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Birds don't shit on your shoulder en el centro.

Well another robbery story, but not that bad.

First off, I love bogota: the people, climate, the improvements it has made but I guess there is small skilled group of people trained to take your money or possesions.

I was walking up the septima around calle 19. I had just stopped at a crosswalk with a bunch of people. Right before I stopped, I kind of saw two fat poor looking women scurrying out of the street, it was out of the corner of my eye, and I wasn't paying attention, because I was looking for a la postre, (happy hour 2-5 2 for 1 coffee, good cakes). I thought the women were crossing the street, since it is normal to see people running across the septima.

Anyway, I felt wetness on my shoulder, a women tapped me on the shoulder and pointed up, I was totally confused, but hey there are alot of pigeons, so it was inevitable, right? I had been shit on. Well I guess what was more inevitable was losing my wallet living here. I was standing there looking for a bird, I reached down and my right front pocket was empty.

Some people around had sort of realized what had happened but they were giving me different versions of where to run. I was totally confused and kind of unsure what to do or think, I was ready to run but I had no idea where to run or who I would chase.

Yep, they got my wallet with all my cards, dive card, and about 150-170k (my fault for not leaving more at home!)

Anyway, even if you aren't giving papaya, they can still get you, this technique was amazing, please just spread the words to your friends, it will always be in the back of their mind when someone feels a wet neck or shoulder, and you can grab you pocket before you look for a bird, afterall, what are you going to do, if it was a bird, it already relieved itself, you don't really need to know what breed the shit came from?

Best of luck, don't give papaya, and don't walk down the septima looking for something, without your hands in your pockets!

By kpennell on Apr 12, 2007, 21:49 in Friendly Talkzone.

utopiacowboy says on Apr 12, 2007, 21:54:

Birdie, birdie in the sky
Why'd you do that in my eye?
I'm a big boy, I won't cry
But I'm sure glad that cows can't fly.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

poco says on Apr 12, 2007, 22:05:

That's a bummer dive card

Lost mine in the Gran Caymans just when my snorkeling school was starting to break even and I'd rented a place in Hell.

"Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov

REYNA says on Apr 12, 2007, 22:11:

Awww.. Sorry to hear your story. And to think, people say it is good luck when a bird craps on you. hmmm

poco says on Apr 12, 2007, 22:20:

Depends on how you address the problem people say it is good luck when a bird craps on you.

In ancient times there was a community known as the Goodnu's. As all communities did in these times the Goodnu's lived right on the river bank for trading, transportation and sustenance. Water was almighty and worshipped as a God. One day there was a tremendous hurricane far out in the ocean. It's ferocity blew a large flock of "Foo" birds way off course sending them inland many hundreds of miles and in the vicinity of the Goodnu's community. The Goodnu people had never seen a "Foo" bird and were quite curious as to it's sudden and obviously evil presence. The "Foo" bird, as we all know, is a very ugly, evil-looking bird. This caused the Goodnu people to become very uneasy believing they did something wrong to God and that this bird should be avoided. One day a "Foo" bird flew overhead and screeched: "Foo, Foo" and shit on a Goodnu's head. The man ran screaming into the river believing the Holy powers of the river would cleanse him of this evil turd and its consequences. As soon as the man washed this unholy turd from his ear canal he suddenly keeled over and died. The Goodnu's were now convinced of the "Foo" bird's evilness. The next day a woman was outside and heard: "Foo, Foo". Before she could react the "Foo" bird dropped a bomb landing a syrupy turd across her face. Shocked and panicked she ran into the river furiously washing her face of this sloppy stew. The village watched in horror as this woman also died once cleansed of the runny turd. The very next day a village wiseman heard those famous words: "Foo, Foo". He like others had witnessed the terrible deaths of two of his villages' people in the last two days. He too was struck right in the forehead by the "Foo" birds accurately guided turd missile. His first reaction was confusion and he sprinted towards the river. However, he stopped short and thought of his obvious demise should he cleanse the turd wafer from his forehead. He did not cleanse the poo pile from his forehead and lived. So the wiseman went to the other people of the village, gathered them around and stated to them: "There is an obvious lesson here my good people. The moral of this story is: 'If the Foo shits, wear it.'".

"Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov

goin_south says on Apr 12, 2007, 22:38:

glad I have avoided CBlog, if that is the sort of leader/mod they have, who say: good luck if a bird kraps on U.

Well, hey there, then Utopiacowboy and Monpirri: MUCHA BUENA SUERTE!
jajaa..

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Apr 12, 2007, 22:39:

Long live PBsH and... foq de queen.

and, thank you.

scotty says on Apr 12, 2007, 22:49:

Up in the sky! Its a bird! Its a plane! Yup its a bird.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

caslug says on Apr 12, 2007, 23:23:

moneybelt.. when i was in colombia.. especially going to little "shady" areas.. always wear money belt. I would have only about 100k in pocket.. and about 300-400k in money belt, with my credit and ATM card. EVEN local COL said be careful in el centro, especially against pickpoketing/purse snatching. In the day you worry less about muggings..

goin_south says on Apr 12, 2007, 23:33:

I had my money in a 'money hat' in Medellin El Centro... ...cause I never hear about money hats before; and, so didn't think anyone would suspect gringo with money under hat... Anybody here ever hear of Money Hats? But, I guess someone saw me put the hat back on with all those pasty pesos on top of my head...and, damn if someone didn't come along and snatch the hat out from on top of me.

