Have you felt in danger at a port

[TirNaNog]

Interesting and helpful thread. I grew up in an inner city, was in Law Enforcement and served in the Marines. The advice to be well aware of your surroundings and those around you is sound. If you are, you will become aware fairly quickly when you have wandered into the wrong area. However, the advice to not look like a tourist seems a bit absurd to me. Unless you have similar characteristics to the indigenous population, no matter how hard you try, it will be obvious you are a tourist. You are there to see and experience the culture and architecture, as well as other port sights. If you think you will not have the look of a tourist while doing so, then in my opinion you are being naive. Being aware will give you added protection. Trying to not look like a tourist will not. You obviously are a tourist to any local.

[TravelinGert]

Travel safety issue in general, since I haven't yet gone on our cruise. Pretty much any city has danger and good things, though the mix may vary. Among my experiences:

 

The most frightening thing I ever saw myself was a couple of the bracelet guys from the steps of Sacre Coeur. They realized a lady who paid them for a bracelet had a bit of cash in her purse, so hopped onto a motor bike to rush past and snatch it as she was crossing the street. She did not realize immediately what was going on and clung to the purse until she was nearly dragged head first into a curb. Quite terrifying.

 

A car theft gang in the worst part of Detroit fixed a flat tire for my grandfather because the leader remembered DeMolay favorably and saw my grandfather's blue lodge ring. Bonus points: They fixed it in a corner of the hidden shop where they stripped down stolen cars. The rest of the family didn't realize, but as a life-long mechanic, my grandfather did. This was in pre-cell phone days. By the time we got home and tipped off the cops, they were long gone.

[LuckyZ]

Yes for the following:

- Freeport

- Puerto Vallarta

- Mazatlan

- Belize

- Progresso

[cruisemom42]

However, the advice to not look like a tourist seems a bit absurd to me. Unless you have similar characteristics to the indigenous population, no matter how hard you try, it will be obvious you are a tourist. You are there to see and experience the culture and architecture, as well as other port sights. If you think you will not have the look of a tourist while doing so, then in my opinion you are being naive. Being aware will give you added protection. Trying to not look like a tourist will not. You obviously are a tourist to any local.

 

This isn't necessarily true. In anywhere other than some of the most remote parts of the world (and arguably even there), people other than the "indigenous" population may be living and working, even though they do not necessarily look like a native of the area.

 

Many people in my company serve abroad on one- to several-year assignments in locations in Europe and Asia. You can bet they know their way around pretty well after a few months and don't have that hesitant look of a tourist in a new setting. Thus, they don't tend to be "marks" for anyone looking.

 

This is what I strive for. Not to be taken for an Italian when in Rome. But to look as if, although not Italian, I know my way around and am confident of where I'm headed and what I'm doing.

[Laurie S.]

This isn't necessarily true. In anywhere other than some of the most remote parts of the world (and arguably even there), people other than the "indigenous" population may be living and working, even though they do not necessarily look like a native of the area.

 

Many people in my company serve abroad on one- to several-year assignments in locations in Europe and Asia. You can bet they know their way around pretty well after a few months and don't have that hesitant look of a tourist in a new setting. Thus, they don't tend to be "marks" for anyone looking.

 

This is what I strive for. Not to be taken for an Italian when in Rome. But to look as if, although not Italian, I know my way around and am confident of where I'm headed and what I'm doing.

 

That's exactly what is meant by not looking like a tourist. :)

[slidergirl]

This isn't necessarily true. In anywhere other than some of the most remote parts of the world (and arguably even there), people other than the "indigenous" population may be living and working, even though they do not necessarily look like a native of the area.

 

Many people in my company serve abroad on one- to several-year assignments in locations in Europe and Asia. You can bet they know their way around pretty well after a few months and don't have that hesitant look of a tourist in a new setting. Thus, they don't tend to be "marks" for anyone looking.

 

This is what I strive for. Not to be taken for an Italian when in Rome. But to look as if, although not Italian, I know my way around and am confident of where I'm headed and what I'm doing.

 

Amen!!! Once again, my sister, you've articulated my feelings!!! I strive to look as if I know my way around and am confident of where I'm headed and what I'm doing EVEN IF I'M NOT SURE OF IT.

