when everything looks different. But be realistic: it's not wise to do it in big cities, dark and empty streets. That's what Kurko meant whith "Actually these "thugs" should've removed you from the genepool". The thugs were a lot wiser than you. They were exploring "their" area as the spider inspects its net, and they are never alone. You're very lucky. When I saw the list of cities where you walked by at night I was astonished. For your information, I avoid Barata Ribeiro (and many other places) at night, even by car. Second, don't generalize, mainly when you're extending to a whole country the impressions you've got from a big city at night. It's not wise, again. Brazil (and other countries as well) have thousands of fine places to go and have big fun. Why do people insist in big cities, that look almost the same all over the world. But if you really want to go, don't forget the first paragraph. |
#34
|
|||
|
|||
Travelling to Rio
P E T E R P A N schrieb: The Italians in question are citizens of Italy, but permanent residents of the US in West Palm Beach, Florida. Perhaps the Brazil's counselate treat them differently? They mentioned specifically the US$140 visa fee and decided to stay away from Brazil! There is still some misinformation here. If they had Italian passports, then no visa would be required. To answer other posters in this thread, the US was attacked by terrorists, hijacking 4 airliners full of passengers, including probably a few Brazilians and other nationalities, slamming them into US government and business centers. Those are very serious, all-out war acts! We need to take all measures to make sure such horrible acts can never again happen! But maybe firing at the wrong targets? None of the terrorists were Brazilian or entered the USA from Brazil, but a bunch of them were studying in Germany. Two of the flying terrorists were on Interpol's "wanted list", but they entered the USA without any problems. A few weeks ago, Abdelghani Mzoudi, one of the suspects behind the 9/11 attacks, was set free by the German justice for lack of proof, although the judges expressed substantial doubts about his innocence. Right now the German Supreme Court has ordered a revision on Mounir al-Motassadeq's trial (and 15 years in prison sentence) also because, though nobody thinks he is innocent, his guilt couldn't be proved beyond doubt. This could be easily changed if the German justice had evidence given by Ramzi Binalshibh, "the 20th hijacker", who is under US custody since his capture in Pakistan, but US authorities refuse to let Germans have any access to him or even to hand over a testimony of his to the German justice. With this, there is the possibility of soon a second mastermind behind the attacks walking off free. Think of *THIS* next time you say that "we need to take all measures to make sure such horrible acts can never again happen!" However, they have to balance those desires with the responsibilities to maintain security, laws and order, with limited resources, in a wide-open and free country, where people are allowed to move around and do things freely, and the enormous costs and difficulties in hiring officials to track down errant visitors after the fact. As reported by various sources, the average cost to the US government for each employee is about US$100,000 per year. That's the constraint with which the government must figure out how to manage its respinsiblities and resources. This is getting off-topic, but then you have to ask the present administration, in view of what you said above, why the tax cuts for the rich. (This is anyway an internal question of your country and we have nothing to say about that.) I don't understand why Brazilians, including a professor friend, would think the US government would act, not driven by absolutely critical needs, but to just spite and denigrate any people in the world with its visa procedures. Or then put yourself on the other side of a tourist visa application and ask why all these people would be getting this same impression. Please understand their responsibilities and excuse them if they do not appear friendly. They are there to do very serious and professional jobs. If they are all friendly, then Osama Bin Laden would have smuggled divisions of Jihad terrorists into the US. And have you ever stopped to think why the USA is targetted, but not Brazil, Argentina, Italy, China, Germany, Greece etc.? Another thing you should know about US bureaucrats is that they are very sensitive to keeping their low-paying government jobs and their retirement pensions. If you feel you have been mistreated or discriminated, by all means take down the names of the bureaucrats involved, along with the facts and witnesses. You should then write letters to the responsible managers to seek redress, or you should obtain lawyers and sue everyone involved for large compensations. I remember a few Bosnian women, who were raped by Slobodan Melosevich's troops, got contingency lawyers and sued the Bosnian government in a New York federal court in 2000, and were granted the rights to collect millions dollars of damages against that government. You are losing sense of proportion here. There is no paralell between being