pantelia

This is not specific to Europe, but this is really the only board I frequent.

Take this for what it's worth, I heard it today from a co-worker, and thought it was interesting enough to share.

Her son and his girlfriend are spending 3 weeks in Peru. Before they left, she (the co-worker) took all the bra's that the girlfriend was taking and made a slit between the padding and the inner lining, and secured the opening with velcro.

The girlfriend now has a place to stash her cash without having to carry a bag, or a waistsafe etc.

Personally, I think it's an innovative idea, no clue if something like this exists already or not, but I've never heard of it.

As I said, this is more of an FYI than anything really "Europe" related. If anyone gets anything out of this...then my work here is done!

Happy Travels
Pantelia

CAPH52

That's a very interesting idea, patelia. And sounds like a good one for extra cash. But wouldn't she still need to carry a purse? It doesn't seem like she'd want to be taking money out of her bra in public!

saps

This not new. My mom always stored a wad of cash between her breasts.

I guess that is why I never asked for money.

starrsville

My grandmother traveled extensively, including Europe, and always carried money and travelers checks in her bra. She called it her "safe". Of course, I was mortified when she reached in to retrieve some money, but she wasn't bothered by it at all.

She still carried her pocketbook or purse with all the other stuff she needed and some money, but she carried her main stash in her bra. No special compartments were needed for her bosom

Holly_uncasdewar

Now, how do you do this if you don't wear a padded bra? And if you wear a minimizer, does that mean you have to take less?

Dukey

I suppose it would be one way for the "endowment challenged" to curb their urge to shop and spend. Talk about a "dwindling cash flow!"

pantelia

My grandmother always stored cash in her bra, as a young child, I cringed everytime she went to give me money. As I grew older though, I didn't care where it came from!

Stashing cash in a bra is not new, I've never heard nor thought of making a slit in the actual bra.

Marianna

Yes, pantelia, it is a good idea.

When we took my mother back to Italy eighteen years ago for her first visit in 55 years, she made a little lace pocket with snap which she attached to her bra. That's where she put her money. She told me that her mother who was a seamstress in Torre del Greco, Italy, would make them for herself and her friends to keep their money in a safe place. It was pretty, useful and secure yet easy to get at when you needed the money.

Thanks for reminding me of this.

FainaAgain

I hate to think what is the safe place for a passport

cigalechanta

I once worked for a woman who kept a pack of cigerettes between her breasts. I never stopped being amazed when she would pick out one.

WillTravel

Remember the Marlene Dietrich (I think) line: There's gold in them thar hills.

P_M

My grandmother tried to get me to do that on my first trip to Europe. I didn't want to do it, and finally my aunt pointed out that it won't work for me, as I would be lop-sided. That was good for my teen-aged ego.

Jolie

My mom would keep kleenex in her bra, so she could whip one out whenever her brat (me) had a runny nose. One day her good friend saw her doing this and told my mom (while shaking her head sadly), "I always thought yours were real."

nytraveler

What if you don;t wear a padded bra? (No offense but I haven;t since I was 12 - and assume most grown women don;t either.) And wouldn;t any more than a very small amount of money result in some very odd bumps? And - getting the money out would seem to provide on-lookers with some interesting opportunities.

Why not just a wallet in a purse across your shoulder? Never had any problem with that in 60+ trips.

starrsville

nytravler, this works best with well-endowed women. No padding needed.

pantelia

I think that my co-workers son and girlfriend are spending quite some time hiking etc, which is why she didn't want to carry anything.

I personally wouldn't take the time (or waste a good bra either) to do this, but thought it was interesting enough to share!

As for the padded bra, I've no need for that, and I can't imagine walking around all lumpy and bumpy! :^)

TexasAggie

What if you were to get all sweaty... ewww
I know, I know... "ladies don't sweat, they 'glow' ".
However, after hiking from Monterosso to Riomaggiore in the CT I was definitely more than glowing! The thought of pulling out clammy, smelly money to buy a gelato is less than pleasant!

starrsville

Funny, TexasAggie!

I've actually refused moist bills when given change. I get strange looks from the cashier, but I'd just rather not receive damp bills - nor wonder why they are damp!

cigalechanta

The coins are heavy, what would she do with them? They are needed when you must have small money for toilets, etc.
There are wallet like money/passport holders that hang around your neck on a leather string. I have a French one that is very attractive by Lamartre.
Longchamp has an attractive zippered bag on a belt, I'm sure there are less expensive versions.
The lady who had the cigerettes tucked between her breasts in her bra, well when she ate, every bite seemed to come as a surprise .

Spencerinc

When I lived in Boston and my friends and I would go out and night and stay out late, I carried a wallet, but then I would put an extra $20 either in my bra or one of my socks. That way, if I got mugged, I still had some other money somewhere so that I could hail a cab and get home without being forced to walk home in the dark.
-Christine