Hola y gracias por esto. Mi novia es Venezolana y su familia no me dejará visitar. Es demasiado peligroso.
That's as far as I can go in Spanish, my Spanish not to very good. I am "so gringo" as mi novia likes to say, and Venezuela is simply too dangerous right now for Gringos. At least that's what her family tells me and what the News shows. I have been told that if I did visit they would have to hire a guard to escort me, that I could not go anywhere alone, and I would have to only travel to certain predetermined safe spaces.
I have heard that Columbia had many similar problems in the past, where it was just not safe for Gringos to visit, too much of a risk of mugging or kidnapping. However you seem to be saying it has gotten much better since then.
What changed? How did Columbia improve?
I know the situation in Venezuela is not the best right now, not even with their own people. I think you and your girlfriend can meet in Colombia, maybe Cúcuta? Medellín, Cartagena or Bogota. You both Will be just fine, you will be great, and have fun as couple. The situation in the past years in Colombia, maybe at 80s or 90s is so different than now, you can travel by Road safely, or find cheap flights to go everywhere in the country. What change?: Goverment reached a peace agreement with FARC, with this the drugs trade is lower now than it used to be, and the conflict has diminished.