[Gunner22aa]

Been way to many places and in way too many really dangerous situations in the military to get too worked up ashore in a tourist setting. Never had a gun put to my head at a road block demanding money on a vacation. Can't say the same about places the army sent me. That being said I have been taught what to look for and what to avoid like the plague. For example if you go to a village or town and don't see any children out and about the hair on the back of the neck starts to stand up. Don't see any women either it's the wrong place to be at the wrong time. I am very aware of my surroundings all the time. My wife thinks I'm an owl the way my head often moves. Jamaica was probably the worst place we have visited. Not so much that I saw great danger around every corner but because everyone from 6 to 60 wanted to sell us the best "gangie" on the island and some were very pushy about it. Lots of places out there where you are guilty by association. Bottom line is if it doesn't feel right to you and is outside of your comfort zone then it isn't the place to be nor the time to be there.

[lor74]

There were moments where I did not feel safe in Jamaica & Samana.

 

In Samana the locals were so pushy. The moment we got off the tender, we were swarmed by dozens of people. We quickly turned around and got right back on the tender to go back to the ship.

 

In Jamaica, on more than one occasion ran into some locals who were too agressive in trying to sell whatever it was they were selling....I don't like being followed! On one of our stops there, we did a nice walk to get to some of the shopping areas, and had to deal with some people on the street. After buying some jewelry, we took a cab back to the ship.....there was no way I felt safe enough to walk back while holding store bags!

[wwcruisers]

 

....I don't like being followed!

 

I think that a lot of this thread comes down to personal space and personal comfort levels. For you, it's being followed by someone aggressively trying to sell you something. For me, it's being touched, or grabbed, and having someone deliberately block my way. And, it's not just the locals where I'm visiting. Last cruise, I was getting off the ship in port, hurrying to meet my excursion. When I went out of my way to avoid the ships' photographer, he tried to grab me by the arm. I just yelled at him, and kept going. :mad:

[lor74]

In Falmouth, in the shopping area right outside the ship, were 3 guys in costumes who were wearing stilts. My wife wanted to take a picture of me with them.....big mistake! After she took the picture, they wanted money......fine, I open my wallet to get a couple of dollars out, and they are crowding me....from above like you wouldn't believe. From their vantage point, they could see right in my wallet. Funny enough, instead of focusing on the fact that it was full of US money, they wanted to see my Canadian money. The smallest bill I had was a $20, so I show it to them and one of them aggressively takes it to get a closer look....then tries to keep it. I had to stand my ground to get it back, but it sure was uncomfortable......will never let myself get into that type of situation again!

 

I too do not like being touched......it is amazing how many times I feel violated at work! Just last week, we had a group lunch, and a co-worker (of which there are 400, and I am in I.T. so I deal with them all) suddenly comes up to me and gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek! Okay, I am a nice guy....a thank you would have been sufficient for whatever it is I did for you :)

[SlotCarKing]

I have spent a great deal of time in Cozumel as I am a scuba diver and have a condo in Puerto Aventuras on the mainland 10 miles south of Playa del Carmen. Of course I can't be certain, but it surely seems to me that this posting tells more about the writer than about the people who live in Cozumel.

 

Scott & Karen

 

Not sure I follow?

[SlotCarKing]

Well after 5 pages of bad situation's do you still think this post says more about me

 

Quick thinking in a high stress situation! You did just what I would hope I'd do. Protect my family, self, and property. Hopefully these stories give more of a heads up to the people who physically couldn't defend themselves due to age/gender/size/etc. It's much better to be pro-active then re-active.

[jnc411]

Unsafe... yes , mostly Jamaica, went on a snorkel excursion and when we came back to the dock area (which was out side of the fenced in port area), we were lined up and escorted back to the fenced in port area by machine gun carrying military.

At that point we said , well we won't be coming here again. Two friends we were traveling with , had gone into town by cab , and had some problems there, and a real difficult time getting back to the ship , the cab drivers were refuseing to bring them back unless they paid them a large amount of cash , finally they got back , but were upset.

A point was made earlier in this thread about not going some places in South Central Los Angeles, and it was correct , I don't go to those areas either. I think most big cities have these areas that one needs to be aware of and use caution, thats life.

Cori

[pscozz702]

Well after 5 pages of bad situation's do you still think this post says more about me

 

I don't think its about anyone in particular to say the least. Before we started cruising we would go to NYC by ferry all the time. Arrive near the cruise port and then walk up 39th st all the time. Once we were flaking up to cross 9th ave I saw a group of 20 something males start to fan out like to encircle us when we crossed. I took my DW's arm and started across 39th instead. There was a cop coming down 9th and stopped on the corner. As we passed the cop we nodded heads, looked back and watched as the group decided to move along to another location. We did not look like tourists, we live in the area, maybe looked like we had money. LOL. I guess being where alot of tourists might be coming from would seem to be an opportunity for them. This thread is a good reminder about being aware of your surroundings no matter where you are...in a different country or at home.

