Good "dangerous" (but not really) cities?

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09-Feb-2009, 11:50 PM
spongebue

So, I've been thinking about different places I'd like to see in the world, hopefully by non-reving when/if I get back on with NW, but any time I have a ton of money to spend on travel (ok, this may not occur beyond my dreams, but bear with me http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...R#>/tongue.gif ).

Specifically, I'd really like to see some of the cities/countries that are misunderstood more than anything else. For example, the vast majority of Americans would cringe at the idea of going to Tehran, Iran. After hearing about the Rick Steve's Iran on NPR, I'd really like to see that place for myself. Granted, that one is quite a stretch, but what else can you folks think of? Places that are thought to be dangerous, but really not all that bad. Another example is just about anywhere in South America. I don't think that Bogota is quite ready for tourism, but I'd LOVE to see Montevideo, Uruguay. Beautiful city, and my old Spanish teacher (I speak proficient Spanish, which helps) had no qualms about someone like me going.

Any thoughts?

Oh, and Havana, Cuba would be AWESOME... if only I were Canadian http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e..._DIR#>/sad.gif
10-Feb-2009, 01:13 AM
Nick

I thought STL was dangerous before I went there... so I won't be much help here http://www.nonrev.net/forums/style_e...DIR#>/cool.gif

Why don't you just nonrev to Mexico or South America and buy a ticket to Cuba... they will never know
10-Feb-2009, 05:44 AM
vulindlela

One of my favorite cities is Beirut.
You should check that place out. We did not have any problems there and I would love to go back!
10-Feb-2009, 07:41 PM
spongebue

Well, would you look at that...

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/cub...0,4639522.story
31-Mar-2009, 04:02 PM
italgreco

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vulindlela @ Feb 10 2009, 11:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

One of my favorite cities is Beirut.
You should check that place out. We did not have any problems there and I would love to go back![/b]

I certainly second that and third that !!
In addition I would add Syria. Syrians are so misunderstood because of the media. They are actually very hospitable and really enjoy
meeting foreigners, very friendly.

On a 3rd note, Libya. My only qualm is that it's ' dry '. But that small inconvenience is fast outpaced by the Leptis Magna .... wow, wow and wow !
I found it relatively friendly, but tourism is again, in it's infancy again. A lot of foreign workers there now, so they don't feel a isolated as they previously did.

I went to Lima in November and did not find it intimidating. I was lead to believe in something quite different ..... any big city needs some common sense I think.

My next ' adventure ' country will be Ethiopia ....
02-Apr-2009, 11:26 AM
zedman

There is no problem in Montevideo. I have heard good things about Ethiopia and Iran from airline employees who came back from theses countries (they are in my list).
From my experience I always found out that the medias exaggerate the situation, the reality is always different.
Traveling needs some common sense that's all.
02-Apr-2009, 06:40 PM
29palms

Nicaragua left a bad taste for alot of Americans during the Sandanista regime of the 1980's, They were virtually communist. Ask most Americans about visiting Nicaragua, they tend to look back in those years. I have never seen beggars in Nicaragua in comparison to alot of countries, including the United States. They have a certain code of survival down there that includes DIGNITY and HARD WORK. Most people down there seem to be honest and warm hearted. They have had a turbulent history with nature such as floodings, volcanos eruptions and earthquakes. Politically, they have had civil unrest and exploitation. The Marines spend a large part of the early 1900's meddling in its affairs down there. A true Banana Republic. Now that ORTEGA is back in power but its supposedly a different "SANDANISTA" regime as before. You make the judgement.
03-Apr-2009, 01:54 PM
vulindlela

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ItalGreco @ Mar 31 2009, 04:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Quote:

I certainly second that and third that !!
In addition I would add Syria. Syrians are so misunderstood because of the media. They are actually very hospitable and really enjoy
meeting foreigners, very friendly.

On a 3rd note, Libya. My only qualm is that it's ' dry '. But that small inconvenience is fast outpaced by the Leptis Magna .... wow, wow and wow !
I found it relatively friendly, but tourism is again, in it's infancy again. A lot of foreign workers there now, so they don't feel a isolated as they previously did.

I went to Lima in November and did not find it intimidating. I was lead to believe in something quite different ..... any big city needs some common sense I think.

My next ' adventure ' country will be Ethiopia ....[/b]

Thanks!
I do hope to visit Libya and Syria. We had planned on a day trip to Damascus while we were in Lebanon but ran out of time.