Warning for Those with Interview in Bogota Colombia

[bigtex 0]

Well, we finished all the Visa process and my fiance from Aremania, Colombia is safely here in Texas and we are very happily married. However, I wish to warn those who go for their interview in Bogota that they should never carry their original passports on the streets of Bogota. Yes, I had heard pick-pockets can lift anything you have and on my first visit to Bogota I carried only a copy of my passport. However, on our interview week I made the mistake of carrying my original. My fiance, her two children and I had just exited from the fabulous Gold Museum and were making our way into a nearby souvenir bazaar when suddenly I felt something hit my head from above and saw something white fly by. It was a small bit of paper probably but it made me look up which was what the crooks intended for me to do. Almost instantaneously 4 people bumped into me and pointed up and said water was falling from building. I knew better and immediately recognized that I was being pick pocketed. I reached first for the back pocket where I usually carry my wallet but remembered I had safely left it in the hotel. Then I reached my front side pocket of my pants for my passport wallet and alas it was gone. I was sick! I immediately started calling out Policia Policia and quickly an officer came over and I pointed out the 4 people slowing walking away from me. They had no fear since they weren't the ones with the wallet. It was another person apparently. However the yelling and screaming I did calling for the cops must have done some good as a lady walked over in a minute with the wallet and said a man gave it to her to give to me. I opened it to find nothing missing--not my passport or my Mastercard which wisely had my own photograph made into it as Citibank does. What a relief and a miracle. I have little doubt that had I not started yelling and pointing at the people that it would have been gone. There was no money in it but I would have gladly handed them a wad of money I had in the other pocket which they missed! It was the passport I needed to leave after our interview the next day. Well, I have learned my lesson and please do the same--in Bogota or any place don't carry your passport orignal unless you need it for some specific reason and then with great care.

Edited April 28, 2006 by bigtex

[Carola 0]

You were so lucky that you had your stuffs back! yes I've heard that Colombia has the best pick-pockets schools in the World.

[sjoefl01 1]

I heard the pickpocket stories when I was there. I must say that I felt pretty safe in Bogota. There are cops everywhere. The people I was with were constantly on the lookout for pickpockets. The only time I got a little worried down there was in the very same area you were in. There was a really dirty looking fella that tried to sell me some Emeralds. It creeped me out pretty bad. I don't know exactly the plan was but I ducked into one of those tourist shops in about a half a second.

Bogota is a beautiful place filled with some of the finest people in the world. Unfortunately there are a few people there that force you to be on guard.

[Jasman0717 9]

[ingjohanna 0]

[GaryC 7]

Thats good advice for just about any country. Don't want to get caught without your passport. Major headache getting it replaced.