Lorraine, re your last message, you've made my day! We had snow here last night in Ushuaia. I am off to Paulo, the mechanic bike-fanatic to arrange a ride over the pass to Rio Grande for tomorrow. Take care you all...
simon

Here's another variant to watch out for .
On a trip through Venezuela in '99 and doing a day's visit to Caracas I was wandering the busy sidewalks in the city center and had just bought a souvenir trinket. A small jovial fellow coming from the opposite direction stepped in front of me and in the ususal reflex reaction one steps sideways and often enough the other person steps in the same direction ,twice. We both laughed. As a show of good humour the little runt reaches out to shake both of my elbows before going on his way .In that instant with my arms disabled I felt my muggers wallet being lifted from my pants front pocket. I immediately jumped after the little bastard and grabbed him by the shirt, bad choice of course- the wallet with $20 and subway ticket was going the other way. Other than being tempted to pound the shit out of him ( didn't) there was not much else I could do about the lost wallet.
Directly after that another fellow, well dressed and claiming to be a Bulgarian businessman , came up and told me that what I had done could be very dangerous, the ladrone could have knifed me or shot me, as has happened. I thanked him for the advice but was on my toes now and left. The question remains was this "helpful" person part of the plot , perhaps the real pickpocket and perhaps trying to set me up for a con ?

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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93

I just had this sudden (and what I think) brilliant idea. In Sudan, camel herders wear their knives, which are in a sheath, strapped to the inside of their upper arm over their biceps. What is needed for travellers is a smaller wallet for just visa card and paper money which is strapped in the same place. It's sounding like pickpockets are looking in pants pockets, or as in Simon's case, a velcroed pocket. The bicep idea obviously only works if you're wearing sleeves like a tshirt or longer. In the case of the camel herders, make no mistake these knives are unsheathed in lightening speed. Very accessible, but largely invisible. They use woven leather as the strapping, but velcro would work very well. You are welcome to send any donations for this idea my way. ;-)
Lorraine

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On the mexico city underground and this old man (70) gets on the tube with a load of baggage over his shoulders and under his arms. He stands close to me and gives me this "feel sorry for me" look. I had my bag over my shoulder, and felt a little guilty dropping it down infront of me when I felt him a little too close. The bstard had my front pouch open and my wallet in his hand. I actually felt sorry for the man.
But the lesson was that he watched me buy my tube ticket and knew that my wallet was in my front pouch!!!
Orrin

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVkdWnRKs4k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSo4j...eature=channel

I have a mp3 armband I use when I go running, it is elasticated (and cheap) and can fit around my biceps or just below my knee, I think it is a good idea and this will make it dual-purpose.

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... and Nelly The Elephant packed the trunk and said goodbye to the circus...

"this old man (70) gets on the tube with a load of baggage over his shoulders and under his arms. He stands close to me and gives me this "feel sorry for me" look."

You know, there's a lot of stories in the news this past year about pensioners and other 'poor old souls' running scams and such like. I suspect Simon has similar con games up his sleeve. ;-)

As for the mp3 elasticized stuff, of course! Lateral thinking going on here...
L

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