[Idyllchat] Re: IdyllChat Digest, Vol 20, Issue 15

Al De Salvo ads at nycap.rr.com
Fri Mar 28 21:29:23 EDT 2008


I feel that the security concerns about  European travel  are way overblown 
thanks to some anectodal stories that go around the horn and back again.  I 
have personally never had a problem any of the times I have been to 
Europe--cities, towns or whatever. I just carry the cash I think I need for 
the time I am out of my UnTours apartment in a side pocket of my pants. 
Passport goes in the breast pocket of my shirt. If I have a jacket, both go 
in the inside breast pocket. Wearing a "fanny pack" brands one as a tourist 
and just a'int cool....

Al De Salvo


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <idyllchat-request at lists.untours.com>
To: <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 8:56 PM
Subject: IdyllChat Digest, Vol 20, Issue 15


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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: Wearing a fanny pack in Paris (Walt Slazyk)
>   2. Anyone here with some India experience? (Amy Gillin)
>   3. Wearing a fanny pack (Rpaul592 at aol.com)
>   4. Re: Wearing a fanny pack in Paris (Pmcgsan at aol.com)
>   5. [Fwd: Re: [Idyllchat] Wearing a fanny pack in Paris] (ptc)
>   6. (no subject) (ron at dworsky.net)
>   7. safety pockets (Jim & Nancy Ibbott)
>   8. Beware! (Rpaul592 at aol.com)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:18:22 -0500
> From: "Walt Slazyk" <WSLAZYK at luc.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] Wearing a fanny pack in Paris
> To: "Idyllchat" <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>, "Bill Kover"
> <ShutterbugBill at verizon.net>
> Message-ID: <47ED285E.984F.0097.3 at luc.edu>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> I have a number of "travel" garments from TravelSmith.  These garments 
> have numerous pockets in different places.  Some of them have zippers and 
> some of them are very, very deep. Others are accessed through slits where 
> there are normally just seams.  These designs are supposed to thwart 
> pickpockets.
>
> I keep items that I need readily in these security pockets when I travel 
> and thus I feel my important 'stuff' is safer.  Whether that's true or 
> not, I really can't say since I haven't traveled to any of the places 
> notorious for pickpockets (e.g. Rome).  Maybe someone on this forum can 
> say if such specially designed garments really prevent theft.
>
> Walt Slazyk
> Downers Grove, IL
>
> p.s.  One technique I use when I go into the city (Chicago) is to fold my 
> handkerchief over my wallet and put it in my left front pocket.  This 
> pocket is supposedly harder for right-handed pickpockets to enter cleanly. 
> And if they do, they grab your handkerchief instead of your wallet.
>
>
>>>> "Bill Kover" <ShutterbugBill at verizon.net> 3/28/2008 3:44 PM >>>
> Eleanor hates wearing a money belt (or one that hanges from your neck 
> under her blouse).  She wants to wear a zippered fanny pack when we're in 
> Paris.
> I am against it at least for carrying cash, credit cards/debit cards and 
> passports.  We plan to use buses rather than the metro while in Paris.
>
> Can anyone who has been to Paris give me advise regarding the safety of 
> wearing a fanny pack.  Maybe I should carry the passports and my credit 
> cards in my neck (under-shirt) security pouch and leave Eleanor's copies 
> of credit/debit card back in our apartment.  Does anyone have any 
> alternative suggestions?
>
> Any advise would be appreciated.
>
> Bill Kover
> Piscataway, New Jersey
>
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> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:03:09 -0400
> From: Amy Gillin <missalg at hotmail.com>
> Subject: [Idyllchat] Anyone here with some India experience?
> To: Idyll Chat <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
> Message-ID: <BAY108-W4275B4DE4FC8A371D1A8F6A1F90 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> I'm an Untour lover, and would love to see the same concept carried out on 
> other continents.  (The Vietnam Untour was a wonderful way to visit that 
> country, but I can understand how complex it would become for Untours to 
> extend like this.)
> Anyway, I'm planning to travel to India for three weeks in July (!) of 
> this year, and I was hoping for some help/feedback from this experienced 
> list of travelers.
>
> My first question is about a hotel within reasonable distance of Delhi 
> Airport that won't cost me, oh, $235 like the Radisson.  I'll be getting 
> in late on a Friday evening and returning to the domestic airport Saturday 
> morning (to go down to Nagercoil.)  Ashok Country Resort comes up on posts 
> on IndiaMike.com, but that's looking a bit pricey too.  I'm hoping for 
> maybe >$100, but I may just be being a little too optimistic!
>
> I've already booked the Delhi Bed and Breakfast for when I return there, 
> and the Ganges View hotel in Varanasi, but I still have a night in Agra to 
> plan for; I'd love to be very close to the Taj (and have tried to contact 
