OaktownTraveler

Mariannah:

So sorry that you went through this experience while travelling.

I too travel solo sometimes and can say that while "ridiculous" I have taken taxi's at this time of day/night, secured by my hotels, for going a few very short blocks...

Safe/paranoid/silly/smart/wastefull...folks will call it as they see it.

Again, criminals do not discriminate by sex, they seize the opportunity.

Surely you know one assailant can and has committed crimes against one or more folks at a time... whole nations have been violently attacked by one or two people...you can be in a group and get "jacked" or solo...no matter for those intent on doing bad things etc.

Of course you know that what happened to you unfortunately happens EVERYWHERE at some time or another right?

You do know that the French, Germans, Americans, Russians, Spanish, Italians etc. are not the only ones doing bad things to some people...some time right?

If you are a traveller at heart you may not cross off a country or implore others to because of crime, service, interpersonal skills, food, drink, the men, the women, the children etc.

Take this for what is is...an escalating series of unfortunate events where at the end of the day YOU, not the criminal is held accountable by some.

Not easy to share your pain and have it tossed right back at you...I know.

As suggested, you really should write oe e-mail the embassy...sounds very unusual...honestly.

Mariannah

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "one sided" TopMan. I called the woman a cow, but not and old one (she was probably only a few years older than me, I say mid twenties!). I had stood in line watching her be rude in Spanish and English, but I was reassured this would't happen to me if I spoke French for her, knowing how the French are reputed for not appreciating those who visit their country without knowing the language (although I find this a touch hypocritical, given all the French people I saw swanning around Venice speaking nothing but French). But she was rude to me reguardless. I probably wouldn't have cared if she hadn't handed me the early train that, combined with my own naivity, but me in my unfortunate disposition. But the irony is that at the police station in Marsailles, the police offered to accompany me to the station to see if SNCF would give me a replacement ticket (the other had been stolen, obviously) and the lady there put me on the next available train that evening. Having a police escort makes all the differance! Sitting in that train and looking over the wide expance of free seats, I had absolutely no idea why the Montpeiller lady maintained all other trains were booked out. At one point, I actually wondered to myself if she was in on it with the guy with the knife!

Statia

How awful and frightening that must have beenm, Mariannah. I'm glad that you didn't suffer serious injuries, and thanks for the reminder to be safe, rather than sorry.

Hope you are on the mend and a-ok now, both mentally and physically.