Bound to happen sooner or later and I of all people should know better.......

Since being here in Mde.,I have been taking daily Spanish lessons from a local English teacher. I just reversed his role to teaching me Spanish and some local idioms native to Mde. that would help me blend in and better communicate. Nice guy. Young good looking Colombiano who seemed to have some street smarts.

I have been doing fine on my own going to casas and strip joints, going to Love Motels or sessioning on site. As my visit begins to wind down, I am telling my teacher about festas in BR. and how much fun they can be. Before I know it, we are planning one for Mde. Just a few local friends I have made and myself plus about 4-5 girls. We plan it for Sunday (today) and set out to find some willing chicas.

He actually does a little advanced scouting and reports back that he has found several willing girls. We set out on Friday night to make ourselections.

We agree to meet at the gas station across from Show San Diego at 10:30 on Sat night. Now, SD is not in the best part of town but it is littered with security and policemen and generally considered safe.

We meet at the agreed upon time (and he is actually there waiting for me.....) and we set off on our quest. We hop in a taxi and head for some of the better known areas for SG's. They are everywhere. He strikes up a conversation with one he had approached on a previous night. She was ugly, fat and old! I quickly told him this was not thetype of girl I had in mind and he assured me she was not part of the line-up. We looked at several more who would pass muster and I told him we should search at Mayorista.

Although he lived in Mde., he was not really familiar with the scene at Mayorista. Felt kinda good showing a local something new in his own backyard.

We found a couple of very willing cuties but needed a couple more so we decided to head back to SD to see if any of the regulars there were interested. We go inside and he is immediately taken back by what he sees. (his first time inside).

We chat up a couple of girls and one is interested but that is all we could convince. We decide to go outside and see what is on the streets in front of and around the corner from SD. A couple of real cuties say they would be interested and could they bring their friends. Now, we are talking but I want to see them first.

They say they are around the corner. As we walk around the corner, I ask my teacher if this is a safe place to be. He assures me there is enough security and policemen around to make sure nothing happens. We meet the chicas on the next corner and they are hotties. Deal is set for Sunday and all have smiles.

We turn around to go back to the front of SD and there are 4 guys walking towards us. Fairly well dressed, early to mid 30's, drinking a beer and one is chatting with a SG. As we pass by the first two, one of them steps right in front of me and asks where I am from. I respond the US and he starts asking me questions. It seemed friendly enough until he grabbed the front of my pants at the belt buckle and pulled me closer to him. He also pats his left shoulder under his shirt sleeve and beckins me to feel it. Felt like a badge so I am thinking this guy is some kind of a cop.

I look at my teaher and ask him to tell this guy to let go of me. My teacher is telling this guy not to bother me, leave me alone and that we just want to be on our way. The guy still has ahold of my belt buckle and and I push his hand aside.

He goes for the belt buckle again and again, I sidestep his motion and brush his hand away. In the meantime, my teacher is looking at me telling me it is OK and the guy is just trying to be friendly. Doesn't seem real friendly to me. Acually has all the overtures of being very agressive but I stepped back, put my hands up and just asked him to leave me alone so we could go.

He grabs my belt buckle again but goes just a little too far, leans his right shoulder into my chest and sticks his left hand into my right pocket. The conversation between my teacher and the 4 guys is getting a little heated. He is telling them to leave me alone, that I don;t understand what is happening while all the time trying to reassure me that everything is OK.

Nope, the guy is going for my money (and I just happened to have my watch in the same pocket) so I shove his hand away from my pocket and move to get past him to run for the front of SD (about 50 feet away). He has a good grip on my belt buckle and does not let go. Between his drunkedness and my desire toget the fuck out of there, I find myself whiplashed around and when he looses his grip on my belt buckle, I am flying through the air. I land hard on my ass, brace my fall with my right hand and skin the shit out of my left elbow.

My teacher starts screaming, get up, get up...RUN! My wrist is hurting like hell as is my assbone but I managed to get to my feet and we both ran to the front of SD but not before bumping into one of the 4 guys.

I have been at SD several times in the past few weeks and the guy at the front door knows me fairly well. We are standing there talking with him, trying to get a cab and when one pulls up we go to get in it. Our path is suddenly blocked by our 4 friends. We try for another cab that pulls up right behind the first one but again our path is blocked.

My teacher yells at me to follow him and we are darting through traffic towards the gas station across the street from SD. He grabs his cell phone and begins to dial the police but before he can finish, a police mini van pulls up in front of us and he hails for them to stop.

He explains what just happened and the police sit there while we hail a cab. Th 4 guys are just staring at us in front of SD.

We get in and take off in the direction of my Apt. He keeps telling me the guy was just being curious and friendly. I told him I thought he was being very agressive and when I told him he had his hand in my pocket, my teacher changed his tune.

