Was just robbed $500! Do not money on you in S.A.!
 

Hey guys, I have been staying at my girlfriends apartment in Buenos Aires. To make a long story short I had $1000 US (in Argentinian pesos) that I received as a deposit for selling my motorcycle in Paraguay. I kept $700 US in my money belt which was inside my bag on the floor of the apartment.

Today I went to get money out of the money belt and was shocked to see only $200 out of the $700 US. I do not suspect my girl friend, but think that it was one of her friends or the doorman who has a key to all the apartments (most likely the doorman because he knew that I had sold my motorcycle and none of my gf`s stuff was robbed).

I have never been robbed of cash like this before. On the trip I have been very careful not to carry more than a $100 at a time until now. I figured that I was a week away from flying home and taking the risk of carrying the money was better that Western Union of 5%.

I was very wrong not to use Western Union and 5% was very cheap for protection in South America.

Que mas?
 

Another day, another lurid 'Be afraid of everything foreign!' headline from Gatogato. I don't know you, and I really can't be sure whether you're the world's unluckiest palooka or a shrieking drama-queen. So I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and wish you better luck in the future. And respectfully suggest that you have another think about your list of suspects. And maybe change the thread title to 'I lost some money - don't lose money anywhere in the world cause it makes you feel like a plonker' cause this incident isn't relevant to your location or its security.

Suerte, Dan

I am not sure how it is that you manage to attract so much bad luck....but I do know that if you'd kept your cash on your person, you'd be $500 richer today. Leaving it unattended in someone's apartment—especially when a variety of people know you've got it—is asking for trouble.

yada yada yada...

Sorry Geoff...sounds like you're having a rough time, but how did you score a girlfriend in Beunos Aires being a mennonite from Des Moines?

All kidding aside...its awful to read the subject of your recent post, and your blog itself...sorry to have it happen to you.

BUT IF I were to meet a girl while riding in Paris, left ALL of my money in my bag at her apartment...and came back and it was missing...should I post on the HUBB....=> Europe is a crime spot...avoid it...blah, blah, blah?!?!?

Bottom line: the world is no different in Beunos Aires than it is in Des Moines....in both places, the good people out number the bad...except Washington DC with a Republican administration in office;)

This is exactly the reason why I ALWAYS carry ALL my cash on me at all time. I leave a few hundred in cash in my leather belt for my pants, some sewn into my clothes (cargo pants are good for that as you don't see the stitching) and the rest in my waterproof money belt.

Oh no! That's really bad luck dude - so close to coming home too.... At least who-ever took it didn't clear you out, take the positives from this - you've learn't a valuable lesson about money on the road - next time I'm sure you wont leave it on the floor of your latest conquests bedroom!

Good luck with getting home, sounds like you need a little R&R in your home country!

Incidently what else do people do to protect their cash? I'm going by the simple method of not carrying much - but very intreaged about sewing it into trousers etc - does it stand up to the trip?

m

Yep, it does and is as old as travelling itself. The military do it according to some books. It's even easier with motorbike gear as it has the pockets in it already. Just stick it in those zip lock baggies for water proofing, and it's fine. Just remember about it when you wash it.

I'm the same about not having hardly any cash for usual use, but it's a good insurance.

When I used to backpack and hitchhike, I used to just get some thick enough cotton or whaterever material to sew a sleeve, sew it around 3 sides, and some velcro inside the top. Than sew that into a place in your pants, or other piece of clothing where you wouldn't see the stiching. Hence the gargo pants idea. Those leather belt with the zipper inside are great also. Nick Danziger's trip is the earliest I've seen those. I just ran into one before I read his book. Make sure you put enough money in either of those for a flight somewhere where you can get relief. But not too much incase you do loose it. DON'T put it into footwear. My mate has lost 300 bucks that way.

In ten years I've never had to use it, but you never know.

Aerostich do a great nylon money belt (Oh! I forgot! I have it on!). Looks cheap and nasty, lasts (so far) forever, and it's infinitely adjustable to cope with beer 'n' steak-related gut expansion and dysentery-related shrinkage.

Just had to laugh at this reply, brightened up my day! :rofl: As a reply to someone elses question...Maybe she is a purchased girlfriend?

Hey Matt, thanks for the kind words. It stinks that there are people on the Hubb like this flaming **** in the post above. I can only wish the same luck for him.

Yeah Edde, I think you are right. It was definitely an error not to keep it on me. Better yet I should have just sent it by Western Union.

My luck has been a little crappy in Argentina, but I guess it is good to be ending my trip without any really bad luck.

I did not tell anyone that I had the money with me. I did tell some people about selling the motorcycle though.

south america
 

hola gatogato,

everytime I come to the HUBB I see a new thread of yours, accidents, difficulties selling the bike, corrupt police and so on.

you know, if you are always negative, of course you will always attract negative situations.

your are on my favourite continent, and believe me, I have seen a bit of the world.

please stop telling everybody in every of your posts how dangerous South America is.

