Fed Up With Your Country? Where Is Left to Go?

[Xavier X]

I lived in Brazil nearly all of last year. Most of that time was spent in Zona Sul, in Rio. And the tail end in Sao Paulo. I would say Rio is not for everyone. It's definitely in my top 3 favorite places, but safety is a concern that kind of looms. So people who are very sensitive to that might not feel at ease for longer term stay.

Personally, I don't stress too much about these things. I'm not reckless or flashy, but I have a high tolerance for grimy places. So I've spent so much time walking around the worst neighborhoods in the world, from LatAm to the US to Africa, at 2 - 3 am. I don't do drugs or anything, I just like to see what happens.

In Brazil, I never experienced or witnessed any form of crime. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen often. Staying in the nicer part of town doesn't remove the risks of crime, but it certainly reduces it significantly. In Zona Sul (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon), there is heavy police presence 24/7, and the safety benefits are evident.

One issue with big cities in Brazil is homelessness. There are a ton of homeless people with mental issues in Rio and Sao Paulo. They don't seem to bother anyone, but they will certainly unnerve the average Westerner.

 

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[SteveO]

See, this is not normal where I live. I or my girlfriend sometimes even forget to take a mobile phone from the car and it's somewhere in plain view. I don't think I've heard even once of someone smashing someone's car window to steal something here. I don't think I've ever seen a junkie anywhere in Poland, or actually, I don't even remember seeing any junkies anywhere in Europe (in the US, yes, tons of them).

I assume this is probably way more common in the Americas due to the easier access to hard drugs and higher prevalence. But here? Not really. And I've visited over 30 countries, both in Europe and elsewhere, so I think I have some comparison.

I guess this may also depend on the city. I don't live in a big city and to be honest, hate them and feel less comfortable there. I'm pretty sure that the safety issues are always much more pronounced in the bigger cities, regardless of the country.

I agree, much more prevalent in the big cities. Not all of them though. Some it is simply pockets within the big city.

I spent a few years in Prescott AZ and I currently live in Yuma. I don't even always lock my door and certainly don't worry too much. Don't see a lot of crime in the area that I live in. It is a mix of nice homes and not so nice.

We have a lot of seasonal people here that just come for the winters. Their homes get vandalized more often but it does not seem extreme.

There were places in Houston, San Diego, and Phoenix that I did not even like to drive through. Houston literally scared me in spots.

 

[SteveO]

Some countries have systemic issues with crime and safety. I'd say both Brazil and Mexico have it though definitely not on the same level like El Salvador, Jamaica, or Honduras. Then there are countries that have mostly localized issues, for example Chile which overall is deemed a safe country.

I was out for a run in a city in St Lucia a number of years ago. Some random person yelled loudly "What the hell are you doing out here man. It is not safe for you!"

 

[MattR82]

I feel like people often lose sight of context when talking about safety/crime by looking at a country's aggregate numbers. I understand why though. It's easier to just look at a couple of individual numbers for a county and mentally rank it into "safe" or "unsafe" buckets. Countries are big though (even relatively small ones), and crime is not evenly distributed. In any given country, there are places that are literally orders of magnitude more or less safe than others, and sometimes those places might just be a street or two from each other. The same goes for certain behaviors/activities that you may be doing there. There are places that are pretty safe for normal people but MUCH less safe for people engaged in criminal activity. There are places that are pretty safe for locals but not tourists, and vice versa.

I lived for a while in one of the safest countries/cities in the world, working in one of the safest professions imaginable, and within a block of where I worked, there were random street violence/stabbings, daylight robberies with ak47s, along with multiple murders literally next door. That block or two probably made up a significant percentage of crime in the entire country, little consolation to the victims though. Having said that, I never felt unsafe or at risk there either. Crime is hyper-local and very contextual.

That's what Chicago sounds like to me. I've never been to the US but I vividly remember watching a season of
"The League" like 10 years ago then seeing something on youtube about it being the murder capital and it looking like a warzone lol.

