Archive for October, 2010

Two things that most of us fear when we travel in foreign lands , is (1) The fear of false arrest, and (2) Having your travel documents stolen including your documents of identity. I think these two would be even worst that taking ill and being hospitalised.At least there would be some chance of recovery, but to be jailed without a trial ,or to be left stranded in a country without any possibility of flying out as well as having all money stolen is something nightmares are made of.

The later is what happened to us less than 24 hours ago in broad daylight in the main popular tourist area of Rivadavia  Avenue in Buenos Aires.

It really pains me to have to relive all this because believe me the incident is still very very raw, but the essence of it is that Dalaine and I had  being doing some last minute shopping on the street markets of Florida Ave a wonderful place to shop  …a real nice pen drawing original NZD 20, two very nice Pan Flute CD’s NZD 13 having listened to the most brilliant Flutist playing on the Ave just minuters before. Then there was a beautiful top that Dalaine had spotted for NZD12, and finally a  windbreaker (Colombia Brand) made in Argentina  but a real wonderful buy for NZD40 .( Retails in New Zealand for $300).Plus a real nice colour map of South America with every tourist attraction noted  in topographical detail….which really showed where we had been all this time in the 10 countries we had visited in South America.

Because we were loaded down somewhat,we decided  it was going to be best to travel back by subway , and from Florida Avenue it was just a short walk down Av Rivadavia to Plaza de Mayo then it was just a matter of changing fom one tube line ( blue) to yellow before getting out at Venezula ( station) not the country ! and a 250 metre walk to what has been a really comfortable ( but well priced ) hotel stay.

To say it happened like lightening was an understatement.It was all over in less than a second…or even less.I had my clutch bag in my hand…..it covered most of it….and the leather strap wrapped around my right arm….. one minute I had control …the next second it was ripped out of my grip…..possibly with the aid of a knife. I dropped everything and tore off after this lowlife….. he was dressed respectfully ( from what  I saw of his rear view) in a white acrylic woven jersey , black hair short and wavy and black trousers. For a time I was within feet of him  ( but not enough to do a flying crash tackle) but gradually I faded ( I forgot I was 58) and he pulled away.

I think the overwhelming grief of what this meant takes over at that point. It is a feeling I never want to feel again. Helplessness, Hopelessness, Share utter despair personified and magnified.It is very hard to explain.

But what happened next was the worse part ( if that was at all possible) . A group of people maybe 15 ….mostly men were standing in direct line of his getaway .Anyone of them could have stopped him or at least slowed him down. BUT NOT ONE OF THEM SHOWED ANY SORT OF EMOTION OR REACTION. THEY DID NOTHING!. It was just like looking at dead people standing. And as I turned around having lost him in a distant blur and slowly walked back hands over  my face, I detected even some with a smirk on their faces.

And as I comforted my (by now) very distraught wife Dalaine, there was an awful realisation of total desperation at the realisation that we had lost our two passports, 2 credit cards, all our bank cards, my ATM card, New Zealand Drivers Licence  , my Justice Of The Peace Warrant  many cards and addresses of people we had met and the thing that really hurts the Photo Memory Cards of the thousands of shots I, had taken on the trip. Fortunately I had backed them on to my computer but the original cards are valuable when it comes to reproducing the best shots.

I must say this was the most opportunist of thefts , we had gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure the safety of these documents. If I didn’t have three bags in my left hand I don’t think he would have been game to take me on. But only the day before I had this bag safety locked away in our cases in our hotel room.

But that was yesterday and as much as I would like to relive the moment we all know that will never happen……for all of us and for any life situation.

Another sad thing was in the confusion, we lost the Pan Flute CDS and the nice map…..when I took off after this guy…I dropped everything on the pavement….and rather than go to Dalaines aid…someone took off with those two items.

But we can be thankful that they were the two items of least value.

We eventually tracked down the  Tourist Police Centre who were as helpful as a can of worms in a Fishing River where fly fishing only is allowed, but we were able to make a call to the International Visa Centre to stop the cards as well as freeze the Debt Cards loaded with some United States Dollars and some Euros.

Whilst Dalaine returned to the hotel I became a vagrant and rummaged through every rubbish bin and skip within a  half mile radius….an exercise in futility. We rang the New Zealand Embassy and will see them tomorrow for temporary passports to regain entry into New Zealand. It will not be cheap as emergency passports come with a high price tag.

Hopefully Visa in the United States of America , ( as I am typing) are sending us some cash  advance to pay the hotel room, and pay the taxi fare to the airport.

It is Sunday here in Buenos Aires, and Monday Labour Day Holiday in New Zealand. In some respects it could not have come at a worst time……but we are so glad it didnt happen in any of the other 15 countries we have visited prior to yesterday.

But having just P$79 ( NZD 25) to see us out for two days when we can’t pay for the hotel, passports, passports photos , airport transfer ( and food) would certainly worry a lot of people.

We are waiting for the call from Visa …..a dog with a deep voice is barking non stop only a few metres away, obviously wanting to be taken out for a walk. Maybe I could take him ( he certainly sounds the part ) plus a very heavy baseball bat  and take him for a walk down the road we were robbed yesterday looking out for white jersey men……..but no I just remember how I started this blog….: about being incarserated in a foreign Jail. Maybe just sit tight and survive and count down for better days ahead.

So guard your idenity …NEVER take your freedom for granted. Remember you are financially better off than 96% of the world population.

Do we still like Buenos Aires . YES! Would we come back….we certainly would like to…

And the final note….having sat for 4 plus hours in a stark and dingy Police Station ( no a building with 4 Policemen watching television) waiting for a translator…  all I can see is here in Buenos Aires, Petty Crime is political, is rife , and is a way of life. And I daresay in a city of 10 million there is always going to be bad rotten  eggs in every basket. I just hope that one day a certain fleet footed Puma will  get his cumuphance .

We have enjoyed our stay in South America and in balance several  fleeting moments in 5.5 months of constant travelling  should never mar the great time we have had.

I will write soon…..in the meantime watch your Idenity and guard it with your life!!!!!

After all it is your life!

Lindsay Walker

Buenos Aires

24th October 2010.