Open Water Swims outside the US

What has been your experience with open water swimming events *outside* the US? I'd like to hear it all; good, bad, and ugly, to gain perspective on these events. Some questions I have are: Where was the event held? What were the political conditions like in the host country? What were the economic conditions like in the host country? Was the event well-run Was the event safe Did you feel you got a good return on your investment of time and money? Would you do this event again? What are the best memories of this event? What were the water conditions like? What extras did the organizer provide that added value to the event? What were the distances of the swims? Was getting to and from the event a hassle? How easy/difficult was it to get to the host country? I'd like to hear what you all have experienced on this front. Granted, it may not be a long thread but it should be informative at least. Thanks!