Comments on: Cocaine Bars: A Latin American Adventure or Playing with Fire? http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:38:49 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Christine Garvin http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-94013 Christine Garvin Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:53:52 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4810#comment-94013 And I recently saw a documentary where, after all the hard work these desperately poor people put into making coke (with the gas and sulfuric acid hardly being good for their health, either), they usually barely make any money, and often loose money because the materials to make it are so expensive, and the middleman screws them (of course). And I recently saw a documentary where, after all the hard work these desperately poor people put into making coke (with the gas and sulfuric acid hardly being good for their health, either), they usually barely make any money, and often loose money because the materials to make it are so expensive, and the middleman screws them (of course).

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]]> By: Hal http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-93873 Hal Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:50:55 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4810#comment-93873 My buddy spent a month working in the prison system in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and he encountered quite a few gringos doing 30-year sentences on possession/smuggling charges. I can think of many, many other places I'd rather spend 30 years than a Bolivian jail. Also, the local stuff is supposedly made by people hopping around barefoot in a vat of coca leaves, gasoline, sulfuric acid, and water. No thanks. My buddy spent a month working in the prison system in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and he encountered quite a few gringos doing 30-year sentences on possession/smuggling charges. I can think of many, many other places I’d rather spend 30 years than a Bolivian jail.

Also, the local stuff is supposedly made by people hopping around barefoot in a vat of coca leaves, gasoline, sulfuric acid, and water. No thanks.

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]]> By: David http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-93832 David Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:04:29 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4810#comment-93832 To be frank, I had to deal with all of this crap when I drove, yes drove from houston to Panajachel and further back in 07. Drug tourism is mostly annoying to the traveler seeking peace and quiet and surf. If there is a demand then the supply will arrive and they dont know that your just looking for beer or a good bar. After being stabbed in tapachula on the border with Guatemala, the non stop drug offers in Panajachel became annoying and a little unnerving. Crack, meth, coke, weed, heroine.... . We wanted to take the ferry across the lake to San Pedro but we heard it was only worse there. Like another comment on here, these things do nothing but fuel violence in these countries. The drug violence in Latin America is DIRECTLY related to Americas hunger for drugs. After spending much time in Mexico its sad seeing the spread of meth and crack to a people once too proud to abuse anything other than a cerveza. Open pharmacies where you guy buy anything you may be needing are now being abused by people and drug tourists and its just sad. Honestly pretty sad that wherever you find a congregation of traveling first worlders, you find drugs, prostitution(often underage) and all kinds of craziness. Our sad pathetic working lives in the industrialized and modernized 1st world have led us to seek other escapes and fun. It used to be traveling and learning new cultures... Just because you have a backpack on your back doesnt make you any better than the first class guy who stays at exclusive villas and takes advantage of people when your doing the exact same thing, contributing to the problems of the people and country. To be frank, I had to deal with all of this crap when I drove, yes drove from houston to Panajachel and further back in 07. Drug tourism is mostly annoying to the traveler seeking peace and quiet and surf. If there is a demand then the supply will arrive and they dont know that your just looking for beer or a good bar.

After being stabbed in tapachula on the border with Guatemala, the non stop drug offers in Panajachel became annoying and a little unnerving. Crack, meth, coke, weed, heroine…. . We wanted to take the ferry across the lake to San Pedro but we heard it was only worse there. Like another comment on here, these things do nothing but fuel violence in these countries. The drug violence in Latin America is DIRECTLY related to Americas hunger for drugs. After spending much time in Mexico its sad seeing the spread of meth and crack to a people once too proud to abuse anything other than a cerveza. Open pharmacies where you guy buy anything you may be needing are now being abused by people and drug tourists and its just sad.

Honestly pretty sad that wherever you find a congregation of traveling first worlders, you find drugs, prostitution(often underage) and all kinds of craziness. Our sad pathetic working lives in the industrialized and modernized 1st world have led us to seek other escapes and fun. It used to be traveling and learning new cultures… Just because you have a backpack on your back doesnt make you any better than the first class guy who stays at exclusive villas and takes advantage of people when your doing the exact same thing, contributing to the problems of the people and country.