raped and having a visa refused by someone who can easily find any non-conformity he wants if he didn't like the applicant's appear- ance (not to mention the subjective feeling of being discriminated.) This option is recommended to people of friendly countries but is obviously closed to hostile, violent and evil tyrants like Osama Bin Laden and Sadam Hussein etc... These terrorists are resolutely referred to the Big Complaints Office, staffed by the US Department of Defense with their brave young men and women, who expertly use their fine aircraft carriers, top-notch aircrafts, smart missiles and precision munitions to deal with any threats from evil terrorists.... This kind of belief answers in part the question of why the USA gets targetted. I hate to be the one to disclose this to you, but this is not the way to deal with terrorists. It didn't work at the WTC or the Pentagon, it doens't work in Israel, and it isn't working in Iraq -- on the contrary; Al-Qaeda, who was kept away from Iraq during Saddam's dictatorship is now active and recruiting more and more people in the country. The problem you can't go around is that you are umbilically con- nected to the terrorists: you give billions to your great friends, the Saudi wahhabis, the same who finance these religious extrem- ists all over the world. Let's hope that we are all devoting our intelligence, energy and faith in improving peace, prosperity and happiness for all peoples! Amen! JL |
#35
|
|||
|
|||
Travelling to Rio
This dumb, uncivilized jerk Kurko is trying to blame Rio's very
serious crime problems on the victims, instead of the perpetrators! With his stupid arguments and seriously bas attitudes, he's obviously a dumb loser, probably a criminal himself! The good Brazilians should admit to serious crime problems in Rio, probably in Sao Paolo, Brasilia, Foz do Iquacu... as well as, and pressure their police/government to try out various programs to find those that will make progress! The hotel people in Foz do Iquacu warned me sternly about walking the streets at night, as gangs on dark streets have been known to knife people for their wallets. They also insisted on calling known good taxi drivers for me, as taxi drivers were also known to rob tourists! It would look very bad to the rest of the world that the good Brazilians appear to be giving up, ceding controls of their scenic cities to the dumb, dirty criminals who would rob and knife tourists and good Brazilians! I am not trying to paint all Brazilians as bad. I had some good times and warm friendships with quite a few Brazilians. However, the bad attitudes of this uncivilized jerk, Kurko, is typical of many, if not the majority, Brazilians I encountered. They would quickly blame all problems on someone else, preferably the victims, rather than tryign to look for preventions or solutions! Among the Brazilains I met, there seems to be a deep shame about themselves and their society, even among the educated, wealthy people, that prevent them from discussing some of these problems openly and honestly, at any level, emotional, intellectual or educational...Most of them, including some close Brazilian friends, would try to talk around the issues then drop them altogether! This lack of honesty is the complete opposite of the people in Argentina and US! Anyone possessing this dumb jerk Kurko's irrepsonsible losers' attitudes should be considered untrustworthy and not deserving friendship! Kurko wrote in message ... Oh really! Well I think that you've just been lucky, because that kind of behavior is just plain dumb. What do you think the local people feel when they see someone being robbed? They're simply as afraid as the one who is under attack. In every ****in' guide I've seen about Rio it says that DO NOT WALK during the night. I've lived there over a year without amy problems, because I used a TAXI after sunset. During the day Rio is probably the most beautiful city, and no problems. It just makes me mad when whining litte wimps, who are looking for trouble, come here and start blaiming others on their own stupidity. Unfortunately Rio has ****loads of Favelas, in which ther are all kinds of criminals. The problem of favelas is the fact that most of the people living there are just poor hardworking people, only a small amount of recidents of the favelas are these criminals. Its true that these druglords are true leaders of these favelas, but cleaning them is quite difficult. This results as one of highest crimerates in the world. Police in Rio wont do anything bercause they can't do enything. Do you really beleive they can find anybody with vague description you may be able to give them? The robbers were back in their favela long before you even encountered the police. Anyway, its just fine that you hate Rio, actually its excellent, because Rio and brasilians do not need a single loud and arrogant Americans to abuse their country and people. Its so saddening to see how these GRINGOS go to country like Brasil and behave like they own the ****in' place. I wish that Brasil would take in use a test of intelligence for the tourists coming from USA. I bet that 90% would fail. Kurko |
#36
|
|||
|
|||
Travelling to Rio
Thank you for your kind words.
