Richard

Martha, yeah, you're right, it's only that this shook us up more than any of the scams we've encountered, spaghetti sauce on my jacket at the termini in Rome, dropped cigarette pack in the Metro in Paris, purse snatch in the London tube. We still go to Europe twice a year though, but now we travel the countryside on our bikes.

Tony Hughes

Elvira <BR> <BR>I picked those cities for a reason. The memories of Bogota and Caracas will NEVER leave me. You could pay me $1 million and that wouldn't be enough to persuade me to ride the underground in caracas again. <BR> <BR>Go there, you will see what I mean.

Tony Hughes

In fact I'm not going to leave it there... <BR> <BR>The Scots are a race of people, clearly defined back in 1997 by the (then) Conservative government leader John Major during a debate on the constitution and the 'West Lothian question'. We are a race. That is a fact as layed down in parliament. <BR> <BR>I am sure you would soon tire if I was to preface my posts with 'fat a**' or what you would call a cultural stereotype. I don't as a matter of fact as that's not the way i work. <BR> <BR>What you need to remember, Sally, is that one person's ( or races') throwaway comment is another persons (or races') irritating bugbear. <BR> <BR>I'm no racist, I'm a realist. <BR> <BR>BTW a MORI poll conducted on behalf of the Scotsman newspaper back in december 1996 indicated that less than 0.1 percent of Scotsmen regularly wear a kilt. Try a red hair or alcohol imbibing gag next time.

ca

Kilts and fanny packs aside, what we have done by being able to make web inquiries is to have added too much emphasis on personal safety. I don't care if you prefer a shoulder bag crosswise or a chic envelope held close....what makes sense is to be aware of your space & environs no matter what is going on. You can easily get hit by a car in England because of American habit to look for traffic coming from the other side first; you can get mugged in NY as easily as by gypsies (but gypsies are more fun to watch for because of all the stories about them). The point is to be what Californians call "street smart". I feel safe no matter where I am even if unarmed. It's a confidence I travel with from experience and training; and I try not to be in any "wrong places" if I can. What bag I carry is an everyday decision---I never carry a backpack (undefensible), for example. I don't feel that going to the Continent means taking special precautions. (And Mr. H.---I've seen Rob Roy...I think I love kilts, now.)

elvira

Tony, Caracas is certainly someplace I'll never visit, now that it's clear the whole city is unsafe. I'll stick to European cities that have minimal crime.

s.fowler

Nice post "ca"! <BR>We can share our experiences and how we travel, but in the end it is up to each of us to decide how to handle our response. The only reason I choose to take "special precautions" is that the loss of a ticket or a passport or financial resources in a county far from home where you don't speak the language or understand the "system" creates many more problems than if you are at home where you do speak the language and understand the system. <BR> <BR>Tony - <BR>I apologized for committing a cultural sterotype. [Although I *like* kilts and think it's a shame they aren't worn more.] And I am *so* relieved to know that the issue has been definitely resolved by your politicians in parliament. <BR> <BR>There are distinctions to be made between race, ethnicity and national origin, which, if we blur them, reduce their usefulness. These are often politically designated for political ends, but in the end the *definitions* of the terms themselves have specified meanings in the various social sciences. Feel free to continue to call me a "racist", but know I find your designation inaccurate. <BR> <BR>Let's agree... I won't call you an ethically insensitive person if you won't call me a racist. [The whole thing is rather hilarious since you have no idea whether I am red, green, purple or Scot. As a matter of fact I am 1/4 scot-irish. The other 3/4 I'll leave you guess. ] <BR>

s.fowler

Oooooops. My bad. <BR>That was ETHNICALLY. I was making no comment on your ethics. <BR>

Mary Ann

Tony: I did not mean my comment to be taken in the manner you did. I thank everyone who realized what I was trying to say and perhaps did not say it precisely or did not have the time to elaborate. Obviously if I felt Europe was teeming with pick pockets I would not be going back for a 3rd visit. Unfortunately, we have had friends who did have the misfortune of theft on their trips, sometimes as silly as having their underwear taken. Also on our last trip, the car we purchased was not allowed to be taken into Eastern Europe due to theft (actually we could take it but they would not insure it) and if we had gone into Italy the insurance would have skyrocketed. This was a German company saying something about Europe. Thankfully, as acknowledged by others above, I mentioned smaller locations just to provide a basis for the reader to know that we had no problems in other locations. Obviously if I had thought it was that bad, I would not be carrying a bag with a camera in it. However, major large city tourist areas are prime targets for problems, especially around such areas as the vactican and if you are going to carry a bag, you need to be alert. Heaven knows, I take many similar precautions when traveling in US cities or Mexico. The difference is if you lose an item in Chicago, you do not need a passport to go to Los Angeles. Travelers checks are insured and credit cards have limited loss too. But when you are that far from home with time differences, the inconvenience is immeausrable in loss of valuable trip time. I guess I was trying to say there is risk, but there is risk everyday of our lives. It should not stop us from enjoying the vast greater benefits, beauty, and knowledge gained in traveling the world. <BR>Again, I really do appreciate all of you who understood my reply and commented. Thanks