 

[masterneme]

Yeah I've heard many bad things about Barcelona. It's interesting because otherwise Spain is a super safe country except for some poor areas in some big cities.

Put this in your favourite search engine "disturbios barcelona merce". This just happened in Barcelona. People get together to drink in public, pretty common thing in Spain. What would have happened in the past? Nothing, they would get drunk, have some fun and go home to sleep. Now it becomes a warzone and the streets get on fire.

Police? Cowards, hard with the civilized, blind to criminals.

Governement? Evil corrupt psychos.

Keep your good experiences in Spain and Barcelona in memory like a treasure because this place is not the same...

It WAS a safe country and yes it USED to be the case that if you avoided problematic zones you didn't get in trouble. But things are changing, RAPIDLY. And this is what people want, instead of a paradise...

I just can't believe how many places have become hell holes in 3-4 years. I hope we all can find our respective desired havens and some day get together and surf or something, maybe in Punta Cana?

 

[MattR82]

Put this in your favourite search engine "disturbios barcelona merce". This just happened in Barcelona. People get together to drink in public, pretty common thing in Spain. What would have happened in the past? Nothing, they would get drunk, have some fun and go home to sleep. Now it becomes a warzone and the streets get on fire.

Police? Cowards, hard with the civilized, blind to criminals.

Governement? Evil corrupt psychos.

Keep your good experiences in Spain and Barcelona in memory like a treasure because this place is not the same...

It WAS a safe country and yes it USED to be the case that if you avoided problematic zones you didn't get in trouble. But things are changing, RAPIDLY. And this is what people want, instead of a paradise...

I just can't believe how many places have become hell holes in 3-4 years. I hope we all can find our respective desired havens and some day get together and surf or something, maybe in Punta Cana?

Damn. I spent 2 weeks in Barcelona in 2014 and it was such an amazing city. Was always on my list to go back to. What a shame.

 

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[theresgot2bemore]

There will be nowhere to run nowhere to hide. I think even the DR might end up being a problem once everything goes digital. 2020 was a warmup run for what is coming and I do mean everything about it.

The vax is not what I'm worried about its what you know deep down will happen later on. With the vax mandates being vetted along with vaxports its only a matter of time. I'm not sure what to do or if I'll be ready for when that time comes it gets mandated like the vax. I think this one would be more relegated to the inside because if you think people are rabid about the vax wait till this happens. You wouldn't want those folks to know where you plan to go to get away from them. Edit: Seems contradictory to my statement above sure but I imagine that some folks would have put their programming skills to use or something by this time. I'm not sure most people will be gung ho about it.

Some of you on here have talked about the mandate for the gov due to working for Feds or being a Fed yourself. Its fine I suspected there would be a few on here. I'm sure they will make more things a stipulation to working for or as a Fed. The heat is being turned up on the lower level gov folks as I'm sure you're aware.

 

[MTF]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2_6X0ld4g4


@Timmy C

 

[AceVentures]

The way I see it, the American constitution is one of if not the last remaining set of legal standards upon which some form of democracy holds. If the constitution falls, I wouldn't feel safe anywhere else either.

Beginning to feel like the fight is right here. Why should the people flee, when it is the corrupt few who are responsible for manipulating the game mechanics to their advantage? The more we empower ourselves, the more we stand up, the more we educate ourselves and our peers, the higher our likelihood of coming to consensus around truth.

I've been looking all around the globe for a "safe" place, but beginning to feel like safety is also an illusion. We must feel safe within ourselves, safe within our community, safe in recognizing our own power as the majority vs the corrupt minority.

When I see the protests taking place around the globe, and the degree to which this retaliation against tyranny is being censored, the more I begin to believe that the good people of this planet ARE reasonable, ARE capable of thinking for themselves, ARE capable for forming leadership and sustaining themselves. Despite seeing battles ahead, I am encouraged that WE the people DO stand a chance at fighting back, and the more we deny ourselves that right and simply try to escape, the more we delay this inevitable battle.