As the adrenelin rush began to wane, I realized my wrist hurt like hell as did my tailbone and although the scrape on my elbow was little more than a good road burn, I had blood running down my arm.

I made it home safely, took a couple of aspirin (and shoule have attended the abrasion cause I got blood all over the sheets)

Next morning when I woke up, I could barely move. My tailbone hurt like hell and was causing spasams in my lower back, my wrist was swollen and I could barely move my fingers (I hate sprained wrists). Thank god I had only had 3 beers or it could have been complicated with a hangover.

Was it an attempted robbery? Fuck if I know but the bastard went way too far when he tried to put his hand in my pocket. What was the badge like thing under his shirtsleeve? Damned if I know but it sure sent mixed signals.

Did we have our festa. Nope! I slept until 2:00PM on Sunday and missed our planned 1:00PM start.

Wrist is still sore as hell but the swelling has statred going down after long bouts with an ice bag; tail bone has a big bruise and is a little sensitive, abrasion on the elbow is nothing and not any bigger than a quarter...

Did I just escape a more potentially dangerous situation? I am a SOB if I know.

Now, after writing of this mishap, I have to tell you, I have felt safer in Mde. Co. than any day in Rio. I just need to learn to heed my own advice and stay out of dangerous parts of the city at night...no matter whom I am with!

Sorry for the shitty typing but the right hand is not working too well right now.

Tchau and just remember the warnings. Colombia can be a great place to monger, just don't put yourself in harms way in the wrong areas of town at the wrong times of night.

Sandman, Bruised and swollen but still alive to tell about it!

Damm.....what a story! But I'm glad to hear you are okay!

Priew`

(Message edited by roadglide on November 20, 2005)

Glad to hear that nothing was broken, and that you are going to be ok.

RG.

You didn't kill any of them with a rock?

Pork...be nice now buddy.....Let it die it's own death;

If I had one, I probably would have used it and the pepper spray is now in my pocket.

Sandman:
Good to know you got away with a minor injury.
Medellin has a reputation for being dangerous and unpredictable. This bizarre incident adds credibility to that reputation.

I am surprised at your teachers reaction and naive comments. He should know better.

Now that you have had more time to think and play the incident in your mind a few questions:

1) I have been to Show San Diego. If I am standing outside SD with my *back* towards the SD entrance, did this happen on the Left or Right side? The left side is fairly well lit and leads towards a traffic circle. From the entrance, if you walk to the right and make a right at the corner, the street is deserted and kind of dark.
2) Are you Caucasian i.e. do you have typical Gringo looks?
3)What and where is "Mayorista"?

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Oh no, this is not good. Glad to hear you are going to be OK. Why your teacher kept telling you "it was OK" while clearly it was not. You don't suspect your teacher was somehow involved in this?

I have already made my travel arrangements to MDE but stories like this makes me think it over again.

Phd

Sandman,

I too am glad you are ok. I guess I never made it clear to you that I never walked down that street from San Diego. I always use a taxi.

No offence to your teacher but I would never monger with a Colombiano. I guess you didn't notice I don't have ANY Colombian male friends? I don't want to make it seem like he set you up but that guy would have been picking up his teeth off the ground if I had been there with you. And that's BEFORE he touched you. I generaly (and honestly) think most Colombian males are passive but the booze gives them balls until they are put back in place.

Make alot of noise and show them no fear and they will back off. Unlikely that they had a gun because that would be the first thing they would have shown if they meant business.

Still all the same I feel more on guard in Rio than I do in Medellin.

If worse ever came to worse, you may have noticed I carry nothing on my person but some disposible cash. I could care less if someone (managed) to take everything I had in my pocket. it wouldn't be much. Certainly nothing I would risk life or limb over. "Take it, it's yours if you have a gun or a knife" is my motto. If not, "Dukes up".


Cubanut

BK-With your back to the SD entrance, looking at the Texaco Sta. across the street, it was just to the left around the corner. Well lit and on a major street. You are correct. The street to the right is very dark and scary.
As far as my teacher being in on it, the thought did cross my mind but he got sared when I got flung to the ground and we both ran. Then, he started dialing the cops and actually stopped the police van. If you are in on it, you usually don't call the police.

CN, I agree with you and after so long in Rio I tend to do the same thing. Big money, little money pocket; don't carry Credit cards (except 1 and a copy of my passport in a small credit card type wallet). That is also why I had my watch in my pocket. If they had had a gun or knife, I would have tossed everything in the air and run like hell.

Guys, do not let my moment of letting my guard down dissuade you from visiting Mde. I still feel it is much safer than Rio or even Ctg. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time of night. The preacher didn't listen to his own sermon about being cautious.