ca

Mr. Hughes: Thank you for your insight into the question of peoples VS races as decided by your Parliament. I refer the honorable gentlemen to the answer I gave a few moments ago. A California company recently copyrighted a "pickpocketproof" wallet device. It looks like a wide rubberband, that when placed around a wallet or even a few credit cards, sticks more when in your pocket. Retrieving same often takes your pocket lining inside-out. Ought to give theives any deterrent one can, eh?

Jane

I have lived in Inner London all my life and never had anything snatched or stolen and equally, looking more like a tourist, have travelled frequently in all parts of Euorpe and beyond and have never been pick pocketed etc. Need to keep sensible concern about theft in proportion with real risk which is low.

tina

Travelling anywhere I find I gain a lot of stuff during the days adventures and carry a small rucksack for sketch and guidebooks, personal needs, and the days acquisitions. Then because I need so much less of the usual stuff in my wallet, I leave it at home and carry a small purse slung across my body with the days cash, one credit card, cash card, name and address of hotel and my passport. I turn the flap inside and keep it under my jacket if I'm wearing one. If I am in a crowd my hands are free and I can hold onto it. I found a moneybelt to be very sweaty on my body and left IT in the room. <BR> <BR>

Erin

When I'm travelling, I use this flat pouch that I bought from the Let's Go guidebook. It has a fold over flap and is perfect for holding passports, money and tickets. The straps are skinny and adjustable, so that I can wear it cross-wise over my body. It fits nicely under jackets and it doesn't bulge out. <BR> <BR>By the way, I always carry some kind of purse/tote when I'm travelling, whether it is in New York City, Rome or Rio de Janeiro. In fact on my last trip to Paris and London, I had the LARGEST tote bag ever made and no one looked at me twice. If someone wanted to snatch it…go ahead! All they would have gotten were some guidebooks, a map, granola bars and a $100 camera. My valuables were in my pouch! <BR>

Amanda

Thanks everyone. <BR> <BR>Keep the comments coming - I'd love to hear how everyone carries their everyday cash. <BR> <BR>I have never been to Europe before, but the concerns of other travellers about pickpockets and other versions of theft (as well as car theft and high insurance as mentioned above) prompted me to wonder my initial post. <BR> <BR>Having just witnessed a purse snatcher in one of our quiet Melbournian suburbs a few weeks ago (my very first just goes to show that it can happen anywhere. But when we have more to lose (passports etc.. ) and more to be inconvinienced, it's good to take some precaution. <BR> <BR>Thanks. <BR>

topper

!

sam

S fowler which 1/4 of you is Scottish?Why are Americans not proud to be American?Why do they have to call themshelfs 1/2 of this a quarter of that.Americans are the only people I know who do this.

Flo

I've always been curious, too, and I am American. Never really heard an Italian refer to himself as Italian-Austrian, or Italian-Irishman, nor have I heard of a Belgian-Brazilian, etc. <BR><BR>Why DO Americans do this? Sally?

Dallas

I should think the answer to why Americans call themselves part one nationality or other is very obvious. Hardly any American is only one nationality -- we are "Hines 57"; a little bit of many ethnic groups. Everyone likes to know something about their roots.

No Purse

I don't carry a purse either. I wear a travel jacket and put my daily money in a pocket that zips. The rest I carry in a money belt. If I want to make a big purchase it's usually no trouble to step inside a restroom and retrieve money.<BR><BR>Tony, I'm curious why you refer to yourself as "us criminals?" If you have nothing to be concerned about why pipe up.

sam

Dallas you may want to know about your roots but other people don't.If you were born in America then you are American.I find that alot of people that call themselfs 1/2 irish,1/2 french etc think this because their great,great,great,great,great,great,great,great uncle came from Ireland.<BR>If one of your parents is from another country fine call yourself 1/2 and 1/2 but any further back than that don't bother.

RedWhiteandBlue

Dallas, I wasn't aware that EVERYONE comes to the US to procreate -- that immigration to other countries is forbidden. Are there not Africans in Great Britain? Indians in France? Russians in Germany? Chinese in Italy? They don't call themselves "Chinese Italians". <BR><BR>If your primary loyalty is to your roots, then you're not truly American. Many years ago people came to the US to be AMERICANS, not to be hyphenated.