I spend two years, and 80.000km on the bike in South America. Two of the best years of my life. And I did not have any problems that I did not cause myself. Even when the police in Brazil handcuffed me, I was about to beat up a young stupid car driver.

BsAs is one of my favourite places, so dont be stupid and leave your money somewhere in a corner and than complain.

Saludos

Mika from Finnland

Mika, I agree wholeheartedly. Gato wasn't happy slurring SA once, he had to do it twice! BsAs, is one of my favourite places too, with lovely people. I don't want to promote the impression that South America doesn't have problems, and bad people. When things go bent in Latin America, they really go bent. But in years spent travelling in 14 countries of the Americas, I really cannot recall having anything stolen or being involved in violence. Hell, I've never even paid a bribe! My experience of living in the UK however is quite different.

Hey guys, sorry if I have been ragging on South America lately. That was not my intention.

The message of this post should be to always take extra precautions with money when traveling (especially in lower income countries) and not to get lazy with your money ever like I did.

This is an embarrasing subject to talk about. I did not tell any of my friends at home and I only write about it here to try and help others make the same mistakes.

I know these kind of things happen to others on the Hubb, but many are far too proud to post about it or relate to it.

the old what comes around goes around
 

girlfriend my ****ing arse, how long you beenin that town, trust her ,how long you known her just cause she ****s you dont mean she loves you ,just your money sucker,she was waiting for the moment take a reality pill ,you have been bleeding us dry with your dribble
oh and all the do gooders who keep saying, a bit of youthful enthusiasm ,my arse , ther guy is a whining snivelling dick and as far as entertaining ,well maybe i would rather read a nice entertaining trip report , or watch cow poo go hard

To the CanoeGuy and all the Gatagato Haters,

Whoa guys...lets not start the hating that's equally awful to the negative comments GG initially posted...

Karma is a b*ch and its not worth jinxing ourselves with the wisdom of retrospect.

I think he gets it...and not because of our posts.

was shocked to see only $200 out of the $700 US. I do not suspect my girl friend,

1st Question: What sort of thief only steals part of the money?

2nd Question: Let's say it was your girlfriend.....Did you get your $500 worth?

Aye caramba
 

To all the grouch old farts,I,m damn sure that you knew it all when you were 23,but then again I doubt it!!! This daft young lad has kept a whole load of us entertained at his laddish adventures around the continent of South America and we,ve all had the chance to pick holes in his naivety,some of us shout and complain,some of us just enjoy having a giggle at his youthfull enthusiasm.
I for one will be sorry when the daft bugger is gone and all thats left are all the grouchy tossers.
Que Viva GatoGato.
Aye and keep yer money in yer ****ing pocket from now on

Hey Bert,

I'm all for naive cock-ups and laddish adventures - shit, I've made a living from them - but gatogato's tendency to follow his regular 'ay papi, esta arena en mi chucha' complaints with 'don't trust locals' generalisations everytime he loses a sock has become a wee bit wearing, and pushes this forum's signal to noise ratio in the wrong direction, no? And queering the pitch with over-dramatic claims of local criminality doesn't count as 'youthful enthusiasm' in my book.

I'm sure he's one of the good guys - I just wish he'd pause before posting yet another 'Never Drink Argentine Beer - it makes your head hurt and your wee smell funny - grrr!' headline.

Suerte, Dan

What 'to' carry....
 

While sometimes difficult to locate, making a serious effort to pack a liter or more of Good Judgement usually pays off.

Agree with Mika 100%
and Dan 99.99 % but
00.01% off for spelling mistakes ;-)

Gato Gato = 14 lifes?
 

Geoff, i met you shortly at our HU bunker in BA(means DAKARMOTOS).Reading the diferent postings here i would say that i was never robed here or in any place i was before.Maybe because i know if you give the oportunity.....they will take it.
It is of course sad to hear it in that way.And i know of other traveller who was robed a lot more of his back pack recently(another unlucky bike traveller who recently visited us) and didn´t post that here. THAT IS BASIC TRAVELLER KNOLEDGE!
Maybe you should change your id for GATO GATO got robed by one GATO(kind of a girl friend here,hahahaha)
Enjoy our city man! and don´t run out of lifes!!!
KH

Thanks for the kind words Albert.

Perhaps you are right that for this situation I was putting the guilt on South America instead of my own negligence.

Yeah, I get it now. At first I was frustrated and was putting the guilt on SA but it was my fault for getting careless.

Hey Karl, I remember seeing you at DM now. Maybe it was my gf who took the money. I dont trust anyone when it comes to money missing. Seems unlikely though since she is a lawyer and I met her when she was vacationing in Ushuaia.