> Hotel Sheela without success) as it's going to be a full moon when I'm 
> there.  (Albeit probably rainy.)
>
> Leh is going to be my last stop--my students voted on this one for me--and 
> I'm still quite up in the air on accommodation there, so I'd love to hear 
> from anyone who's been.
>
> Any other random thoughts, advice, or comments are also welcome...Figured 
> since the list hasn't been super busy, now might be a good time to ask!Amy 
> G
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>
> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:03:22 EDT
> From: Rpaul592 at aol.com
> Subject: [Idyllchat] Wearing a fanny pack
> To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
> Message-ID: <d0e.24f4fb12.351ed33a at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Please, please---I would never use a fanny pack to carry anything 
> important
> anywhere around people, and maybe not even with the cows.  No  matter how 
> much
> you hate that neck pouch or money belt, it is nothing compared  to how 
> much
> you will hate losing your tickets or passport!  I don't care  how many 
> times
> you swear you will always keep your hand on it in crowds or will  keep the
> zippers just so--pickpockets will manage to get at it.  I never  keep 
> anything in
> mine except for tissue, small dictionaries, etc.  I have  had these 
> dropped to
> my feet numerous times when they have seen what they had,  and I never 
> felt a
> thing.  If it had been absolutely anything of value, I  am sure they would
> never have been so nice as to leave it on the pavement.   It is a pain to 
> wear
> these, especially in hot weather, but never take a chance  by carrying 
> valuables
> in them.
> Pat Rogers
> Pat Rogers
>
>
>
> **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL
> Home.
> (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&ncid=aolhom00030000000001)
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> Message: 4
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:05:55 EDT
> From: Pmcgsan at aol.com
> Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] Wearing a fanny pack in Paris
> To: ShutterbugBill at verizon.net, idyllchat at lists.untours.com
> Message-ID: <c64.20a6e3d6.351ed3d3 at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> All I know is that a pick pocket got me on a metro in rush hour.  They 
> are
> very clever, a fanny pack is a really bad idea.  I like the kind of 
> handbag
> that crosses in front of me.  The minute you sense pushing and  pulling 
> you are
> in trouble!  Watch out!  Last year in Rome getting on  the metro at the
> Colosseum a girl had her hand in my husband's front  pocket.  He grabbed 
> her hand
> just in time and she jumped off the  train.  A close call.  I have always 
> been
> against him carrying a  wallet in his front pocket, he can't help but 
> "pat" the
> pocket every 5 seconds  to make sure it is still there giving all the
> pickpockets in the area a clue to  where it is.
>
> Pat
>
> La Jolla
>
>
> In a message dated 3/28/2008 1:45:33 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> ShutterbugBill at verizon.net writes:
>
> Eleanor hates wearing a money belt (or one that hanges from  your neck 
> under
> her blouse).  She wants to wear a zippered fanny pack  when we're in 
> Paris.
> I am against it at least for carrying cash, credit  cards/debit cards and
> passports.  We plan to use buses rather than  the metro while in Paris.
>
> Can anyone who has been to Paris give me advise regarding  the safety of
> wearing a fanny pack.  Maybe I should carry the passports  and my credit 
> cards in
> my neck (under-shirt) security pouch and leave  Eleanor's copies of
> credit/debit card back in our apartment.  Does anyone  have any 
> alternative suggestions?
>
> Any advise would be appreciated.
>
> Bill Kover
> Piscataway, New Jersey
>
>
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>
>
> **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL
> Home.
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:39:16 -0600
> From: ptc <ptc7770 at comcast.net>
> Subject: [Fwd: Re: [Idyllchat] Wearing a fanny pack in Paris]
> To: Idyllchat <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
> Message-ID: <47ED81A4.7020107 at comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
>>
>>
> Should it matter, nothing marks us as American tourists more than our
> huge white sneakers and our fanny packs. It is like being a slowly
> moving target for anyone who wants to attempt to play his side of the
> game.  We say here we are and they say "Gotcha," but we always seem to
> start it by the choices we make.
>
> Your wife might look in your local AAA for their travel paraphernalia.
> They carry a money pocket that hangs inside of your slacks by a  three
> or so inch clip; it has two zipper pockets, one for your credit card and
> one for whatever. The best part is that it hangs absolutely flat and is
> undetectable.  Made by Austin House and costs about $8-12, depending on
> membership or not.
>
> Another option would be to get a travel vest from Tilley or Magellan.
