A friend and I just returned from our first (and last) visit to Madrid. We are two "senior ladies" who thought we were reasonably knowledgeable about traveling safely. But while sitting on a park bench in broad daylight, we were attacked by two men with knives, who choked us while cutting the straps on our packs. My friend was hit in the face, requiring a hospital visit and 7 stitches in her mouth. Police seemed indifferent to the crime, and concerned chiefly about having the paperwork filled out and stamped with their official seal....two witnesses who had come forward were not even questioned about what they had seen. We went to the American Embassy the next day, where we met a dozen other people who told similar stories...including one couple who had been attacked twice in two days, once at the front door of their hotel. The thieves are quite sophisticated, using cell phones and walkie-talkies to zero in on their victims. And they know all about money belts....so beware! One positive note I can insert is that the people at our hotel (Hostal Madrid, near Plaza del Sol) were wonderful--very helpful. The hostal is small, not fancy, but very clean and reasonably priced.

I'm sorry to hear of your experience. Most thieves are not so violent and will pick easy targets. Were there other people sitting in the park at the time? One of the problems in travelling is knowing what local customs are. It isn't that the dangers are more than at home, they are just different. I know I nearly got in trouble walking alone in the Tuleries in Paris, again in broad daylight. I'm now *very* careful in certain circumstances to be sure there are plenty of people doing whatever I am. Unless they can swiftly hit and run an 'audience' can be a deterrent. <BR>

Let me make certain I understand this. Because of fear of crime, you doubt you will ever go back to Spain (murder rate 2.28 per 100,000 residents); and will instead go to school in Champaign Urbana.Will your next trip be to Chicago (murder rate 30.0 per 100,000), which you think will be safer? Or Springfield (murder rate 10.3 per 100,000)? <BR> <BR>I wish I could tell you a place on this planet where you would be guaranteed to not have crime. Unfortunately, I've seen it even in a town of about 100 people. The only question to ask is "What are the odds?"Spain has a rising crime rate, but still small compared to the U.S. It is of course sad that you were one of the unlucky few to be robbed in Spain, but to think you are safer back here in the U.S. is ignoring some obvious facts.

Thanks for the replies. First of all, yes, the park was quite crowded since that weekend was the Spanish national holiday. Everywhere was packed...and we're quite sure that several people witnessed the attack, but did nothing. As for allowing the possibility of further crime to deter us from traveling, that most definitely is NOT the case. We had discussed the possibility of returning to Spain in the future, but have decided that there are too many other places remaining to be seen. I am very well aware of crime statistics here as well as in the other cities mentioned, and realize that one bad experience should not (and will not) put us off any future travel plans. At the same time, it would be equally foolish to ignore the fact that such an attack could happen virtually anywhere. We will simply have to be more careful. It's just sad that so many people don't want to "get involved"--perhaps that attitude is at least partially responsible for the rising crime rates and the audacity of the attackers. Thanks again for the replies. <BR>

this really frightens me because while I was in Madrid, some tried to trick me into leaving my bag unattended so they could take it. Since I'm from a big dirty urban city, I have a nasty attitude and told them that if they wanted to rob me they should show me some weapons. I'm 5' and blonde so I don't think I'll do that again. <BR>I'm sorry for your bad experience. I spent four months in Spain and the aforementioned incident was the only one bad thing that happened to me there.