I've learned more about geopolitics over the past year than I had over my entire life. The internet is a beautiful thing, and despite the mass censorship, emergent forms of the internet are also beginning to arise that combat the denial of truth.

Let's empower ourselves. Let's strengthen our communities. Let's take a stand. Let us remain vocal and not cower in fear. I used to constantly fear that what I write on the open internet would be used against me, that some government agency would track and take me down. But I could care less any more. Because the more vocal we ALL become, the less powerful they become. They will certainly make an example of few, but that's the price we pay and the risk we accept in standing for what's right.

Leadership is what will take us out of this mess, escapism will further entrench the power of the few.

 

[David Fitz]

I'm officially done with Ireland.

Last month I could go to the Cinema.

I walked into the cinema tonight and now I can't enter unless I provide a vaccine cert. Where's the cert for eating healthy, exercising everyday and taking vitamins?

I looked in the cinema and it was empty. Are these businesses not signing their own death warrant?

 

[GPM]

I'm officially done with Ireland.

Last month I could go to the Cinema.

I walked into the cinema tonight and now I can't enter unless I provide a VAXClNE cert. Where's the cert for eating healthy, exercising everyday and taking vitamins?

I looked in the cinema and it was empty. Are these businesses not signing their own death warrant?

I hope they are. You can't stop the system that allows for this shit to happen by supporting it.

 

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[Timmy C]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2_6X0ld4g4


@Timmy C

Yeh I went to a protest illegally and got shot at with rubber bullets last week.

What sort of democracy tries to crush dissent like that?

I hope things will get better soon.

 

[JordanK]

I'm officially done with Ireland.

Last month I could go to the Cinema.

I walked into the cinema tonight and now I can't enter unless I provide a VAXClNE cert. Where's the cert for eating healthy, exercising everyday and taking vitamins?

I looked in the cinema and it was empty. Are these businesses not signing their own death warrant?

@David Fitz
That's pretty strange. I have been to the cinema a few times since lockdown ended, was never asked. It also seems that bars and restaurants aren't as strict with it anymore too. I have been out a good bit and in the places where they do ask many times I just walk past them as it's a voluntary desk to sign in rather than a manned person stopping you.

None the less, the vaccine cert is finishing up on the 22nd of October anyways. 90%+ of the population is vaxinated and they are finishing the emergency response and moving away from a case centric strategy to treating covid cases like a flu.

I have been bashing on Ireland for the last 18 months but normality is pretty much restored here at the moment.

The government could do with speeding up the last phase of the reopening though.. there are massive street parties every night in Galway until 4-5am as the nightclubs haven't reopened yet. Also, when I go play soccer/football matches we can't use the dressing rooms yet. Still a few random mish mash weird rules still in effect but life goes on normally around them tbh.

 

[MTF]

@JordanK what about masks? Are they going away on the 22 of October as well?

 

[David Fitz]

@David Fitz
That's pretty strange. I have been to the cinema a few times since lockdown ended, was never asked. It also seems that bars and restaurants aren't as strict with it anymore too. I have been out a good bit and in the places where they do ask many times I just walk past them as it's a voluntary desk to sign in rather than a manned person stopping you.

None the less, the VAXClNE cert is finishing up on the 22nd of October anyways. 90%+ of the population is vaxinated and they are finishing the emergency response and moving away from a case centric strategy to treating C0VlD cases like a flu.

I have been bashing on Ireland for the last 18 months but normality is pretty much restored here at the moment.

The government could do with speeding up the last phase of the reopening though.. there are massive street parties every night in Galway until 4-5am as the nightclubs haven't reopened yet. Also, when I go play soccer/football matches we can't use the dressing rooms yet. Still a few random mish mash weird rules still in effect but life goes on normally around them tbh.

Yeah that's why it seemed even more strange to me that they brought in this rule now and it's all supposed to be ending in October.

