I had family visit this past week and it was a blast! They traveled all over Italy for almost two weeks. They had a wonderful time but a truly unfortunate event happened in Rome. They checked out of their hotel, hopped in the van and parked it in front of the Colosseum just meters away from a police station. After 8 hours of site seeing they returned to a very EMPTY VAN. Wait, that's not true, the thieves did leave the umbrellas(what gentleman). All of their luggage, clothes, computers, iphones and ipods GONE. Can you imagine what that feels like? They went to report it at the police station but of course they did not speak any English. As devastated as they must have been they all kept in mind that the important thing was that everyone was safe and unharmed. "Lesson Learned" is what they kept saying. So I thought I would pass this on. No matter where you are in the world do not leave your luggage or anything else you can't live without in the car. Try to leave it at the hotel or even take it with you. Travel light and watch your valuables at all times! Hopefully the bad guys will get what's coming to them. I believe in Karma...do you? The sunny side of this story is that the engagement ring that my brother in law used to propose to his fabulous fiance in Verona was safe and on his person. BLUSH.
great advice but what a bummer! brother in law and fiance...is this cristina?
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a lesson learned! And we have Dad C to thank for keeping the ring on him! It was the light at the end of the tunnel for me! :)
ReplyDeleteCarmen,
ReplyDeleteNo, it was the other brother in law :)
I definitely believe in karma. Whew, glad he had the engagement ring on him. I wonder if somehow that is what they were after?
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS Day.
Gosh! How awful! Glad they were okay and no PERSON was stolen. It was just things. I'm sure they will never forget this trip.
ReplyDeleteOh my yes. This happened to my cousin and his wife when they went to Poland. Their cameras with all their photos just gone forever. At least they still have their memories, right?
ReplyDeleteWhat great news that he proposed to his fiancee before hand! While backpacking in Europe I was robbed of my side satchel with everything in it at a McDonald's. Thank god I was wearing my passport on a belt! You just always have to be uber-aware when travelling, it sucks, but it's true.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad we have to be so careful about watching our things. A friend of mine had her coat stolen off the coat rack at church on New Year's Eve! It's wise not to keep any valuables (GPS) in your car.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your SITS day!
What an awful thing to happen on such a beautiful trip. Glad the ring was safe!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry! What a horrible thing!
ReplyDeleteLive and learn.
Happy SITS Day!
Yikes! Very upsetting!
ReplyDeleteSome things are the same no matter where you are in the world!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to your brother in law and his fiance!
Here of course, you can not do it at all!
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrible welcome to Italy they received! Thank goodness he had the ring on him. Happy Sits Day!!
ReplyDeleteOh no, that sucks. Especially right across from the police station. 8 hours is a long time to have luggage sitting around in a car though. Hard lesson to learn, at least they had a good sense of humor about it.
ReplyDeleteI totally believe in karma.....Whew in regards to the ring and like you said everyone was safe....Silly question but did they ever get their things back?
ReplyDeleteThat's so horrible. What an impression to leave someone. That's definitely valuable advise.
ReplyDeleteWhat a downer! I hope it didn't ruin their trip.
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS day!!!
ReplyDeleteSo very unfortunate! :( Things like that never even cross your mind when you feel like you're in a "safe" area...I sure do hope they were able to be reimbursed a little at least!
ReplyDeleteOMG, that's awful! We travel a lot and have been so lucky so far. This makes me want to be more careful.
ReplyDeleteVery good advice...I feel bad for them though! Congrats on your SITS day!
ReplyDeleteWow...great advice, and PERFECT timing. I'm heading to NY tomorrow and am meeting some friends in Chinatown for dinner. There's a police station nearby so I was thinking my car will be safe there. Now I'm thinking I'm going to have to find a place to leave my belongings so they're actually there when I get out.
ReplyDelete(...think the police will do a coat check for me) :)
Tks again!
Stefanie http://pediatricsafety.net
That is so sad that they lost everything visiting such a beautiful area.
ReplyDeleteHappy SITS Day!
Travel light. Best advice ever. It's amazing how this simple thing can reduce so much travel stress...
ReplyDeleteNice post. Love your blog!
Oh my goodness. I'm sorry to hear that they had such a horrible thing happen to them. I definitely believe in kharma and even if we never know what it is, the thieves will definitely get what is coming to them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great advice to travel light.
Stopping by from SITS.
Thanks for the advice. I will remember that on my honeymoon to Italy this August.
ReplyDeleteGlad that engagement ring wasn't lost!
Happy SITS Day! Congratulations!
That's very unfortunate and I know exactly how it feels...like you've been very violated. I had it happen on a vacation when I was younger and we couldn't believe our luck!
ReplyDeleteOh, that's so sad. But it is just "stuff". I'm glad everyone is fine.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. thankfully everyone is ok.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad. But great advice. We live in a little town, and even here I don't leave valuables in the car and always make sure things are locked up tight!
ReplyDelete