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.