Baltimore Warnings and Dangers

where there is drugs there is crime, but you have to know how to avoid it.
DONT ACT SCARED;THAT WILL TIP PEOPLE OFF
DONT BE SCARED TO ASK; IF YOUR LOOKING TO COP
JUNKIES ARE PRACTICALLY HARMLESS
AVOID NORTH AVE AND FAYETTE ST IF YOU CAN; NOTHING THERE FOR TOURISTS EXCEPT A STREET TO GET SOMEWHERE ELSE (OR DRUGS,IF THATS WHAT YOU WANT)

Should be the name of their soccer team or something as these vermin are all over the back alley ways and streets of Baltimore. Also spotted a large number of roaches... this is pretty typical, yes, but these pests (rate and la cockaroaches) were out in droves. I was told that the rats have made a come back after the city had them under control for some time.

This whole city is a virtual dangerous stinkhole. There is Harbourplace, and the rest of the city. Cameras watch you on practically every corner. Red Light Cameras watch you in your car at virtually every intersection($75 fine if caught running light). Blinking blue light cameras watch you in the more dangerous areas of the city (which is practically everywhere except downtown). The place is overwhelmed by panhandlers, and everything seems to be top dollar. Crime is so bad here that the police will question just about anybody if you stand or sit too long in one place, and tell you to get moving. The city is a virtual police state, and there have been several horrible incidents of scandalous police officer behaviour against citizens. One must wonder who to fear most: the thugs/criminals, or the police. Stick to the main central north-south streets: Charles, St. Paul and Calvert--and the downtown area. Everything east or west is dangerous, unchartered territory. It is claimed this city has lost 500,000 residents in the past 50 years, and is still losing them. I wonder why.

Be very careful when driving and walking around Baltimore. The city has undergone much development and rehabilitation. However, there are good neighborhoods right next to bad and you often go from one to the other very quickly. Get good directions and don't venture out to unknown areas at night by yourself!

If you stay well on the beaten path, there should be no problems...however common sense precautions are always, well, common sense.

Some rules of thumb:

-don't leave anything where people can see it in your car. I'm not even talking about hiding valuables, I mean, don't leave anything in sight. (We had a window smashed where all whoever got from it was a pack of stale cigarettes.)

-if you're in an area where there are a pair of sneakers tied together by their laces and thrown over an electrical wire, be aware that means that there's drug dealing in the neighborhood. you can either get out of there...or make your purchase....

-if you get REALLY, REALLY lost, I mean, really lost, people may follow your car. this doesn't mean they want to rob you...if it seems as though you don't belong, sometimes people assume that you're in the area to buy drugs. (which is what a lot of people do.)

These aren't posted to scare you off...and the chances of anything happening to you are exceedingly rare, but you should just know what is potentially out there....

I don't think Baltimore is usually quite as windy as when we visited, but I guess it still is sort of dangerous. While we were around Canton, windspeeds were still gusting up to 30 mph, making it very cold and uncomfortable. It was still cold about half an hour later when we were in the Inner Harbor. So on cold days, wear lots of clothes, keep yourself warm. You still can't really tell how windy it is through this photo.

As long as you're not foolish, flashing nice jewelry & cash every few minutes, you'll be fine. It's a nice city. I lived there for many years & have wandered both the nice & not so nice areas during my youth. sure there are some homeless, but that's true of any city center.

an example of inner city paranoia versus reality - we parked my in-laws' Mercedes on the street in a 'seedier' section, with prostitutes & junkies, because a friend lived there and we were meeting him. We proceeded to walk down toward the power plant area for dinner & nightlife - then walked back to the ghetto very late & sure, we saw a few people.. i won't judge them based on what they look like, but they left us alone and we left them alone..

However, when we parked the Mercedes in a more yuppie college-kid area of Canton, right near Nacho Mama's (excellent mex. food btw)... that is where some drunk frat jerk kicked in the side of our passenger side door. Who knew! I'll take the courtesy of the ghetto over spoiled drunk yuppies anytime.

enjoy yourselves & just be alert to your surroundings & respectful to many kinds of people you find in a city environment.

Good places are usually peppered with the flavoring of bad people, and Baltimore is no exception. While there is a very fun time to be had here, walking past (North of) East Baltimore Street in the wee hours of the morning is not a good idea, especially alone. And it might be a good idea to keep your wallet or cash in your front pocket in the crowds at Power Plant live and other places; I make this a habit at any crowded venue.