Thanks for all the well wishes. Feeling much better today. Think I'll go visit Marianna at Abydos........

BK-Sorry, I forgot to answer #2&3
2-I am caucasion but dress way down, like jeans and a dark T-shirt with shirttail out etc. I am sure I still stick out but at least I don't look like a tourist.
3-Mayorista is a section of town that is about 3 blocks long. Wall to wall bars and ST hotels and packed with SG's that are cheap ($20-40K). You can go upstairs to do the deed and leave, hang around for a second or third romp (like CN..bastard is insatiable) and occasionally get them to go back to your room with you (for the right amnount of money). The place is crawling with police to break up the occasional fight but they never seem to bother with the transactions that are taking place. Fun experience. Real mix of chicas. All ages, sizes and looks. Some real gems can be culled here. Look at CN's last two girls in his last report. Saw them both there and one was going to be in our festa....the one that never happened!

Bummer Sandman. Sorry to hear about the hubbub. I have been planning to make a trip down there. I am relieved that this incident is rare rather than common.

Hope eveything heals okay and does not dampen the remainder of your trip!

Val

Sandman, glad to hear you are OK, most of my Colombian friends think it is dangerouse (mugging wise) around that area at night and I would tend to agree, makes sense really, where there are hookers there are thiefs, I think it more likely in this case that the guys were not proffesional thiefs, but had run out of money and tried it on, under the influence of the alcohol.

If anybody wants to go there, I would just go in a taxi and only step out of the taxi to get a closer look at the girls, if there were any guys by or close to the girls, I wouldn't get out of the taxi, but call them over. I haven't been to that area at night for 3 years, but I know the area hasn't changed at all.

Hunter

One of thosed SG's was pissed that she did not get the invite to your festa and sounds like her 4 cousins were also pissed they did not get the invite either...

Since they were well dressed, maybe they were kinda "running the action" on that street or in that area? Maybe they did not take to kindly that they were not getting paid as well...

Just a little something for all of the other hombres to think about in a situation like this. Sandman was in a tough spot because of the watch. I probably would have fought for my watch (I don't wear one in SA). However, for me, if it is just money, they can have it. Even if you can kick some serious ass, there is no $100 bill worth getting nicked in a fight (like a sprained wrist, broken hand, black eye, busted lip, broken nose, your favorite shirt ruined - you get the point). Your chances of walking away from a street fight 100% unscathed are pretty slim. Worse, it is well documented here that you don't want to play the "He started it" game with the cops in a 3rd world country. Just my two cents for all those with cigars & rocks (just bustin' your chops Jag) and registered fists that only give way to guns & knives...

Actually, it is a good 3.5 cents and very sage advice. I had put my watch in my pocket for protection. It wasn´t so much the watch or the money but the way the guy was trying to manhandle me. I just wanted to get away.

I am a lover, not a fighter and avoid confrontation at all costs. I lost too many fights as a youngster and won my fare share as well. As you mention CB-you rarely walk away unscathed.......

Sandman,

Hey good buddy, what the fuck is going on here? Is November the "Disaster Trip Report Month" or what?

Shit, first I read your report, then Hombre's (he should really do something about that asshole Reporter "B") and next Rambo's Aruban disaster. Maybe I should just stay home between the holidays and not tempt fate. All three of you make me look like a piker in comparison.

I'm glad to hear that nothing too serious happened to you and you were able to get away without any lasting injury. BTW, where do you want me to send my Christmas gift to you? It will get right through Customs because it's a box of rocks and a couple of cigars.

Be careful and be safe, my friend,

Jag

Sandman, glad to hear your OK. Remember Help Disco when the cute garota sweetly held your hand, embracing you, and magically an hour later your money was gone. Sandman your one of the safest,experienced guys out there, and when that happened to you it taught me a valuable lesson. Even the pro's can get into trouble if you loose your focus. When your in another country treat it with the utmost respect, and if your going to party like a rock star,or journey to a questionable area go in numbers.

Now that being said, if this is a ploy to keep the beautiful women of Columbia to yourself, sorry ,I'm still coming to Medellin!!!!!!

Take care, and get better

W5

ps; you know,your injuries provide a great opportunity for sympathy sex!!

Sandman, I alway's do my trolling from the front passenger seat of my taxi.

You were lucky to escape with just some bruises and scratches. And no Colombiano amigo would grab your belt buckle, unless it was for an S & M session with a chica, at her discression and behind closed doors.

Take care, sf4dfish

Wow Sandman, I'm just glad you got through this unfortunate incident without big injuries. Always necessary to be reminded about being very vigilent about your surrounding anywhere you go.

Sandman -

Get well soon. What doesn't kill you makes you wiser. Err...you'll likely never do that again real soon.