I can walk freely around a gym, workout beside people, touch gym equipment but I can't sit down and watch a movie til October 22nd

 

[David Fitz]

@JordanK what about masks? Are they going away on the 22 of October as well?

Supposedly yes it's all going to stop. Will only need a vax to travel.

 

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[JordanK]

@JordanK what about masks? Are they going away on the 22 of October as well?

@MTF
The only rules left after the 22nd of October will be:

- Need the vaccine/recovery cert to travel, this is an EU thing so our government doesn't have control over that. Although I already have lots of friends who have traveled recently and because the airports are so busy again border patrol doesn't even have time to ask for it anymore. Will probably be gone officially soon. Ireland removed it's mandatory quarantine requirements for all countries as of yesterday so the government won't force you into a hotel anymore if you arrive from hotspots or arrive without a vaccine cert you'll just be asked to stay at home for 10 days (not monitored).

- Masks still required on public transport and airplanes. Masks will also still be required in supermarkets too for some reason but you won't need them in nightclubs???? I can see this rule falling away very quickly. The general public aren't wearing masks as much anymore anyways. Masks also still required in hospitals.

Public health advice in place right now

www.gov.ie

 

[alord]

I spent a lot of time thinking and researching around this subject (as I was born in a place with a culture of hating entrepreneurs and unrewarding towards who produces wealth... No wonders there's 51% youth unemployment rate in the city I grew up in.)

The most libertarian country with a track-record and culture of is in my opinion Switzerland.

I already spent some months a year here and my assumption was confirmed so far, planning to move here long-term. It's obviously not perfect, but as said when something in the culture of people it will hardly change in the next 100 years and so far the country seems to be mostly immune by the "learned helplessness" and "envy on who has more" thoughts that are spreading in many countries

 

[Timmy C]

I'm coming to Florida in December.

Leaving Australia on a tourist visa and will get a work visa while im over there.

If I sacrifice more freedom for safety any longer I will explode.

Need a break from the Aussies.

 

[GPM]

Well there we go Canada. Can't fly on a plane or take a boat if you are not vaxinated. Effective end of the month.

I am not sure if this also affects international flight as it may just be domestic. I am still planning on leaving for Mexico November or December, so let's see what happens.

 

[Mammoth]

Well there we go Canada. Can't fly on a plane or take a boat if you are not vaxinated. Effective end of the month.

I am not sure if this also affects international flight as it may just be domestic. I am still planning on leaving for Mexico November or December, so let's see what happens.

I'm wondering as well...if I CAN ever come home even if I want to lol.

 

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[GPM]

I'm wondering as well...if I CAN ever come home even if I want to lol.

Come home for Thanksgiving. Does your family watch this? Came up in my recommended YouTube videos.

 

[masterneme]

@VentureVoyager How would you compare Cancún to Mérida? Is a good place to live or is it too touristy?

You mentioned you live in Mérida, how's the air quality there? I'm surrounded by hardcore smokers and car pollution, I want to get away from this crap.

What's the average rent cost for a single man? I don't mind small apartments but I'd like to live in a good safe environment.

What would you recommend to travel across the Yucatan peninsula, bus or car? And speaking of cars, if I'm only using it for the weekend would renting be worthy or are they cheap enough to just buy one?

And the cost of electricity? In Spain we're paying 6x more than 2 years ago.

Where would I go if I wanted to build a computer or buy electronic gadgets? Walmart? Amazon?

How'd you describe business scene? I've read that foreigners can own only 49% of companiess and can't buy properties along the coastal line and borders.

 

[Mammoth]

Come home for Thanksgiving. Does your family watch this? Came up in my recommended YouTube videos.

Oh my family is 100% tuned into the propaganda every single day. (I do enjoy the ratio of likes/dislikes on that video)
I spoke to my grandma last week and she said they're going to have Thanksgiving this year as long as the government restrictions don't change.
It's sad to see my family submit to this tyranny, but even if I did go home, I'm sure most of my family wouldn't want me there "putting them in danger" or "killing grandma".

