Security Level = High

As has been the case in many other Latin American countries, one thing that has become apparent to me is the very high level of security that can be found in every neighborhood, shopping center, apartment, highway, and public place in Colombia. Most places of residence are protected with broken glass or barbed wire, and security guards, policemen, and military soldiers toting huge guns are everywhere. I joined a local gym last week, and it blew my mind that I must enter a secret code and place my finger on a special device that recognizes my finger print every time that I enter (It’s just like they have to do in the top-secret laboratories of science fiction movies!). I try to make things like this make me feel safe, but they often have the opposite effect…

These members of the army stopped our bus on its route to El Peñol (described above). We were all asked to get off the bus and stand in a straight line as they searched our bodies and all of our belongings. (It was reminiscent of the motorcycle police experience described in a previous entry).

I figure it’s always a good idea to befriend the people who are here to protect you, right? =)