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Published: January 9th 2013
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Hola blogging buddies,sorry I have been off the air for a few days and not keeping you up to date on life here in the southern hemisphere.As it turns out I hit a bit of a low the other day,monday actually at about 2pm I was mugged on the street.Broad daylight and a fairly busy commercial street,two young guys came at me from behind.a blitz attack I think you would call it.I am fine though, a bruised hand and a sore neck but nothing physically wrong with me that wasn't wrong before.
The day started out very well ,sunny warm and my destination the Naval Museum .I stopped for a great seafood lunch at a restaurant I had seen in my earlier meanderings.A bowl of shellfish and broth absolutely overflowing with things known and unknown.I met a German woman also eating alone and we had a very pleasant chat.She was a Mathmatics PhD student in Chile for a conference.After lunch I headed in the direction of the ascensor to get to the museum.As I crossed a street from behind two guys grabbed the shoulder bag i had around my neck and over my arm.Now this bag I had bought especially
for this trip as it had steel wire sewn into the strap to foil would be robbers cutting it off you.Anyway in a flash this guy was yanking on the bag and consequently my head as well ,trying to rip it away but it was not giving.He was strong and the other guy was there somewhere as well but I do not remember exactly what he was doing.The strap gave way from the bag and I was on the ground with the other guy making a grab for my camera, which I had in my hand.I kept it somehow and off they went dashing up the street!! It was one of those over in a flash moments.
In moments people were around me offering assistance,though i have no idea where they were seconds before when I could have used it.I was outside a restaurant and the waitresses and waiter came over as well as a man who said he called police.The police never came as I sat in the restaurant and had a drink of water for a while before a man from the restaurant offered to drive me to the police station. The police were nice enough but of course unilingual and so between my Spanish and nerves and hand signs my report was given but got no warm and fuzzy feeling about the possibility of seeing anything again or of there being much of an investigation.
The good news is no money, credit cards or passport were in the bag.What was in it though was a debit card I had used that morning to get some cash from a bank machine and also my drivers licence,registration and ontario health card. I will have the pleasure of dealing with all that when I get home.
So here I am again with a sad tale of street crime in latin america.I am pretty aware of risk but broad daylight on a fairly busy street surprised me,obviously. I am glad I have my new small camera with me as certainly the nikon would have been gone.My camera is making some nasy noise though,from hitting the pavement when I did I think.It has a picture on it as well that looks like it was taken in the moment at some point.Street crime and crimes of opportunity are a fact of life the world over so I have no intention to stop travelling but it pisses me off to have been targeted again on another trip.I learn with each one though and so the evolution continues.My parents will not like this blog as they sit in their new home today but i will sign off with saying I am fine and still enjoying myself in the southern hemisphere. bye for now xoxo
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