I will be going to a bar here that's putting on a Thanksgiving dinner for all Canadians in town. It'll be interesting to hear their stories of what brought them here.

 

[Mammoth]

@VentureVoyager How would you compare Cancún to Mérida? Is a good place to live or is it too touristy?

You mentioned you live in Mérida, how's the air quality there? I'm surrounded by hardcore smokers and car pollution, I want to get away from this crap.

What's the average rent cost for a single man? I don't mind small apartments but I'd like to live in a good safe environment.

What would you recommend to travel across the Yucatan peninsula, bus or car? And speaking of cars, if I'm only using it for the weekend would renting be worthy or are they cheap enough to just buy one?

And the cost of electricity? In Spain we're paying 6x more than 2 years ago.

Where would I go if I wanted to build a computer or buy electronic gadgets? Walmart? Amazon?

How'd you describe business scene? I've read that foreigners can own only 49% of companiess and can't buy properties along the coastal line and borders.

I can't speak to Merida as I haven't been yet, but personally I wouldn't live in Cancun unless it was in the Zona Hotelera. If you go down the coast a bit more you'll find much nicer spots: Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar.

Here in Playa you can get a house to yourself for $12,000 MXN or less. Cheaper if you want a small apartment. Our most recent electric bill was $2,000 MXN, and that's using a lot of A/C.
If you're only going to use a car short term just rent one. You technically have to be a resident to own a vehicle.

I haven't had issues yet buying electronics. It's been either Office Depot or Amazon.

You can own 99% of a company, someone else has to own 1%.

 

[GPM]

I married a Mexican and I am going to get citizenship for my children. Apparently I can get citizenship as well once my children have it due to having a blood relation.

We want to get it all done for our kids this Winter, and I should follow after. Nice escape plan from the government tyranny up here.

I was talking with my mom and she is worried about the Cartels and crap in Mexico. The thing about that is you can go to areas without them, and actively avoid them. In Canada the government is the Cartel, and you can't avoid them. Most people also tune into that crap news 24/7 and that is the garbage it feeds you. They host debates where all 4 participants believe in the same thing. THAT IS NOT A DEBATE!!!!! No one even questions that every single interview, and every single debate features the exact same talking heads and the exact same opinions. No. One. Questions. It is batshit insane.

 

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[masterneme]

I can't speak to Merida as I haven't been yet, but personally I wouldn't live in Cancun unless it was in the Zona Hotelera. If you go down the coast a bit more you'll find much nicer spots: Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar.

Here in Playa you can get a house to yourself for $12,000 MXN or less. Cheaper if you want a small apartment. Our most recent electric bill was $2,000 MXN, and that's using a lot of A/C.
If you're only going to use a car short term just rent one. You technically have to be a resident to own a vehicle.

I haven't had issues yet buying electronics. It's been either Office Depot or Amazon.

You can own 99% of a company, someone else has to own 1%.

How is the air?

Also, Playa del Carmen, Solidaridad, are the same thing?

Edit: Is there something wrong with the rest of Cancún outside the Zona Hotelera?

 

[VentureVoyager]

@VentureVoyager How would you compare Cancún to Mérida? Is a good place to live or is it too touristy?

Wouldn't live in Cancun. It's getting more and more dangerous outside of Zona Hotelara. I love cancun for Carribean vacations (4h bus ride from Merida and you're there) but not for living. Safety, prices, super touristy etc.
I also love beautiful architecture and culture and Cancun is not exactly a cultural hub.
But it's a very nice getaway&chill&have fun spot.

You mentioned you live in Mérida, how's the air quality there? I'm surrounded by hardcore smokers and car pollution, I want to get away from this crap.

I'ts called The White City because of many white buildings, because how clean it is for Mexican standards and also air quality. In the city center it can be a bit smoky, but I wouldn't live in the centro historico anyway. City outskirts have great air quality.

