9th of July Blvd., street of attacks...
Florida Street in Buenos AiresWe arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at noon. A Regent Seven Seas Cruises representative was right there at baggage claim and we were quickly off to the Melia Hotel for an overnight stay. The hotel was just two blocks from Florida Street (a 8-10 block long street with no cars, just filled with shops.) and five blocks from the waterfront. We were hoping to stay up until 9:00 p.m. to adjust our inner clocks to the time change and overnight flight. So it was off to walk for a couple of hours. Leather stores were everywhere; but our luggage would be limited to 33 pounds per bag for our flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia the next morning. Therefore we managed to look the other way each time we strolled past a store selling jackets, shoes, purses, skirts or vests. One of our guests did end up buying a fabulous fur coat (to wear in the Antarctic, you know!).
Prior to our walk, we met up with our friends from Arizona, Chuck and Fran Jacoby. The four of us have traveled together many times since meeting on the Crystal Symphony’s 2000 World Cruise. None of us are novices, by any means; but we were not quite alert enough for what followed: I had noticed several young men, from time to time following us. Soon after leaving Florida Street, Jerry felt one of them pull something from his front pocket. The perpetrator snatched Jerry’s i-Phone, lens cap, and about $200 worth of Argentine Pesos…and, along with his five cohorts, disappeared down a stairwell into the city’s subway. The lens cap was quickly discarded. We suspect that they saw the outline of Jerry’s i-phone in his pocket.
A lesson to all: fortunately Jerry had nothing important in his i-phone, his money had been divided (most remained in the hotel safe, and some U.S. dollars were in his right front pocket. We quickly called Greg, and he called AT&T to report the theft. They said that it was likely that the phone was stripped of any information and sold on the street…probably before it was even reported stolen.
Unfortunately, that was not the end of our misfortunes for the day. Just three blocks later, Jan’s thin gold chain (with her original wedding ring nugget and diamond hidden under her shirt) was ripped from her neck. She’d forgotten she had it on from the plane ride. A young girl stepped in front of her, while a 20-something man reached in, grabbed the necklace, and ran off. Jerry was behind Jan, though, and gave the thief a hard punch into his groin on the way by…my hero! Regrettably, the blow just slowed the creep down. It didn’t stop him. Maybe Jerry needs to work some on the weights!
Dinner that night was very nice…and a great ending to a somewhat disastrous day. We ate outside on the waterfront at Casa de Lilas. The food was fabulous and the temperature was in the low 90’s. Needless to say, we walked back to our hotel very cautiously, and kept a constant eye both ahead and behind us!
Prior to our walk, we met up with our friends from Arizona, Chuck and Fran Jacoby. The four of us have traveled together many times since meeting on the Crystal Symphony’s 2000 World Cruise. None of us are novices, by any means; but we were not quite alert enough for what followed: I had noticed several young men, from time to time following us. Soon after leaving Florida Street, Jerry felt one of them pull something from his front pocket. The perpetrator snatched Jerry’s i-Phone, lens cap, and about $200 worth of Argentine Pesos…and, along with his five cohorts, disappeared down a stairwell into the city’s subway. The lens cap was quickly discarded. We suspect that they saw the outline of Jerry’s i-phone in his pocket.
A lesson to all: fortunately Jerry had nothing important in his i-phone, his money had been divided (most remained in the hotel safe, and some U.S. dollars were in his right front pocket. We quickly called Greg, and he called AT&T to report the theft. They said that it was likely that the phone was stripped of any information and sold on the street…probably before it was even reported stolen.
Unfortunately, that was not the end of our misfortunes for the day. Just three blocks later, Jan’s thin gold chain (with her original wedding ring nugget and diamond hidden under her shirt) was ripped from her neck. She’d forgotten she had it on from the plane ride. A young girl stepped in front of her, while a 20-something man reached in, grabbed the necklace, and ran off. Jerry was behind Jan, though, and gave the thief a hard punch into his groin on the way by…my hero! Regrettably, the blow just slowed the creep down. It didn’t stop him. Maybe Jerry needs to work some on the weights!
Dinner that night was very nice…and a great ending to a somewhat disastrous day. We ate outside on the waterfront at Casa de Lilas. The food was fabulous and the temperature was in the low 90’s. Needless to say, we walked back to our hotel very cautiously, and kept a constant eye both ahead and behind us!
1 comment:
WOW!! How scary that must have been. We are just glad there wasn't more violence to really hurt both of you. Jerry nice job getting a parting shot in to bad it didn't put him down. So sorry it happened. Stay safe.
Love
Pam, Tracy, Natalie and Amanda
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