Landsdowne and Bloor?? I was just at the subway station there my last visit and thought the area looked great! Of course, I was born and raised in Detroit my first 36 years of my life....Berlin said:
I guess it's all relative!
worst areas
- Thread starter wty
- Start date
I guess it's all relative!
I spend a fair amount of time in Central America. A few turns ago I was in Nicaragua. Someone told me about a place called Bluefields it has one of the largest fresh water lagoons in the world. Thought WTF might as well see it. One day before I arrived a group of Colombians had paid a visit. Apparently the local police in Bluefields had captured some of their friends exporting Columbia's best product..
The local cops cut a deal with the Colombians. Unfortunately the cops did not keep their end of the bargain. That's why the group of other Colombians were visiting Bluefieds.They tied up the 6 local police. Then butchered them. They freed their friends and then they all disappeared.
This part of Nicaragua is like going back in time 100 years. Dug outs are the norm of travel. Roads are scarce or non existent. Policing is not considered a long term career. Funny thing, but in that area of Nicaragua the main language is English followed by patois, then Spanish. The area is populated by Meskite Indians. These are the lads who took on the Sandanistas back a few years. Real sweet people but don't screw with them.
The local cops cut a deal with the Colombians. Unfortunately the cops did not keep their end of the bargain. That's why the group of other Colombians were visiting Bluefieds.They tied up the 6 local police. Then butchered them. They freed their friends and then they all disappeared.
This part of Nicaragua is like going back in time 100 years. Dug outs are the norm of travel. Roads are scarce or non existent. Policing is not considered a long term career. Funny thing, but in that area of Nicaragua the main language is English followed by patois, then Spanish. The area is populated by Meskite Indians. These are the lads who took on the Sandanistas back a few years. Real sweet people but don't screw with them.
Anywhere in my house, now that the wife is in menopause...makes me long for the good old days of PMS...or post partum depression....
*Nods in agreement with Strange1* I live in Dufferin/King area and it's okay, more crazy ppl then anything and for the most part they are harmless. I think at the end of the day, where in the CITY of Toronto do you not see such things???
I went there before, it's not pretty afterdark, in a town of 7000 I saw at least 50 - 80 KIDS UNDER 10 working the streets. It really broke my heart ....great bear said:
Then I flew to "Corn Island", if you thought Bluefields was bad, Corn Island was much much worse. I have never in my life been scared for myself that much. I was closely watched by most ppl being a single female there by myself.... I forgot to buy water and when I turned on the water to shower it smelled like sewage and was a dark brown color... *shudders*
I've also been to Colombia, scary place to be when you are a foreigner...
OKEY DOKEY top 10 places and I've listened to some of you and I'm simply amused because I've traveled quite a bit:
1) Colombia (civil war/narcowar and if you're white you WILL get kidnapped for ransom)
2) Rio de Janeiro (favela's or the Barrio)
3) Lagos Nigeria Payoffs and Bribes will make you king
4) Spanish Town Jamaica
5) Parts of Amsterdam the Netherlands
6) Gary Indiana
7) Compton and S. L.A.
8) Moscow Russia
9) South London England
10) Johannesburg S.A.
Thats my top 10 and I dare any traveller to tell me any different
1) Colombia (civil war/narcowar and if you're white you WILL get kidnapped for ransom)
2) Rio de Janeiro (favela's or the Barrio)
3) Lagos Nigeria Payoffs and Bribes will make you king
4) Spanish Town Jamaica
5) Parts of Amsterdam the Netherlands
6) Gary Indiana
7) Compton and S. L.A.
8) Moscow Russia
9) South London England
10) Johannesburg S.A.
Thats my top 10 and I dare any traveller to tell me any different
There really is no where in Canada that is bad.
In Toronto, there are lots of places that the media makes out as bad, there are lots of places that have poor people but you really have to be an idiot or go out of your way to get into trouble.
I think the most dangerous non-war place is either Columbia or Jamaica (esp during elections).
In Toronto, there are lots of places that the media makes out as bad, there are lots of places that have poor people but you really have to be an idiot or go out of your way to get into trouble.
I think the most dangerous non-war place is either Columbia or Jamaica (esp during elections).
Quote:Escohort
5) Parts of Amsterdam the Netherlands
Amsterdam? I don't about you, but when I was in Amsterdam back in 2002, I didn't feel any harm, or was I was I fearful at anytime. And I also got lost in the East Section of Amsterdam (Zuid) and they said this was the most dangerous section? Ha!
You want to see dangerous? Go to Camden NJ, recently named the worst city in the US.