But, I am short, so it was no big feat. Could have been Little Feet, for all I know.

and, thank you.

goin_south says on Apr 12, 2007, 23:34:

Hey Caslug! good to see you here again on PBH. Where are you hiding these days??

and, thank you.

REYNA says on Apr 12, 2007, 23:44:

Feliz I don't necessarily endorse that belief, but it is something I have heard in the past. BTW, I'm glad you have avoided CBlog too. :-)

goin_south says on Apr 12, 2007, 23:50:

then, por favor... mas mierda en su cabeza! jajaa.
yo tambien, #%*ch!
regresa a C-blog, por favor.
Ciao.

more eloquently, senora nueva loreda,... may the bird of paradise fly up yer nose
lol?
And, welcome to pbsh.

and, thank you.

REYNA says on Apr 12, 2007, 23:56:

Thanks.. Thanks for the warm welcome. Don't try to pick a fight with me because you won't win. :-)

goin_south says on Apr 13, 2007, 00:09:

SOOOY... S000LAMENTE un hombre de feliz, fortuNado, y....paz.
hey, don't you already have a boyfriend to fight with???
I know, reyna, if you and kat tag-team up on me, I'm a dead gringo.

and, thank you.

Man Tequila says on Apr 13, 2007, 00:32:

In Colombia, I wear a money belt, use a small thin wallet that doesn't make the pocket bulge (with all my bills under 10k), never carry my credit and debit card together, keep an extra bill under my shoe liner, carry a driver's license for ID plus a photocopy of my passport only. Never had a problem. Paranoid? Moi? I don't think someone would even realize I had a wallet in my right front pocket.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

goin_south says on Apr 13, 2007, 00:38:

I said before, always give those things to my lady... tengo no problemas.
(she ain't given that purse up to NOOOOO BODY!)

and, thank you.

scotty says on Apr 13, 2007, 02:11:

everybody knows including the colombians that you have a money belt. put the dinero in your socks like we used to do in the navy. the thieve rub up against your pockets to check for a wallet and they rub against your waist to check for a money belt. no one stoops over to look at your socks, if they do you kick em in the teeth.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

gringolondinense says on Apr 13, 2007, 04:55:

theres a smililar trick some guys have been doing on the Tube. A guy will sneek up on you with a ketchup bottle, and squirt loads over you back. You wont know this has happened yet.

A minute later, a guy will approach you and say "OH man! look at that mess on your back". You will take your coat off to see whats on your back. Meanwhile the guy will "help" to clean the crap off your coat. Another guy will take your bag/luggage while you are being helped.

gringolondinense says on Apr 13, 2007, 04:55:

forgot to say GREAT PHOTO POCO!! :-)

JMCana says on Apr 13, 2007, 05:18:

Not the only one Kpennel is not the only one to be taken by the pigeon mess ploy. Recently a man from England visited Colombia along with members of his family. It was a group of young girls who expertly took a very thin wallet from his right front pocket. And he stated the same thing of many of the others around creating confusion.

Well, there is another terrible tale of Colombia going back to England. And perhaps keeping more people from visiting. Too bad Bogotá police can't understand the idea of what a sting operation is. Well, anyway I have never heard of one being done by Colombia law enforcement. Then again pick-pockets are notorious in Rome but people still keep going there.

rocinante says on Apr 13, 2007, 05:20:

The wallet is a throw away My wallet is ready to be handed over or stolen at any time. Leaving the apartment I put little cash in my wallet, 40-50K and a business card or two in the wallet slots to make the wallet look "Lived in". I have an ATM/debit card in my sock In case I need extra money - this card only has about 300K available - in case of a live stick up. I transfer money from a savings account to the card via PC as needed. Other cards and cash are in the apartment.

Stick up is really the only way anyone will get my wallet or what's in my sock as I usually wear tight jeans and tight socks.

Birds shitting on you is considered good luck. After one lets fly with a crap in my general direction I play the lottery.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

kat1 (Moderator) says on Apr 13, 2007, 05:25:

My wallet was stolen in that spot too kpennell. few years ago, it was taken from my handbag, i don't know how they did it but they sure have butter fingers because I didn't feel anything.

I think part my fault because actually i was carrying a rucksack and put my wallet there. BIG MISTAKE!!

engage brain before opening mouth

kat1 (Moderator) says on Apr 13, 2007, 05:29:

I think a word of warning to tourist is that in avenidad 19 you have to be extremely careful, cuz there are lots of pick pockets there.

I was even robed at knifepoint near the Colombo Americano, this was before I got married and I'm still remember the size of the knife arggggggg

engage brain before opening mouth

podborski says on Apr 13, 2007, 08:36:

no one trusts the banks here in argentina so it is a cash society. People pay cash for houses. So there is a whole industry built around delivering large sums of money safely.