 

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[grand isle joe]

I don't think its about anyone in particular to say the least. Before we started cruising we would go to NYC by ferry all the time. Arrive near the cruise port and then walk up 39th st all the time. Once we were flaking up to cross 9th ave I saw a group of 20 something males start to fan out like to encircle us when we crossed. I took my DW's arm and started across 39th instead. There was a cop coming down 9th and stopped on the corner. As we passed the cop we nodded heads, looked back and watched as the group decided to move along to another location. We did not look like tourists, we live in the area, maybe looked like we had money. LOL. I guess being where alot of tourists might be coming from would seem to be an opportunity for them. This thread is a good reminder about being aware of your surroundings no matter where you are...in a different country or at home.

 

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...according to some this post "tells more about" you than that lovely "welcoming " committee you came upon on 9th ave..........;):D

[kevinsgirl88]

We went to orcho Rios Jamaica and it was scary we had to run into a shop because locals were grabbing us me and hubby won't get off the ship in Jamaica

 

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[UKBayern]

This isn't necessarily true. In anywhere other than some of the most remote parts of the world (and arguably even there), people other than the "indigenous" population may be living and working, even though they do not necessarily look like a native of the area.

 

Many people in my company serve abroad on one- to several-year assignments in locations in Europe and Asia. You can bet they know their way around pretty well after a few months and don't have that hesitant look of a tourist in a new setting. Thus, they don't tend to be "marks" for anyone looking.

 

This is what I strive for. Not to be taken for an Italian when in Rome. But to look as if, although not Italian, I know my way around and am confident of where I'm headed and what I'm doing.

 

I agree. Don't do things a local would not do either. Plan where you are going and keep walking. Don't stand around reading a street map on a street corner, go inside in a shop or bar instead. If you have the feeling somebody is following you, suddenly make a sharp turn, or go into a shop, or stop to look at a shop window. 99% of the time the person will back off because he knows he has been noticed, and if not, you know it's really bad news and you need to get help. If you see all the locals wearing their bags across their chest or backpacks on the chest, do that too, it is probably a "bag snatching zone". Locals don't wear fanny packs, it shouts out "helloooo I'm a tourist!", so why should you draw attention to yourself by wearing them? Like I said before, don't flash expensive equipment or wads of cash in a dirt-poor area. Don't accept offers for tea, food, tours of houses, a special item only sold in the back room, etc.

 

We have travelled the world extensively and nothing bad has ever happened to us anywhere. We have always met wonderful people everywhere. Just use your common sense. As is apparent from 6 pages of stories, you will feel yourself that something is "off", and you will often be warned or helped by honest locals to get out of certain areas. The best thing is prepare yourself. Some people obviously did not know before they went to the Middle East that vendors there are very obnoxious, often even agressive, to sell you something. And if you think they are pushy in Turkey, try Egypt or Jerusalem!

[mr green]

I have had more trouble in our local park, than I have ever had on tours, including Jamaica.

 

john

[greatam]

...according to some this post "tells more about" you than that lovely "welcoming " committee you came upon on 9th ave..........;):D

 

Not the same in the least. The OP was walking around with his expensive camera in full view and then walked down a little populated alley in a foreign country. Walking around with any expensive camera in full view in most touristy places in the world is an absolute no-no. You are just asking for trouble.

 

The New Yorker/New Jerseyite stated he had taken the ferry often. He did everything right. The biggest tell was making eye contact with the cop and then turning around in the direction of the "welcoming" committee. The cop got the point without much more than a nod and the gang got the point that they had been spotted. Situational awareness and a plan are always needed.

[grand isle joe]

Not the same in the least. The OP was walking around with his expensive camera in full view and then walked down a little populated alley in a foreign country. Walking around with any expensive camera in full view in most touristy places in the world is an absolute no-no. You are just asking for trouble.

.

 

 

 

.......so it's the person with the camera fault? Seems like the same logic some use when a woman gets attacked because "of that short dress she was asking for it". Same logic huh?:confused:

[greatam]

.......so it's the person with the camera fault? Seems like the same logic some use when a woman gets attacked because "of that short dress she was asking for it". Same logic huh?:confused:

 

Not in the least

 

Most people KNOW not to take their high dollar cameras out in the open. That is a function of being aware of your surrounding. And really has to do with WHERE you are from and what you are accustomed to, particularly if you are from a rural/non Suburban area that has a lot of trust and some just don't realize that people aren't as trustworthy as they are in the rural area. Certainly NOT the same as a woman in a short dress.