5) Parts of Amsterdam the Netherlands
Amsterdam? I don't about you, but when I was in Amsterdam back in 2002, I didn't feel any harm, or was I was I fearful at anytime. And I also got lost in the East Section of Amsterdam (Zuid) and they said this was the most dangerous section? Ha!
You want to see dangerous? Go to Camden NJ, recently named the worst city in the US.
Scary places
I've never been scared anywhere in Canada, (one of the many things I love about Montreal is how, no matter what the weather or time of day, you can go downtown and there's always people on the streets, you never feel isolated or vulnerable). I've made several trips to the Detroit area and never been scared - hell, I even got lost in downtown Detroit right about midnight and asked that proverbial big black guy for directions on a deserted street, and wasn't scared. Wandered around in downtown Baltimore on my own and wasn't scared, there, that big black guy just asked me if I was all right and told me to look after myself, (he did!)
But the one place that creeped me out was St. Louis. The friend I was there with has lived all over the world - London, Paris, Manhattan, LA - and the only place he practically tripped over a murder was in St. Louis.
I've never been scared anywhere in Canada, (one of the many things I love about Montreal is how, no matter what the weather or time of day, you can go downtown and there's always people on the streets, you never feel isolated or vulnerable). I've made several trips to the Detroit area and never been scared - hell, I even got lost in downtown Detroit right about midnight and asked that proverbial big black guy for directions on a deserted street, and wasn't scared. Wandered around in downtown Baltimore on my own and wasn't scared, there, that big black guy just asked me if I was all right and told me to look after myself, (he did!)
But the one place that creeped me out was St. Louis. The friend I was there with has lived all over the world - London, Paris, Manhattan, LA - and the only place he practically tripped over a murder was in St. Louis.
Vancouver, Hastings street. A few years back in 1998, a friend and I were set to do the West Coast trail.
I had the trip all planned out except for the first night after landing in Vancouver. So at the airport I saw a pamplet for the "backpackers hostel" in downtown Vancouver.
Well I'm used to Toronto, but was not prepared for what I saw when we arrived. I was talking to someone on the city bus from the airport and mentioned where we were headed. I first got the idea that it was not a desireable place when the individual gave me a look of fear and questioned why we were headed in that direction.
WHen we got there, I quickly realized this was not Toronto, there is a major Heroin problem in that City and we were smack dab in the middle of it. THe hostel was more like a flop house for bums and junkies and not for innocent backpackers. THe lady at the desk warned us not to go out. My friend did and he stated in just going to the corner store he witnessed several fights and harrassment. The funny thing in the daytime the place came to life with all the shops opening and was no where near as scary. The major reminder was at the corner park, there was a box filled with used needles.
I had the trip all planned out except for the first night after landing in Vancouver. So at the airport I saw a pamplet for the "backpackers hostel" in downtown Vancouver.
Well I'm used to Toronto, but was not prepared for what I saw when we arrived. I was talking to someone on the city bus from the airport and mentioned where we were headed. I first got the idea that it was not a desireable place when the individual gave me a look of fear and questioned why we were headed in that direction.
WHen we got there, I quickly realized this was not Toronto, there is a major Heroin problem in that City and we were smack dab in the middle of it. THe hostel was more like a flop house for bums and junkies and not for innocent backpackers. THe lady at the desk warned us not to go out. My friend did and he stated in just going to the corner store he witnessed several fights and harrassment. The funny thing in the daytime the place came to life with all the shops opening and was no where near as scary. The major reminder was at the corner park, there was a box filled with used needles.
Actually, you are lucky another member of HA did not approach you while you were wearing the jacket ... it's an automatic meeting with the 7th !Winston said:
VBB
I guess if we conflate worst areas with scarey or unsafe, I can equal or top you, altho it's a moot contest.Escohort said:
1. Certain unnamed Palestinian refugee camp.
2. Road from Victoria Falls to Lusaka. Host: "We cannot be on this road after dusk. Dead-man-on-the-road ploy, the crash or the robbers will finish us off".
3. Tourist lookouts in Kenya. Host with pistol stood 20' feet away: Massai pop up and break your skull with their knobby sticks.
4. Small regional airports in southern Africa. Never know how power drunk, insane or corrupt the officials are and always with the guns.
5. Damascus airport, realizing argument is over whether to load at-the-plane-passenger-unidentified luggage and seeing it being loaded.
6. Moroccan cities. Never been offered so much kif. Dude yelled across the street.
7. Baltimore.
8. Monroevia Liberia.
9. Greek ferry boats, capacity of ~300, pack them on like Tokyo subway cars.
10. I repeat, Vancouver East Hastings and Blood Alley are a national and human disgrace.