The guys that I have seen are usually young men with tatoos, piercings and baggy jeans. They don't look like they have any money. They strap the money to their shins with duct tape. I have seen guys deliver very large sums of money this way, and they don't seem to sweat it. They take the subway. They don't appear to be armed either.

The key I think is to be sure nobody knows about it

Just for anyone who wants to buy an apartment in cash or whatever, I don't think you need to strap 20,000COP to your leg :)

Man Tequila says on Apr 13, 2007, 12:50:

No one in Argentina trusts the banks or the casas de cambio. I had quite a few people ask me if I could give them an alternate bill even though nothing was obviously wrong with the original -- paper texture, size, moistness, watermark, thread, luminous ink for the corner denomination number (and someone else later accepted the given bill).

poco says on Apr 13, 2007, 13:21:

This fits the requirement perfectly Stick up is really the only way anyone will get my wallet or what's in my sock as I usually wear tight jeans and tight socks.

I'm not sure what would happen during a "stick up" nor is there any confidence that being brushed against or touched won't happen and the quantity of cash "stashed" might be large or small depending on the user.

There is some reassurance that if this happens you might as well ask them to reach in and get the cash.

"Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov

Mr. Hollywood says on Apr 13, 2007, 15:08:

Birds shit on me like clockwork, yet I've never had a wallet taken. Guess I must attract a better class of birdshit. This is the first time I've felt lucky about that.

Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 13, 2007, 15:12:

Bay Area, Poco? Now that does not suprise me! Just my opinion...and brought to you by the lowest of the low, and foul

Miguel_Clavo =)..aka, Clavo...Colombia es pasión!

"F.A.R.C..S.U.C.K.S"

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

fugdis says on Apr 14, 2007, 19:45:

got done I was walking through the plaza caicedo the other day when this bloke crapped on my shoulder.While I was distracted by this a pigeon swooped down and took my wallet.

goin_south says on Apr 14, 2007, 20:30:

that's what they call a harrier pigeon

and, thank you.

poco says on Apr 14, 2007, 20:56:

Being shit on could be good luck A little bird was flying south for the winter. It was so cold that the bird froze and fell to the ground in a large field.

While it was lying there, a cow came by and dropped a load of hot, steaming dung on it. As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of shit, it began to realize how warm it was. The dung was actually thawing him out! He lay there all warm and happy and soon began to sing for joy.

A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate. Following the sound, the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung. The cat promptly dug the bird out, killed him and ate him.

Lesson: Not everyone who drops shit on you is your enemy. Not everyone who pulls you out of shit is your friend. And when you're warm and happy in your pile of shit, keep your mouth shut!

"Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent" - Isaac Asimov

goin_south says on Apr 14, 2007, 23:16:

Ja,aja,jajaa. THE BEST I've heard for a long while here , poco I save alot of icons and pics....
but, I think I'll pass this one up.

and, thank you.

griffbos says on Apr 15, 2007, 09:07:

hmmm I don't think it is a cblog thing , II have had a bird shit on me each time I have been in Colombia and each time I was told it means good luck will come your way. I just laughed now when it happens as I haven't seen any good luck yet.

Gomezman5 says on Apr 15, 2007, 14:28:

la 7 con 19 Yep, that intersection ranks right up at the top of possible intersections you can get "Picked".

BxUnika says on Apr 15, 2007, 22:34:

Interesting This happened to me about two weeks ago in San Victorino in the plaza area, though I did not get robbed. I felt something wet and figured it was a bird. Then I thought,"This is a set-up" and kept walking. I guess I can't blame you for thinking it was a bird, but I realized vety quick that this was a set-up. They do this shit here in NYC as weel, supposedly to tourists.

goin_south says on Apr 15, 2007, 23:12:

Well, I guess if you want alot of good luck then you can go to SeaWorld, to the SeaLion tank where they sell shrimp and squid and whatever to feed the lions. The gulls are smart, and know the people are bad (lame aims) and are hovering en mass.

It's like 'fishing the birds in de Bay'
who are hovering en mass over
'de live shrimp at play'.

Imagine...it's easy.

and, thank you.

Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 16, 2007, 00:00:

Go to see the monkeys at any zoo..they like to throw thier shit at you ...if it connects, then it is bad luck.....i would imagine!

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo =)..aka, Clavo...Colombia es pasión!

"F.A.R.C..S.U.C.K.S"

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

goin_south says on Apr 16, 2007, 00:14:

Are you drinking... Jungle Juice, tonight?

Imagine...it's easy.

and, thank you.

Miguel_Clavo says on Apr 16, 2007, 00:30:

No, la cerveza mas fina!..............Corona, of course! with a slice of lime, no salt....Hecho en Mexico...by Central American illegal immigrants....jajajaja...

Just my opinion...

Miguel_Clavo =)..aka, DragonSlayer...Colombia es pasión!

"F.A.R.C..S.U.C.K.S"

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"