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]]> By: Ryan http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-93819 Ryan Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:28:06 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4810#comment-93819 I can agree with Joshy on the bit about Laos. The city of Vang Vieng is a great example of drug tourism gone awry. In the past, people could (seeminly) enjoy a magic milkshake or a nice spliff with no hassle. Now, locals seem to have grown weary of the high number of hazy travelers who come for the sole purpose of getting high and watching re-runs of Friends. Restaraunt and guesthouse owners will now willingly turn you in to the corrupt authorities and they will slap a fine on you that will certainly do more than kill you buzz. While I can't say I've never partaken in a bit of indulgance on the road, I must say that the so-called 'drug tourism' is a plague on whichever place it occurs. It's also, like others have already said, quite risky. We grew up being tought not to take candy from straners, so how is this different? I can see how doing a bit of coke in Colombia would be nostalgic in some way but really, travel for the culture and experience--if you choose to indulge, break the law in your own country. These types of places only fuel the war on drugs and corruption linked to it. Don't give the authorities another reason to bust you. Be a responsible user! I can agree with Joshy on the bit about Laos. The city of Vang Vieng is a great example of drug tourism gone awry. In the past, people could (seeminly) enjoy a magic milkshake or a nice spliff with no hassle. Now, locals seem to have grown weary of the high number of hazy travelers who come for the sole purpose of getting high and watching re-runs of Friends. Restaraunt and guesthouse owners will now willingly turn you in to the corrupt authorities and they will slap a fine on you that will certainly do more than kill you buzz.

While I can’t say I’ve never partaken in a bit of indulgance on the road, I must say that the so-called ‘drug tourism’ is a plague on whichever place it occurs. It’s also, like others have already said, quite risky. We grew up being tought not to take candy from straners, so how is this different?

I can see how doing a bit of coke in Colombia would be nostalgic in some way but really, travel for the culture and experience–if you choose to indulge, break the law in your own country. These types of places only fuel the war on drugs and corruption linked to it. Don’t give the authorities another reason to bust you. Be a responsible user!

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]]> By: Adam http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-93752 Adam Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:25:48 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4810#comment-93752 All cartel issues aside, I just can't see cocaine being a good idea, no matter where you do it. It'll get you, one way or another, whether the cops get their hands on you first or you manage to get away from them long enough for the monkey to get on your back. All cartel issues aside, I just can’t see cocaine being a good idea, no matter where you do it. It’ll get you, one way or another, whether the cops get their hands on you first or you manage to get away from them long enough for the monkey to get on your back.

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]]> By: joshywashington http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-93751 joshywashington Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:58:15 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4810#comment-93751 This reminds me of backpackers and Opium in Northern Laos... you sit in a cafe and alongside the menu for food are selections for opium, mushrooms, weed and the like...if you sit the bars and partake, generally you are cool. But if you wander out with your purchase you stand a good chance of being shaken down in a similar manner as Ross describes. Plus, if you are impaired you can be seen as an easy target to get robbed... I had two machine guns pulled on me late one night in Laos because the men suspected I was smoking pot...and they wanted whatever money they could get their hands on. I wasn't smoking herb and I walked past them (shitting myself) as if I didn't notice their big gleaming weapons. I'm with Ross, I would not pony out to a sloppy rail of coke in Bolivia..too risky! This reminds me of backpackers and Opium in Northern Laos… you sit in a cafe and alongside the menu for food are selections for opium, mushrooms, weed and the like…if you sit the bars and partake, generally you are cool. But if you wander out with your purchase you stand a good chance of being shaken down in a similar manner as Ross describes.

Plus, if you are impaired you can be seen as an easy target to get robbed…
I had two machine guns pulled on me late one night in Laos because the men suspected I was smoking pot…and they wanted whatever money they could get their hands on. I wasn’t smoking herb and I walked past them (shitting myself) as if I didn’t notice their big gleaming weapons.

I’m with Ross, I would not pony out to a sloppy rail of coke in Bolivia..too risky!

