Venezuela 2007 - Copa America - Resources Page

Discussion in 'USA Men: Fans & Travel' started by Palermo10, Jul 8, 2006.

  1. Thomas Flannigan

    Feb 26, 2001
    Chicago
    Of course there is a lack of information. Hardly anyone in the US knows anything about Venezuela, or cares if there is a soccer tournament there. Spanish speakers have their own forums.

    I would be surprised if any city other than Caracas hosted the final. Sorry for the bad news. I tell it like it is!
    Thanks for the link about no beer at the games. Pity.
    Venezuela is the only country I have seen where beer is usually sold in big freezers in stores. The door is locked and the clerks have a key around their neck to open the walk-in freezer, which is a frequent event. I think the main purpose is to have the "Polar" beer as cold as possible.
    http://www.thebackpacker.net/worldbeers/polar_1727_worldbeers.htm
     
  2. eric_appleby

    eric_appleby Member+

    Jun 11, 1999
    Down East
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've never been to Venezuela, but I've been to Colombia several times. In fact, I'm in Medellin currently. I've never had any problems here. A recent newspaper article stated 2006 was the least violent year in two decades in Colombia. Meanwhile, Caracas is the undisputed most violent city in South America, with over 500 murders in December alone.

    For what it's worth, here's my tips.
    Don't hail a taxi off the street at night. Telephone for one.
    Don't carry your atm card with you at night. I only have it on me for trips to the bank in the morning.
    Try to get a room with a safe for your cards and credentials.
    Travel in groups, if possible.

    Hate to sound so paranoid, but I've talked to Irish backpackers here in Medellin coming from Caracas who've told me they were literally being chased down the street by people with guns.
     
  3. MD_littlekeep

    MD_littlekeep Member

    Mar 27, 2006
    New York City
    Club:
    Fulham FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    sounds sweet!
     
  4. I. Tristeza

    I. Tristeza Member

    Oct 7, 2004
    San Antonio, Texas

    Sweet, sweet Polar. I would buy it by the case if I could find it. At baseball games in Venezuela the fans throw their beers in the air when their team hits a home run (the cups are very small). I guess we won't see that at the Copa. Polar owns half the country, you'd think they could do something about this.

    Chavez is a dictator of the cruelest variety.
     
  5. Heist

    Heist Member+

    Jun 15, 2001
    Virginia
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is a bit off topic, but what makes you say that?
    He may not be the nicest guy, but can't we reserve "crulest dictator" designation for people like Hussein, Hitler, and Mussolini?
    Chavez is a socialist/communist and like most dictators keeps his opposition down, but lets be real about him.
     
  6. I. Tristeza

    I. Tristeza Member

    Oct 7, 2004
    San Antonio, Texas
    I was just talking about the beer.....
     
  7. dirk diggler

    dirk diggler Member

    May 14, 2000
    Fire Daddy!
    Club:
    --other--
    Chavez is not a dictator. He been democratically elected to office three times. Each time the vote has been certified by the EU, OAS, and the Carter Foundation as "free & fair". For more info on this topic check out this link:
    http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3009

    This all I will say on the topic.
     
  8. Heist

    Heist Member+

    Jun 15, 2001
    Virginia
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Technically you are right, but he's a dictator more or less. Many dictators subsequently are elected in free and fair elections.
     
  9. FC Uptown

    FC Uptown New Member

    Feb 3, 2006
    H-town
  10. I. Tristeza

    I. Tristeza Member

    Oct 7, 2004
    San Antonio, Texas
  11. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The number of Americans interested in going just dropped by half. :D

    (could just smuggle and put it all in Pepsi bottles or something)
     
  12. DC_Gunner

    DC_Gunner New Member

    Apr 16, 2005
    DC / Cambridge, MA
    A good friend of mine just finished filming a documentary on the elections, he spent alot of time with both chavez people and the opposition. One thing to realize, about the anti-americanism of the regime is that they actively court left-wing Americans (and do stuff like give discounted gas to poor folks in US cities), and recognize (more so than say, in France) that the US is deeply divided politically. In fact the government's propaganda likes to highlight these divides in the US as well as racial and socioeconomic inequalities as part of a broader attack on US policy. The result of this, for travel purposes, is that you are unlikely to face wanton anti-americanism as long as you are not, say, loudly preaching the overthrow of the government. As long as you're being reasonable, it's pretty likely that Venezuelans will be too.
    As far as crime, I think the same thing goes- just do what you'd in any high crime area... don't carry valuables openly, don't get drunk and get lost etc...
    It would be great if a bunch of Americans went down there because despite all the stuff I said earlier it will most definetly be a hostile environment for our squad.
     