Now lets correct one assumption you have made. I'm not brasilian, though I lived there for a while. If this PETER PAN were an intelligent being he would already know my nationality. I rest my case. Kurko On 10 Mar 2004 13:01:36 -0800, P E T E R P A N wrote: This dumb, uncivilized jerk Kurko is trying to blame Rio's very serious crime problems on the victims, instead of the perpetrators! With his stupid arguments and seriously bas attitudes, he's obviously a dumb loser, probably a criminal himself! The good Brazilians should admit to serious crime problems in Rio, probably in Sao Paolo, Brasilia, Foz do Iquacu... as well as, and pressure their police/government to try out various programs to find those that will make progress! The hotel people in Foz do Iquacu warned me sternly about walking the streets at night, as gangs on dark streets have been known to knife people for their wallets. They also insisted on calling known good taxi drivers for me, as taxi drivers were also known to rob tourists! It would look very bad to the rest of the world that the good Brazilians appear to be giving up, ceding controls of their scenic cities to the dumb, dirty criminals who would rob and knife tourists and good Brazilians! I am not trying to paint all Brazilians as bad. I had some good times and warm friendships with quite a few Brazilians. However, the bad attitudes of this uncivilized jerk, Kurko, is typical of many, if not the majority, Brazilians I encountered. They would quickly blame all problems on someone else, preferably the victims, rather than tryign to look for preventions or solutions! Among the Brazilains I met, there seems to be a deep shame about themselves and their society, even among the educated, wealthy people, that prevent them from discussing some of these problems openly and honestly, at any level, emotional, intellectual or educational...Most of them, including some close Brazilian friends, would try to talk around the issues then drop them altogether! This lack of honesty is the complete opposite of the people in Argentina and US! Anyone possessing this dumb jerk Kurko's irrepsonsible losers' attitudes should be considered untrustworthy and not deserving friendship! Kurko wrote in message ... Oh really! Well I think that you've just been lucky, because that kind of behavior is just plain dumb. What do you think the local people feel when they see someone being robbed? They're simply as afraid as the one who is under attack. In every ****in' guide I've seen about Rio it says that DO NOT WALK during the night. I've lived there over a year without amy problems, because I used a TAXI after sunset. During the day Rio is probably the most beautiful city, and no problems. It just makes me mad when whining litte wimps, who are looking for trouble, come here and start blaiming others on their own stupidity. Unfortunately Rio has ****loads of Favelas, in which ther are all kinds of criminals. The problem of favelas is the fact that most of the people living there are just poor hardworking people, only a small amount of recidents of the favelas are these criminals. Its true that these druglords are true leaders of these favelas, but cleaning them is quite difficult. This results as one of highest crimerates in the world. Police in Rio wont do anything bercause they can't do enything. Do you really beleive they can find anybody with vague description you may be able to give them? The robbers were back in their favela long before you even encountered the police. Anyway, its just fine that you hate Rio, actually its excellent, because Rio and brasilians do not need a single loud and arrogant Americans to abuse their country and people. Its so saddening to see how these GRINGOS go to country like Brasil and behave like they own the ****in' place. I wish that Brasil would take in use a test of intelligence for the tourists coming from USA. I bet that 90% would fail. Kurko -- Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/ |
#37
|
|||
|
|||
Travelling to Rio
Yeah right!
Lock your stupid, cowardly loser's self inside your little apartment. Tour the streets of Rio only in armored vehicles with armed bodyguards.... Then you will solve the crime problems in Rio... Welcome to the country of dumb, unprincipled losers! Kurko wrote in message ... Thank you for your kind words. Now lets correct one assumption you have made. I'm not brasilian, though I lived there for a while. If this PETER PAN were an intelligent being he would already know my nationality. I rest my case. Kurko |
#38
|
|||
|
|||
Travelling to Rio
Someone posted his experience in this NG, about parking a rental car
in Rio with unneeded assistance from a local guy. When he did not give the guy enough money, his rental car was later gouged from head to tail... I did not have a car in Rio so I did not experience this Brazilian parking "system." I know it exists in other MAFIA-controlled cities such as Venice, Pisa ... in Italy, where parkings are at premium. The tour guides all said they have to pay up every time. If not, their vehicles will suffer expensive damages, broken lights, gouged paints, flat tires etc...If they keep resisting, they may be liable for personal beatings! They said the parking collectors there actually work for the MAFIA, collecting fees from cars, vans, tour buses etc...They keep track of people who park regularly. The MAFIA actually "owns" the parking rights on those busy streets, and puts people there to collect. After visiting Rio, I went to Sao Paolo, visiting a friend who is a high-ranking government official. He took me around in Sao Paolo in his car. When we stopped and parked his car near the park with the large