I hope while you are in Colombia you are telling the chicas to migrate across the Darien to go work in Panama. Okay, you might pay a little more, but you can still session with the Colombina and you are less likely to get thumped like you did.

Glad you got out a bit "bruised" but okay.

I still want to go to Colombia one day...but then, only with a bunch of snake eating trip buddies.

AJ

> Fairly well dressed, early to mid 30's

SM: seems to me this is what fouled up your radar. In Brazil if I saw these guys on the street I’d figure they were middle-class punters who were out looking for the same thing I was and, if anything, would probably team up with them in pursuit of gatas, and I suspect this is how you sized them up as well. As you well know, in Rio we look for the grubby youngsters in shorts, flip-flops, team shirt, etc.

Thanks for well wishes. Acually doing much better. Swelling in hand and wrist is way down, tail bone is to the point I can stand to sit, now, if I could just stay out of missionary position and quit ripping open the road burn on my elbow........he he (three times already)...

No more sympathy for me eh???

Sandman

Sandman: Glad you are OK, mi amigo. Thanks for telling this story, since we all need to be reminded how dangerous our hobby is. Let's face it guys, normal men do not go running around in third world countries in cities like Medellin, on darkened street corners at night...and never have a problem. I am amazed that there are not MORE stories like this. After three trips to Medellin in the last six months including a number of walks right down that street and corner, I am surprised nothing has ever happened to me. I remember you telling me how you have been robbed three times in Rio, so Sandman knows how dangerous this hobby can be.

Since there were four of them, and two of you, not smart to fight your way out. I suggest the following, which I always follow. This is not the only reason why I have never been robbed or molested, dumb luck is probably the biggest reason.

1) Unless I am in a club that is safe and plan to go home in a cab, I never drink. I mean that, not one drink. Sandman said he had three beers and the other dude was drunk. Trust me on this, having your wits about you is the biggest weapon you have. You are more alert, more in control, and more assured of yourself when you are stone cold sober. But it is not just for safety that I refuse to drink. I also want to remember the chicas I fuck...every last moan, twist, and turn...so I drink bottled water. Just me, I guess.

2) I walk with no fear and act like I own the place.

3) I keep close to the cops. When possible. Not always possible, but when it is, keep them in sight. If there is trouble, they come in a heartbeat.

4) I never stand in one place very long. Gives them a chance to size me up from around the corner and get up the courage to make a go of it.

5) Stay away from the Colombianos. Distrust all of them.

One of these days I will write my latest trip report and tell how I ended up spending the night in a chicas house with 8 chicas in Guanazal, up the side of the mountain in Medellin under the Metro Cable cars. The Military guarded me there all night, and refused to let me go home for fear of my safety. One thing the Military guys told me that I really appreciated. They do NOT want any gringos hurt in Colombia. They do NOT want any bad press there with Americans. The relationship between the U-S gov and Colombia is very important, and it is crucial that they keep gringos safe there. If we start getting wacked, it looks really bad for their image in Washington.

That is why the military showed up at this chicas house to ask why I was there...to make sure I was going to stay there all night...and to send an MP to guard me all night. One of these days I will get around to writing the report and tell you what the hell I was doing there in the first place.

radio

I'd like to hear the rest of that story!

Sandman, I too am glad you are okay. I should have taught you some aikido moves when you filled me in on Panama, :-). Hard to see it as you are tall and strong figured that they picked you out. I walked around there twice and always backtracked quickly, heeding CN's advice.
The cops didn't do anything? How about the doorman? The thugs hung around and or came after you?

Wow Sandman!!! Glad you're ok. Hadn't heard from ya lately, wondered how you were doin. Have ya polished off the JW Red yet?? How much longer in MDE?? When's that Pattya trip set for??
Careful next time. I was in that area too late at night and wondering around. Blonde and as Gringo as can be. Just timing I guess. But the guys are right, late at night in that city is really anybody's guess. Safe travels friend. RW

Jesus Christ, A told me about this, but I didnt realize it was that bad. Her feeling was the teacher set you up, but I dont get that from your telling of the story.

I would walk there during the day, but 5pm is my cutoff time - after that I take taxis everywhere - too many drunk, coked-up guys walking around.

Sorry I missed you this trip - had some biz to take care of and didnt come up for air for 3 days.

sorry I missed you to. Hope it was a good visit.

Everythings better cept the wrist still hurts like hell. May have a little hairline fracture or something. Oh well, just part of the life!

Sandy,

Glad to hear that you are alright. Sit on a bag of ice and have two girls go down on you twice a day; Dr's orders!

rest up, get well, and I'll see you in a few weeks.

Also, you didn't miss much in Rio, but you sure did miss it; he he!

Smirker