Thread: Passport query. Boss in strife.

Bloody phone robots, geeze I hate them.... a waste of time & money.

Do you have travel insurance?

If so, sit back & enjoy the adventure.

When we travel OS, our passports, credit cards, cash are in a pouch hanging around the neck under the shirt.

My daughter had one of those document pockets under her clothing (pouch around neck) with passport and cash, someone got the cash but left the passport, nothing more than someone brushing past and it was gone (Egypt). FIL had a special pocket in his undies (when travelling) of all places under the family silver, in India a few bumps in a crowded market and that cash was gone as well. Either on your person or in a bag nothing is guaranteed for those who think otherwise.

It is a good idea to scan your passport and send a copy to yourself in an email which you can then use for numbers etc if you have to get a replacement while travelling. If you include consulate numbers in the country you travel in well and good but don't assume you will always get a fast response or that Defat will be in any hurry to help just because it's Sunday and you are in a hurry.

At least for Neil he is on the way to being sorted out.

My grandfather had specially long pockets sewn into his strides

he reckoned that if they could get into them that deep then they were welcome to it

Doesn't work either, they slash the pockets & take the contents.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Doesn't work either, they slash the pockets & take the contents.

Had an Uncle that worked on one of the Hydro projects on the Panama Canal who was pick pocketed. They simply took a knife and removed pocket, wallet the lot. First he noticed was a little draft around the hind quarters, wasn't aware of the tailoring as it happened.

I've never kept my wallet in my back pocket. Always a front pocket.
When traveling Important things are in a money belt around waste. In front of that is the bumbag with phone, wallet and sunnies.
And like you should I have photocopy of stuff back at hotel with phone numbers etc.
I remember going to a street opening of a cafe in Holland. I went up to order some takeaway when I was surrounded by 5 guys. I instantly pushed back to the street kerb ordered from there and waited there for my food there. We all eyed each other very nastily. Funny how they didn't order anything at the stall. Just moved to the sides for the next mug. The shop owner must have been in on it as well I guess to left them hang around like that.
If I'm on a crowded anything, bus, ferry, train I ALWAYS hold onto the bugbag, that way if they slit the band I've still got hold of it. If anyone touches me I will move to clear space. I must have traveled and worked OS (not a tourist) a total of 3 or 4 years in the past 20 so I guess it gets ingrained into you to do it automatically.

Its a bit like footie, if you've got a crook knee you put a knee guard on the other leg, then they kick the crap out of that in the bottom of a ruck. Hang on, now its two crook knees! Seriously, having worked on tour coaches for a few years in Europe, we found the best way was to carry a dummy ie bum bag with little of importance in it, usually a nice note to the thief was the norm. Important stuff was in a body belt. I managed to "loose" the bum bag on four occasions but never the body belt. These people are professionals. It is a science with keen students and able teachers. Particularly the itinerants with their little fleet of stationwagons,caravans and nondescript looking horses.

...and stay off the Italian Cruise Liners...

Originally Posted by Shedhand

...and stay off the Italian Cruise Liners...

Damn rocks!

All sorted. Got Paulines passport renewed (temporary) in Barcelona yesterday, flew to Madrid today and got mine renewed and a new visa for the boss so she could get back into Oz.

Got to see a part of the world we didn't expect to see (Madrid) and missed out on s couple of days in Paris (not fussed about that).

Did get to take quite a lot of photo's of Antonio Gaudi's work in Barcelona which was a real bonus and will put some on the forums when i get them sorted out.

Here's a couple to wet the appetite. the first is an internal window in Cassa Batllo in Barcelona the second is one of his armchairs 1902 from Cassa Calvert Barcelona.If you look carefully you can see the detail that went into the back of the chair reflected in the mirror even the unseen under side was finished with the same meticulous work as the sections that were seen.

Gaudi 1.jpg

Attachment 195069

All in all.... Loved Barcelona, hated the thieving bastards that frequented the place.

Cheers - Neil

PS our former land lady grew p in NZ and used to carry what she called mugginmuny. This was $2 in a purse for when she was mugged (which she said was a common occurrence) back in the day. The real money was carried around in her sock or shoe.

Pleased to hear all is sorted Neil. frustrating time for both of you. My wife and I are set to do a similar trip in March, London, Rome, Paris and New York so will keep your experience in mind.
Love the pics and look forward to seeing more.

When one travels and everything is ok, like perfect weather, no complaints about restaurant food, all train were on time, pleasant people in airports, no "garlic" smelling passengers on planes, even travelling on the "wrong" side of the road was ok, one has nothing to talk about when one gets home. But Neil has a real story to talk about and he will do it for years. I bet you.
PS: Some years ago (in the mid seventies) when I worked in Mexico we had 2 break-ins and all valuables were stolen and once I had my pockets picked and we did not have 10 pesos to pay for our hotel accommodation or pay for an evening meal, that was not very pleasant at the time but I still talk about it today and have a bit of a chuckle.


Joe v K.

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Ahhh, if it wasn't for pickpockets I would
have no sex life at all.

Allan

Originally Posted by Allan at Wallan

Ahhh, if it wasn't for pickpockets I would
have no sex life at all.

Allan

Sad...i know what you mean...sad....

My other half just lerves Gaudi....can't wait to see her silivate over the pictures Neil.