It looks like I scored another -10 Hubb reputation points. I used to enjoy this section of the Hubb a lot but it just isn`t the same being an outcast anymore. Flame on Canoe Guy, Dave Ede, and the celt! I am done with this thread.

Now, that's down-right mature sounding...:)

Keep on traveling and stay safe.

Sht happens...always....

Gato
Come back to Argentine man. Anyway they leave $ 200 in your belt, it is not such bad. Always have a eye open ( even over yourself)
Raúl

Tranquilate
 

Let's not turn this into a pile-on. Brother Gato, we're all on your side - just give us reasons to root for you, not bark at you, si? Remember before you post that most of the grouchy old farts on this site are the real riding deal, not posturing posers or gravel drive cowboys - we've been there, broken that, and we don't really need to be lectured on the 'don't leave a year's wages lying around when you've brought a girl home' basics.

Yep, we react badly when riders blame their contexts for their very human mistakes. But I promise you, if you'd have posted an honest 'Apparently I'm the unluckiest mark in Latin America because i just got spanked again' thread, you'd have received nothing but 'good on yer' backslaps and 'unlucky, kid' chuckles.

So. Good on yer. Unlucky, kid. And as Bob said, ride safe. Really.

Suerte, Dan

Every time Gato posts my twisted sense of humor gets tickled - is it wrong to enjoy reading of a fellow riders mis-adventures ? I thought that was what Hubb was all about ;-)

Gato, its a shame you're not riding home 'cos we're going to miss the entertainment, there's still time to accidentally get on a plane to 'Adondestan' & keep going.

Don,t do it
 

Don,t go thinking about posting for ****sake just do it,This is this internet and it was made for inane bullshit!!!
Oh yeah and lets not try and take motorcycling and ourselves so seriously,difficult I know but give it a try.
Albert theturtleshead

I'm getting a warm fuzzy feeling .

You've melted the hearts of the old grouches .

You are not done with this thread!!!!!
 

Well, GatoGato or maybe better says Gato1/2Nabo, I guess maybe you learned the lesson about to stop before post and think what you will post….

IMHO I’m sure you are in debt (an apologize) with me and all the honest SA people who are here in the HUBB and in everywhere living an honest life without complain about everything….

Saludos…

Mate we all make mistakes and it is fair enough to express it. The title of your thread led me to believe this would be a tale of a hold-up on the street is all, I think people goad the tone rather than the good intentions.

I am sorry for your loss but don't take these comments so personally. I think the majority of people use the HUBB to share relevant travel info and griping about experiences should kind of be marked as such. As emotive as a loss can be I think we all have experiences of acting naively and getting rolled about it. I myself had a bag stolen checking into a hotel room and still get embarrassed and angry over it. I don't know if I would communicate 'looking after your luggage even when the recptionist is good looking' as fellow-traveller advice though!

I hope you get your $500 worth, then give her a lift down Ruta 40 and make her walk back...

Come on gato bashers.. lets all count to 10 and chillax !!

Hes a bit like me, he posts before he thinks !! :innocent:

Now, who needs a hug ??? :cool4:

Hola from Rio Gallegos, AR.

Sorry for your loss. Hopefully you`ll make it up elsewhere.

I don´t know about the advice of always carrying everything valuable on you. In my experience, you are much more likely to get robbed in the street rather than from your hotel or hostel. That said, never leave your cash or valuables in an obvious place. Find a remote stash spot in your pack or you can put it in something worthless, like inside a top ramen package.

Also, kudos to those that haven´t been victimized in SA, but it is common and warrants some extra precaution, as do many places in the world. Personally, I think the idea of blaming the victim is short sighted. All people have the right to feel safe in the personal security and possessions.

A drop of essential truth....
 

Ain't that the truth! I think the world has lost sight of that fact. Thanks Glasswave for reminding me of that.

Kind regards

Nigel in NZ

Gato's experience seems typical, but geographical location at the time of the robbery means very little. There are evil people in every country just waiting to prey on someone who looks out of place (blue eyes in Latin America). The fact that you have been robbed means you have left your comfort zone and mixed it up in the real world.

You had some Latina hottie take you in to her apartment, a place that seems social with many people about.

You lost 500. dollars?

The price payed sounds like a BARGIN for the on the edge type living you are doing.

Just sayin.

:confused1: You WASH riding gear? :confused1: jajajaja

Albert, see you in a few months.

Jeff

I'd wait till she goes out - then sell her furniture.

Ola Gato!

These guys have given you a hard time! Stony-hearted, steely eyed bikers.....

Think of it this way - you werent stripped naked so it was a (relatively) cheap lesson - BUT ONLY IF YOU DONT LET HAPPEN AGAIN!

Did you put her out to "work" to recoup your losses?
Buen viaje!