poll: what happend to you - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

gemini23 · 03-23-2005, 10:40 PM

i was just wondering if any of this has happend to you. I hear stories of people being attacked or robbed and i was wondering if anyone had a wonderful trip where nothing happend to them.

**urOZm8** · 03-23-2005, 11:00 PM

Nothing ever happened to me. *touch wood* I was sensible and used common sense and the worst was someone trying to pickpocket me in Morocco (felt hands reach into pockets)

ev

**TheJake** · 03-23-2005, 11:06 PM

i clicked that I was robbed but i was really mobbed by a swarm of eight year olds in salvador de bahia, brasil.

I only had like 5 bucks in my pocket so it wasn't a big loss and I was playing with them so i got a free capoiera show out of it. those punks are good!!

**bluepea** · 03-23-2005, 11:08 PM

In the states, it was pretty basic. In New Orleans, you get harassed constantly by people wanting money. They have so many different gimics it's not even funny. One night I just got so pissed off because we couldn't walk down the street and have a normal convo without someone wanting something.

We were out downtown Chicago one night and it turned bad - we had no money and had our car towed and didn't have cell phones at the time. So, we go kitty corner from where our car was (or had been

) to use a pay phone and got hit up THREE times. Even though I grew up in a small town I always know to ignore people and avoid eye contact but my hubby who was born and spent a lot of time in Chicago wasn't very good at this.

In Europe really only had problems in Paris. People coming up to you everywhere.

Never been robbed or raped or anything. My brother who lived in France for a year was pickpocketed one night.

From my understand, it's predominately bigger/touristy place that you may encounter problems. Just use common sense and be careful.

gemini23 · 03-23-2005, 11:16 PM

thanks for the replies.

yah i am from vancouver and there are usually people harrassing you for money on the streets.
actually some of them get kinda creative.

some held a sign that said which sex is more generous. and below him were two hats one writen women and the other men.

there are also people who sing to you. this one guy was amazing! we actually gave him money for his preformance.

**omisan** · 03-23-2005, 11:45 PM

I've been hassled numerous times, and had one attempted pickpocketing in Barcelona, but I've come away unscathed. No matter what the problems may be out there, it should never keep you from traveling. You're more likely to be hit by a car walking down your own street than you are to be a victim of a heinous crime when you're on vacation - as long as you're smart and keep your wits about you.

**d_fresh** · 03-24-2005, 03:00 AM

we had a lot of people coming up to us in paris but nothing to get worked up about. I never felt threatened or in danger anywhere in europe. before i went i was starting to get a bit freaked out reading all these horror stories but, in my opinion, they are exaggerations. common sense and awareness are your best tools.
even walking through the drug addicts and dealers in a-dam....nothing.

**voyd** · 03-24-2005, 06:10 AM

I was really harassed by this dealer in A-Dam to buy drugs off him - threatened me, really. Eh, I just blew him off and kept walking...

One of our friends got verbally-harassed in Seattle too.

I think it is good to know some personal combat skills so you can handle any such situations should they arise. It won't be frequent, but tourists do tend to make easier targets. You probably would still never have to use them, but at least you'll be prepared if you have to.

**kingcrazylegs** · 03-24-2005, 09:54 AM

I've been harassed a bit, but nothing serious or nothing that I couldn't simply walk away from.

**space virgin** · 03-24-2005, 09:56 AM

In france the north african guys were RELENTLESS. A group of 3 or 4 of them followed Eva and I for at least 15 blocks or more in Avignon, trying out a few words in various languages to get us to pay attention to them. We both told them to shove off-- me in spanish, her in german. After a while it finally worked. The spanish only made a minor impression but after Eva's german diatribe they got kind of wide-eyed, lol.

Oh, and those confounded portrait sketchers in the Place du Tertre in Paris!

One latched on to me, another latched on to Eva. Mine went away quickly after a withering look but Eva's kept bugging her and even said (in english) "Wow, you look really upset. Do you need massaging?"

It was enough to make us laugh at least. Moron.

gemini23 · 03-24-2005, 10:52 AM

Thanks again for the replies. It's my first time traveling so i was a little nervous, but i do feel a lot safer now.

THANK YOU!!!

**TimmyJames1976** · 03-24-2005, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by space virgin@Mar 24 2005, 10:55 AM

"Wow, you look really upset.* Do you need massaging?"

So, uh, you know, do you?

starpiste · 03-24-2005, 11:08 AM

I was harassed in Italy by men. Two situations were not cool and the rest I wouldn't call harassement, but from living in Vancouver I'm unfortunately kind of used to being harassed by creepy men.

Although with the two more extreme situations I never really feared for my safety.

As everyone else says common sense is key.

**butterj** · 03-24-2005, 05:18 PM

common sence is key, but i allways land my self in the shit.

probaly not a great idea to walk around the bad areas in amsterdam off your face at 3 in the morning, oh well got a knife pulled on me caried on walking eventualy he jabed it into my side with a shout of "i kill you you bastard" and i thought fuck this dumped about 5 euro in his hand and wlked towards a club and he ran off. oh well could have been worse no way im going to get too cocky in another country definatly over 5 euros.

but don't let this scare you just try to be safe and not stupid like me, it could hapen in any city and it's no more likely here than anyware else in the world

**bellelass** · 03-28-2005, 07:56 AM

how about all of the above -raped? I've been robbed twice in London alone, through no fault of my own. No amout of common sense and paying attention will keep people from breaking into your room. Someone tried to pull me off the street into an alley a month or so ago, I guess that counts as assaulted. Harassed really isnt worth mentioning, you'll get that all over but just ignore it. That said, you'll be fine. Keep your wits about you all the time..

**mowark** · 03-29-2005, 12:05 PM

I've never had anything bad happen (other than being a sucker for street gambling) The best prevention tool is not looking like an easy target. Pay attention to what is going on around you and always use a money belt (I sleep with mine under my pillow). Also it helps to look as poor as I am.

**Canadian Bacon** · 04-06-2005, 08:38 PM

I once saw a guy in New York with a sign

Yell at me for $1.00

hahahhaa.... i gave him a dollar, but didn't yell at him

**butterj** · 04-07-2005, 04:36 PM

thats a good one i love a begger with a good idea

**mowark** · 04-10-2005, 12:20 PM

We have one in my home town that knows all the state capitals. He's a riot. If he can name a capital you have to give him some money.

alkyowl · 04-10-2005, 02:54 PM

When i was inter railing a few years back we read about getting knocked out by gass on the trains and then robbed, we were all like yeah whatever......Night train from Venice to Budapest, me and my mate were sleeping in a carriage by ourselves and woken about 7am for a border check at Crotia. Police saw my friends wallet lying on the floor so she checked it and hercash was gone. Her wallet had been in her money belt, on her!

Policeman then informed us we had probably been gassed and we had to get off the train to report it which involved going back to Slovenia and police with vvv big guns! No money so long day with one small bottle of water between us.

They told us three other people had been done on the same train and that it was quite commen, esp with illlegal immigrants doing it to pay there way across europe. V worrying that they obviously went through all our stuff (she was the only one with cash) and anything could have happened. Dont know if its still an issue.

Best nights sleep of the whole trip mind you.....