What's the average rent cost for a single man? I don't mind small apartments but I'd like to live in a good safe environment.

Depends very much on your needs, but it's cheap.
You could find a very decent modern 60m2 apartament with security, pool etc at 8k MXN monthly.
I pay 27000 MXN monthly for a 3 bedroom 5 bathroom modern house with pool and garden, almost 300m2 house in the best area (near La Isla Cabo Norte), the price includes: security and all the gated community costs, gardener, house cleaning service once a week, internet and water. I ony pay electricity which is maybe 2000 MXn every 2-3 months if you use AC like I do. Depends on your AC power as well and how much do you use it. I'm from Poland so I usually try to achieve arctic temepratures lol. YMMV.

Just so you know: I wasn't looking for a gated community because it's dangerous here, it's just that I wanted a house with a garden and land because of the pinche lockdown and I happened to find one that I like here.

What would you recommend to travel across the Yucatan peninsula, bus or car? And speaking of cars, if I'm only using it for the weekend would renting be worthy or are they cheap enough to just buy one?

Whatever you prefer. Car, bus, all is good. Buses are afordable and of great quality, car travel is safe.
I can recommend good car rentals.

And the cost of electricity? In Spain we're paying 6x more than 2 years ago.

Nowhere near Spanish prices. Could send you one bill via PM if you want.

Where would I go if I wanted to build a computer or buy electronic gadgets? Walmart? Amazon?

You have everything here, Amazon.com, Amazon.mx + PRIME, mercado Libre, many american stores etc.

How'd you describe business scene? I've read that foreigners can own only 49% of companiess and can't buy properties along the coastal line and borders.

It's good, I know many enrerepreneurs here from allover the world and the real estate market guarantees great returns.
You can buy properties, I'm buying a land as we speak and gonna build a house I suppose.

 

[VentureVoyager]

How is the air?

Also, Playa del Carmen, Solidaridad, are the same thing?

Edit: Is there something wrong with the rest of Cancún outside the Zona Hotelera?

Yes. Dirty, ugly and dangerous. Dangerous mostly for Mexicans, not tourist, but beter safe than sorry. I mean, not all of it is like that, but why would you live there when you can live in beautiful Merida, 30 minutes from virgin Gulf of Mexico beaches?

As much as I love Cancun for weekend vacations, and Tulum too, I dislike PDC. Ubertouristy, dangrous, shady, dirty, annoying, full of drug dealers. F*ck that place really.

On the Caribbean side I might recommend the island of Cozumel and Holbox if you don't mind small places.

The air:

Merida Air Quality Index (AQI) and Mexico Air Pollution | AirVisual

Merida Air Quality Index (AQI) is now Good. Get real-time, historical and forecast PM2.5 and weather data. Read the air pollution in Merida, Mexico with AirVisual.

www.iqair.com

Just keep in mind that's a pretty big city (1.2M people) and so it varies between the city center and outskirts. I live in the outskirts.

It's also worth noting that you can build a self-sufficient, fairly cheap and beautiful house here at below 250k USD.
You can draw water from the ground for free, you can install solar panels, use gas bottles if you need gas, have your own veggies and fruit, and then the only thing an external party might disconnect is the internet. So you just buy a satellite or different sim cards and you're golden, living in a self sufficent home.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Come home for Thanksgiving. Does your family watch this? Came up in my recommended YouTube videos.

Waiting for the news vignette, Navigating life surrounded by morons, maybe that's when Ill tune back into network television. Amazing how easy it is to pit citizen against citizen, or in this case, family against family. Got I hate the media.

They host debates where all 4 participants believe in the same thing. THAT IS NOT A DEBATE!!!!! No one even questions that every single interview, and every single debate features the exact same talking heads and the exact same opinions. No. One. Questions. It is batshit insane.

Yes, they have a lively debate within the approve spectrum of opinion. It's not "lets debate an eat the rich tax strategy" its "lets debate HOW to each the rich"