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]]> By: louise http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-93735 louise Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:12:32 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4810#comment-93735 the idea of a bar where it's a pretty open secret that coke is sold and done isn't really limited to latin/south america, you know. the thing white yankees should be raving about when they do these sort of "expose" articles is the low, low price tag, not the idea that there are establishments you go to where illegal drugs are used and sold--like half the dive bars in manhattan and brooklyn if you know where to go. dumb tourists manage to "blow up" spots where legal activities occur all the time, so i'm not surprised they're doing it with illegal ones, too. the idea of a bar where it’s a pretty open secret that coke is sold and done isn’t really limited to latin/south america, you know. the thing white yankees should be raving about when they do these sort of “expose” articles is the low, low price tag, not the idea that there are establishments you go to where illegal drugs are used and sold–like half the dive bars in manhattan and brooklyn if you know where to go. dumb tourists manage to “blow up” spots where legal activities occur all the time, so i’m not surprised they’re doing it with illegal ones, too.

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]]> By: Natalia http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-93729 Natalia Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:58:34 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4810#comment-93729 As a traveller and a Colombian (Who has never use cocaine), it is really disappointing to see all this “open minded tourist” arriving to South America, not to enjoy the wheatear, the culture or the landscapes, but just with the banal purpose of getting high. The “gringo” and European beloved cocaine has been the reason for horrendous acts in my country and in some others in S.A. Thousands of people have died and keep dying for this drug. I find it quite hard to understand how “educated” people from “developed” countries can keep supporting such thing. I consider myself as a reasonable and tolerant person, except it this matter. Colombians not only have to live with the stereotype of Drug trafficking no matter where we go (Endless wasted time in airports, embarrassing inspections, tedious Visa’s processes, etc), but also with the label of consumers. And this kind of tourism doesn’t help much. One really important thing people (drug users) have to start realizing is that “developing” countries export the BEST products to other countries, what we have left (most of the time) is not the best quality. Best Colombian cocaine is not easy to find inside Colombia (or Bolivia, or any of our countries), what you most likely will get is a not so pure powder. We are poor but not stupid! Why should we leave best quality products inside the country if we can charge double or triple if we send them somewhere else? Unfortunately we have a corrupt system, play with fire and you’ll get burned. As a traveller and a Colombian (Who has never use cocaine), it is really disappointing to see all this “open minded tourist” arriving to South America, not to enjoy the wheatear, the culture or the landscapes, but just with the banal purpose of getting high.

The “gringo” and European beloved cocaine has been the reason for horrendous acts in my country and in some others in S.A. Thousands of people have died and keep dying for this drug. I find it quite hard to understand how “educated” people from “developed” countries can keep supporting such thing. I consider myself as a reasonable and tolerant person, except it this matter.

Colombians not only have to live with the stereotype of Drug trafficking no matter where we go (Endless wasted time in airports, embarrassing inspections, tedious Visa’s processes, etc), but also with the label of consumers. And this kind of tourism doesn’t help much.

One really important thing people (drug users) have to start realizing is that “developing” countries export the BEST products to other countries, what we have left (most of the time) is not the best quality. Best Colombian cocaine is not easy to find inside Colombia (or Bolivia, or any of our countries), what you most likely will get is a not so pure powder. We are poor but not stupid! Why should we leave best quality products inside the country if we can charge double or triple if we send them somewhere else?

Unfortunately we have a corrupt system, play with fire and you’ll get burned.

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]]> By: eileen http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-93723 eileen Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:53:04 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4810#comment-93723 we heard about and saw pictures of similar stuff from Colombia as early as the early '90s, which is also the same time we saw the guy with the replacement passport picture that clearly showed ropeburn around his neck. Traveler beware, and friends of traveler be more aware. It's one thing to get yourself in trouble, and a whole nother kettle of fish to implicate a friend. What ever happened to ayuhausca and san pedro? we heard about and saw pictures of similar stuff from Colombia as early as the early ’90s, which is also the same time we saw the guy with the replacement passport picture that clearly showed ropeburn around his neck. Traveler beware, and friends of traveler be more aware. It’s one thing to get yourself in trouble, and a whole nother kettle of fish to implicate a friend. What ever happened to ayuhausca and san pedro?

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]]> By: Eva http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2009/08/20/cocaine-bars-a-latin-american-adventure-or-playing-with-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-93722 Eva Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:54:54 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=4810#comment-93722 Another point worth considering, apart from safety/legal issues: For anyone who thinks of themselves as a responsible consumer, are the cartels the sort of business operation you want your money supporting? Another point worth considering, apart from safety/legal issues: For anyone who thinks of themselves as a responsible consumer, are the cartels the sort of business operation you want your money supporting?

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