cement monument (people exiting a boat...), guess what? A young, scruffy guy immediately showed up, directing the parking with an air of unmistaken authority! My friend immediately forked over a bill for this guy. I think it was a 2-reais note. There were hundreds of other cars parked around that monument and the park, so this is a big business, not a pittance, compared to the per capita GDP of US$3800 for Brazil! I innocently (!) asked my friend why he had to pay someone to park on public streets. He said he just wanted to give the guy some money, then avoided discussing the issue further! He also steafastly refused to hand my camera to other people near that monument to take pictures for us, probably because he's a nice guy, and not because he's afraid that these people may run away with my camera...hahaha! He's a Brazilian government official for Christ sake, and by the way he acted, I truly believe the Brazilian govermnent has tacitly ceded the controls of their cities to organized criminals and the common thugs on the streets. Brazilian politicians are too busy improving their popularity with the population by bashing the US and photographing/finger printing US citizens... Now I think the Rio hotel staffs, who refused to assist tourists in distress, are probably fearful of reprisals by thugs with organized-crime connections. They acted like they never saw or hear anything! No wonder a few of the self-declared residents of Brazil in this thread also acted fearful of the criminals, conveniently blaming the crimes on the victims! They did not spell out the obvious requirements for safety: Stay in your hotels and order room services; only tour the cities in armored cars with bonded and armed body guards... Along with average guys in Rio who would p*ss in front of everyone on the sidwalks and on someone else's cars in broad day light, and the people in this thread who conveniently blame the crimes on the victims....Some Brazilians and residents of Brazil do appear to have probably the worst, the most uncivil attitudes among the peoples I visited! (JB) wrote in message . com... Peterpan, you've seen a lot of crosstalk showing you the fact from basically two different points of view, both were im my first post. Don't let some harsh posts from some scb participants upset you. For some of them the points I summarize below are so obvious that they are upset to find somenone that ignores them. First, don't walk after dark in any big city, unless you're looking for trouble. It may be a valid advice even in your home town. Big cities are, and have always been, a hideout for criminals because it's the best place to be anonymous. Nighttime, again, is favourable to such people. It seems you're kind of romantic and like to walk alone at night, when everything looks different. But be realistic: it's not wise to do it in big cities, dark and empty streets. That's what Kurko meant whith "Actually these "thugs" should've removed you from the genepool". The thugs were a lot wiser than you. They were exploring "their" area as the spider inspects its net, and they are never alone. You're very lucky. When I saw the list of cities where you walked by at night I was astonished. For your information, I avoid Barata Ribeiro (and many other places) at night, even by car. Second, don't generalize, mainly when you're extending to a whole country the impressions you've got from a big city at night. It's not wise, again. Brazil (and other countries as well) have thousands of fine places to go and have big fun. Why do people insist in big cities, that look almost the same all over the world. But if you really want to go, don't forget the first paragraph. |
#39
|
|||
|
|||
Travelling to Rio
Little Pete's ego got really hurt, didn't it?
Well, let's face some facts. I've been travelling all over the world and what I have learned so far. 1. In every major city, DO NOT TRUST ANYONE. What is this, in which city you can give your camera to unknown person to take pics for you? Well MAYBE in Helsinki, Finland but on the otherhand Helsinki is not a major city. 2. If you are stupid and roam around the streets during the night, especially dark ones, you have a tendency of getting mugged. Lil Pete was extremely lucky to get out alive, which he doesn't understand. 3. In 3rd world countries there are JOBS like parking attendants. These guys have actually licence to operate as such (atleast in Rio they do). There is no MAFIA involved here, just some people trying to get their livelihood with honest way (read not robbing the tourists). I suggest that Pete should stop whining now, go home, to land of "brave" and home of "free" and stay there. You simply can not blame others for your own mistake. And in the end: Yes I do know about all problems in Brasil, but it is none of our business. Let brasilians solve/live with their problems. We simply can't go to another country and start telling them what they should do. When visiting different countries you have to accept the problems as they exist, follow the goddamn instructions. Kurko On 11 Mar 2004 12:18:00 -0800, P E T E R P A N wrote: Someone posted his experience in this NG, about parking a rental car in Rio with unneeded assistance from a local guy. When he did not give the guy enough money, his rental car was later gouged from head to tail... I did not have a car in Rio so I did not experience this Brazilian parking "system." I know it exists in other MAFIA-controlled cities such as Venice, Pisa ... in Italy, where parkings are at premium. The tour guides all said they have to pay up every time. If not, their vehicles will suffer expensive damages, broken lights, gouged paints, flat tires etc...If they