  13. Schnorrer

    Schnorrer Member

    May 17, 2005
    Venezuela
    Club:
    Maccabi Tel Aviv FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Israel
    dude come'on i mean venezuela is dangerous but is not irak, i mean u have the good zones and the bad zones, if u stay away from the sh!tty zones u'll guys be all right, a venezuelan city is as dangerous as an usa one, the thing is tourist go to the ghettos, i mean wtf are u doing there u know is dangerous, dont go there just to see how ur typical poor venezuelan lives, they go with their video cams and stuff, is like saying come on put a gun on my face, listen as a person who lives in venezuela i have never been robbed, another tip be polite, if u are polite venezuelans will be very warm to u, if u act rude u might ur ass kicked, dress normally, it doesn't matter if u wear nike shoes or adidas, just a tip try to avoid using fancy watches, beer and food are great and cheap, beaches are amazing, life night is great, girls like foreigners, if u know how to say some nice words and dance a little u have a nice change of getting laid, the roads for us venezuelans are a little bad but they are the best in south america, i can guarantee u a lot of venezuelans will cheer for usa (i already have my usa NT shirt ;) ), many people here love usa, even chavez says that before he won we where an usa colony,so overall COME, u'll have a blast, venezuela is a great place, i'm sure if u fellow these tips u'll have a great time and will come again!!!!
     
  14. jamison

    jamison Member

    Sep 25, 2000
    NYC
    Time to bump this thread back into primetime.
     
  15. 2ndAveFC

    2ndAveFC Member

    Mar 23, 2004
    LAX
    Can anyone provide info on the three cities the US will be playing in: Maracaibo, Barinas y Barquisimeto? I was thinking earlier that I wouldn't be going, but now I'm on the fence and want a reason to go. I have a frequent flyer flight and speak some Spanish, so the basics are covered but I just want to hear something about these places.
     
  16. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I'm sure its been discussed but I wonder if Reyna would reconsider retirement and play one more Copa considering he will be in NY and the first match is against Argentina.
     
  17. Schnorrer

    Schnorrer Member

    May 17, 2005
    Venezuela
    Club:
    Maccabi Tel Aviv FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Israel
    i will help u out with some info..

    Maracaibo: The second largerst city in venezuela with a population of 1,800,000, an oil city for excellence, this city haves all the good things caracas has without the drawbacks, maracaibo is one of venezuelan hottest cities, and in the night u'll see the spectacular catatumbo lighting in the maracaibo lake
    http://www.venezuelatuya.com/occidente/maracaiboeng.htm?yIJD7xRpoXQA%FE

    Barquisimeto: The musical capital of venezuela is the 4 lagerst city in venezuela with a population of 1,200,000, it haves a good weather and good nightlife, the city as a lot of malls, museums and sites of interest, this city worths visiting
    http://www.venezuelatuya.com/occidente/barquisimetoeng.htm?yIJD7xRpoXQA%FE

    Barinas: This is a small city, the base of the economy is the raise of cattle and their products, also agricultual products, ecological turism and in less importance oil and gas production; the population is about 280,000, the city in american standers can be described as a westerner town, a cowboy town maybe :rolleyes:, there aren't too many things to do there, maybe go to the malls, the nightlife is regular, but if u like ecological turism u'll love it there, the stadium is small for 30,000, the city is hot and haves a lot of humidity, i think the reason this city/town was choosen is because its chavez hometown...
     
  18. FC Uptown

    FC Uptown New Member

    Feb 3, 2006
    H-town
    Hugo Chavez and Maradona

    "Which group should we stick the Americans in?....ha...ha...ha..!"
    [​IMG]
     
  19. Mosco

    Mosco Member+

    Dec 1, 2004
    Sun Valley, CA
    Does anyone know when or were I can buy tickets for copa america 2007? please help if you have a link
     
  20. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So...Los Angeles, Nashville, and Kansas City.
     
  21. AndSomeAreAngels

    Jun 7, 2003
    Brokelyn
    Club:
    Liverpool FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Awesome. Repped.
     
  22. Mosco

    Mosco Member+

    Dec 1, 2004
    Sun Valley, CA


    What about puerto ordaz I hear they have nice waterfalls
     
  23. Schnorrer

    Schnorrer Member

    May 17, 2005
    Venezuela
    Club:
    Maccabi Tel Aviv FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Israel
    nice?? they are awesome, this is the stadium that is gonna have the best location, the stadium is in a natural park, i'll post a picture of the stadium and u'll see!! ;)

    the stadium is in the middle of that land thing, and in the right the cachamay park and the beggining of the waterfalls

    [​IMG]
     
  24. I. Tristeza

    I. Tristeza Member

    Oct 7, 2004
    San Antonio, Texas
    ^^^ It's a nice stadium in a beautiful part of the city. I've seen a few matches there as well as a salsa concert. Mexico/Brazil ought to be fantastic.
     
  25. Mosco

    Mosco Member+

    Dec 1, 2004
    Sun Valley, CA


    That is awesome the stadium is located like on an island pennesula all surrounded by natual untouched eco system fabulous! I'm going for sure and the best part of that stadium is Mexico vs Brasil will debut for Copa America 2007. Does anyone know when tickets go on sale?
     

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