> Although the vest also looks touristy, it doesn't scream "tourist." But
> why do you carry so much stuff with you every day? One of you might
> carry a credit card and the other some money, depending on your plans
> for the day. Make copies of your passport and both sides of your credit
> cards before you leave the US, but leave them in your apartment along
> with the originals.  Should you ever need either one in a serious
> situation, you usually can go back to the apartment to get it--or take
> the copy  with you if you plan to use it o n a particular day.
> Parisians are usually so well dressed that fanny packs look outre.
>
> Agnes
>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:18:57 -0400 (EDT)
> From: ron at dworsky.net
> Subject: [Idyllchat] (no subject)
> To: IdyllChat at lists.untours.com
> Message-ID:
> <61123.74.46.62.39.1206749937.squirrel at webmail.binarystudios.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
>
>
>
>
>
> Whatever you decide  to do about carrying any type of fanny pack or even a
> purse.........just make sure you carry it in front or you....not on the
> side or your back.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:40:50 -0300
> From: "Jim & Nancy Ibbott" <jibbott at pei.sympatico.ca>
> Subject: [Idyllchat] safety pockets
> To: <IdyllChat at lists.untours.com>
> Message-ID: <007701c89135$89f52de0$184cb08e at retestrak>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> i understand the desire to wear a fanny pack, because it is so convenient 
> for your phrase book, raincoat etc.   I have a friend who was robbed in 
> the Paris metro, card, passport etc/not fun at all, and quite a long time 
> to get a replacement card. HE  was using a fanny pack,he was facing his 
> robber as they both hung on to the overhead strap.  Or at least he was, I 
> guess the other guy was using his hands for his nefarious purposes. I 
> myself was robbed on the #64 in Rome - the thief opened all the zzippers 
> on the fanny pack, and then went on to get the money in my security belt 
> under my shirt.  It is not a nice feeling.   Do have a look at Tilley 
> endurables.  They have very nice slacks and skirts with hidden pockets. 
> My friend, who is a good seamstress, sewed little pockets into the 
> waistband of her slacks, and used Velcro.  I read on this posting of a 
> person who used a safety pin to hold aan inside zipper pocket closed. 
> Apparentlysafety pins are difficult to undo. i don't kno
> w why these people aren't discouraged more actively by the people around 
> them.  Be prepared!
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:02:56 EDT
> From: Rpaul592 at aol.com
> Subject: [Idyllchat] Beware!
> To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
> Message-ID: <c30.2b7a4b3c.351eef40 at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Also watch out for anyone approaching you while holding out something in
> front of them.  At Notre Dame, children approached us holding out a towel 
> spread
> over their arms.  The towel had a few coins on it and the children 
> appeared
> to be begging.  In actuality they use this scheme to push the  towel up
> against you so you can't see that an accomplice (also a child) is busy 
> under the
> towel going into that darn fanny pack or your pockets.  Having  seen this 
> done
> in both Florence and Rome, we knew what they were up to and  didn't let 
> them
> get anywhere near us.  A couple of years ago in  Alsace,  we were 
> approached by
> a young couple (probably in their 20's) who  were holding out an open map 
> and
> started to sit or stand next to us and ask for  directions on the map. 
> All
> our valuables were safely in money  belts under our clothes and I had my 
> hand
> firmly on the bag I was carrying so  they didn't try anything.  After we 
> were
> approached in three different  cities by the same couple holding the same 
> map,
> we knew for sure what they were  up to.  The last time I raised a 
> commotion
> and the girl started swearing at  me.  But, they walked only a few yards 
> away
> and started approaching some  tourists getting off the city tram tour.  I
> yelled to them to watch out and  then I really did get cursed at!
> It is a shame you can't feel free to help someone, but.........  In 
> Berlin
> last year a woman rode up on a bike and she had a map which was folded 
> and
> asked if I knew where a certain Metro station was.  When I answered her
> question, my granddaughter chastised me because I "talked to someone with 
> a map
> asking directions."  I had to explain that she didn't have it spread wide 
> and she
> didn't shove it up close to my body and she allowed me to stand back  from 
> her
> and didn't press too close.  All indicated it was an honest  question, and 
> it
> was.  If it seems a little too personal and invasive, it  probably is.
> Pat Rogers
>
>
>
> **************Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL
> Home.
> (http://home.aol.com/diy/home-improvement-eric-stromer?video=15&ncid=aolhom00030000000001)
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