keep resisting, they may be liable for personal beatings! They said the parking collectors there actually work for the MAFIA, collecting fees from cars, vans, tour buses etc...They keep track of people who park regularly. The MAFIA actually "owns" the parking rights on those busy streets, and puts people there to collect. After visiting Rio, I went to Sao Paolo, visiting a friend who is a high-ranking government official. He took me around in Sao Paolo in his car. When we stopped and parked his car near the park with the large cement monument (people exiting a boat...), guess what? A young, scruffy guy immediately showed up, directing the parking with an air of unmistaken authority! My friend immediately forked over a bill for this guy. I think it was a 2-reais note. There were hundreds of other cars parked around that monument and the park, so this is a big business, not a pittance, compared to the per capita GDP of US$3800 for Brazil! I innocently (!) asked my friend why he had to pay someone to park on public streets. He said he just wanted to give the guy some money, then avoided discussing the issue further! He also steafastly refused to hand my camera to other people near that monument to take pictures for us, probably because he's a nice guy, and not because he's afraid that these people may run away with my camera...hahaha! He's a Brazilian government official for Christ sake, and by the way he acted, I truly believe the Brazilian govermnent has tacitly ceded the controls of their cities to organized criminals and the common thugs on the streets. Brazilian politicians are too busy improving their popularity with the population by bashing the US and photographing/finger printing US citizens... Now I think the Rio hotel staffs, who refused to assist tourists in distress, are probably fearful of reprisals by thugs with organized-crime connections. They acted like they never saw or hear anything! No wonder a few of the self-declared residents of Brazil in this thread also acted fearful of the criminals, conveniently blaming the crimes on the victims! They did not spell out the obvious requirements for safety: Stay in your hotels and order room services; only tour the cities in armored cars with bonded and armed body guards... Along with average guys in Rio who would p*ss in front of everyone on the sidwalks and on someone else's cars in broad day light, and the people in this thread who conveniently blame the crimes on the victims....Some Brazilians and residents of Brazil do appear to have probably the worst, the most uncivil attitudes among the peoples I visited! (JB) wrote in message . com... Peterpan, you've seen a lot of crosstalk showing you the fact from basically two different points of view, both were im my first post. Don't let some harsh posts from some scb participants upset you. For some of them the points I summarize below are so obvious that they are upset to find somenone that ignores them. First, don't walk after dark in any big city, unless you're looking for trouble. It may be a valid advice even in your home town. Big cities are, and have always been, a hideout for criminals because it's the best place to be anonymous. Nighttime, again, is favourable to such people. It seems you're kind of romantic and like to walk alone at night, when everything looks different. But be realistic: it's not wise to do it in big cities, dark and empty streets. That's what Kurko meant whith "Actually these "thugs" should've removed you from the genepool". The thugs were a lot wiser than you. They were exploring "their" area as the spider inspects its net, and they are never alone. You're very lucky. When I saw the list of cities where you walked by at night I was astonished. For your information, I avoid Barata Ribeiro (and many other places) at night, even by car. Second, don't generalize, mainly when you're extending to a whole country the impressions you've got from a big city at night. It's not wise, again. Brazil (and other countries as well) have thousands of fine places to go and have big fun. Why do people insist in big cities, that look almost the same all over the world. But if you really want to go, don't forget the first paragraph. -- Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/ |
#40
|
|||
|
|||
Travelling to Rio
Petey.
You're simply wrong. Don't you see that. American's are not the "superior" race on earth. You simply can't go around the world and tell other people how to run their life. Try to get a grip of reality here! Kurko On 11 Mar 2004 11:28:16 -0800, P E T E R P A N wrote: Yeah right! Lock your stupid, cowardly loser's self inside your little apartment. Tour the streets of Rio only in armored vehicles with armed bodyguards.... Then you will solve the crime problems in Rio... Welcome to the country of dumb, unprincipled losers! Kurko wrote in message ... Thank you for your kind words. Now lets correct one assumption you have made. I'm not brasilian, though I lived there for a while. If this PETER PAN were an intelligent being he would already know my nationality. I rest my case. Kurko -- Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/ |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
travelling by coach | Gudrun | Europe | 5 | January 18th, 2004 06:26 AM |
Travelling to India with a laptop? | Rohit | Air travel | 30 | December 8th, 2003 02:04 PM |
Travelling to India with a laptop? | Rohit | Travel - anything else not covered | 30 | December 8th, 2003 02:04 PM |
Travelling alone to Goa | JD | Asia | 2 | September 30th, 2003 01:42 AM |
Best airline for travelling with under 5s | Aaron Aardvark | Australia & New Zealand | 13 | September 29th, 2003 07:39 PM |