Michael, I totally agree with you. Was in my first riot in Venezuela, the Caracazo. The government is so corrupt, it is a Rodney Dangerfield joke. "It is SOOO corrupt!!" "How corrupt is it?" "You have to bribe someone to get toilet paper!"
Worked with PDVSA as a supplier for years. Billions disappeared from that company. During that riot, I saw my first airplane explosion. Word was that some general was fleeing the country, the Lear he was in got blown up on the runway. I had just arrived, was about half a mile from the downtown airport when the bird went up. Spent the week in the EuroBuilding hotel, my distributor had handed me a box and said, I will call you when we can get you a flight out. The box contained an old .45 Colt and two boxes of ammo. A week later, got a flight out with a group of oilwell service company people. Halliburton had what looked like a private army protecting their plane, they got out about the same time. I did not breath until we were over the Caribbean.
The other countries are OK, the ones mentioned earlier. Several of the islands are good as well, just lots more $$ needed. How about Cuba? (Haha).
Side note, if yu ever see a bottle of Pampero "Ron Aniversario", grab it. An excellent aged Rum from Venezuela. Not cheap, but great taste. For sipping, not mixing.
Derswede
