Venice, Italy Strike Two for Europe

Just had my wallet stolen.

It was on the overnight train from Vienna to Venice.

When we woke up, Matt mentioned that a man had opened the door to our cabin in the night, turned the light on, and asked if we had any free seats. With four of the seats converted to beds and the two of us fast asleep, it was a pretty strange thing to do and we laughed at his inability to grasp the obvious.

Moments later I realized my wallet was gone, and it took us another hour to grasp the obvious.

I was lying nearest the door. My wallet was in my pocket, easily accessible. When Matt woke to the sound, the guy covered his ass by turning the light on  and pretending to look for a seat. If he'd simply walked away, Matt would've sensed something was up.

We filed a police report. None of the officers spoke much English, but my Spanish was enough to bridge the gap. The process was made more complicated because we don't actually know what country we were in at the time of the theft.

I have insurance. All I lost was a nice wallet my mother gave me for Christmas, a bank card and credit card that I'm canceling now, a dive license, and about a hundred Euros.

I'm with a friend, and he's able to carry me until I'm back on my feet money-wise.

Certainly could've been worse.

I'm going to try to keep some perspective and spend the rest of the day enjoying Venice.

Comments

[Simone]

Dear Matt,
i read all day your journal because i dream to travel forever but... but when i cant travel i read your journal.
If you come in Rome and if you want to dance with me, please, please, email me.
With love and more destination in my mind,
Simone

[Rich]

Hmm, sorry to hear about you getting robbed. :(

I suggest that you carry your valuables in a bag stuffed by your junk if you don't want to lose it. *especially when you sleep*

My father is from Italy, I speak Italian, and I've spent a couple months in Italy just for the record.

There is a lot of theft there and it's not too hard to pick a fight. Be careful. Good luck.

[Johnny House]

F*ck Rome. You guys come down here in Marche. It's like Tuscany, but better. Green hills, lush landscapes, fresh air and great food. And plenty of partying, too!

[Heather]

That's awful!! Sorry to hear about the theft. Fucking thieves.

[Jena]

I've done Venice, in August no less. Hot as hell. Not exactly the time of my life. And Italian trains in general scare me to death. Nasty vessels. But, study abroad only allows for so much advanced preparation. Sorry about the thievery. Love your journal. Thanks for sharing.

[Cammy]

Sorry about your wallet. I had a similar experience. I got 100 Euro, a credit card and a bank card stolen when I was in Spain. That bitch....

[Andrew]

Sorry to hear about the wallet. I sent a quick message to your email account with more info about my brother's experience on the European trains.

[Candace Kowal]

I'm sorry that Italy has not treated you well Matt.

Two glorious years ago I spent a mere two days in Venice. It was probably one of the best experiences of my life. I'm sorry about your one hundred Euro's (I know that's alot in Canadian, so, it must be around the same in American).

However, the Italians are a very welcoming people and I truly hope that you have a better experience within Venice.

Candace

eff

[Italian Thief]

Damn, didn't you know Italy is a den of thieves? It's because they're lazy. With all your travelling, you haven't learned about a thing they call a money belt? What a n00b.

[Marco]

I'm from northern Italy, and it's not like a den of thieves!

Maybe you should be paying much more attention if you travel to the south, like to the dangerous Neapolis. The thieves and bad guys of Neapolis and southern Italy affect also the reputation of northern Italy, but it's really a very different thing!

Enjoy Venice ;)

[Anne]

Sorry about your bad experience on the train. I was in Tuscany the same day [staying in a great villa]. Love that country - go there at least twice a year and have never had a bad experience. [not even on a train]. In July I was on a train to Naples [on my way to Ravello] and everyone was great.
Am headed to Paris and South Africa next month [September and October 2006]. Will be there six weeks.

[walter]

I am half-italian living near roma (italy),sorry for roberry but it is the same danger everywhere in the world I suppose, how could you be so naive? anyway it is a lesson to you for the next time traveling by trains (not only in italy)and the lesson has to be paid!:)
come back again and dance on the top of a vulcano like Vesuvio or Etna and of course on the Colosseum or in the Vatican city!
god bless you boy!

[Vito]

I've just seen your video, simply amazing! I'm sorry you've had this bad experience hre but trust me, we're mosly good people,I'm from the South, even though I live in Tuscany now, in central Italy, it's not really true what Marco wrote, since bad people can be found anywhere, obviously you always need to find an escape goat and ignorance helps in spreading the bias. Hope you'll manage to get on the road soon!

[Paul]

It's too bad when you hear ignorant people sentence judgment on the basis of bias and prejudice. I hope your staying in Venice was good, and definitely you should try to visit the rest of Italy, all the way down to Sicily, becuase it is beautiful! and cereful with your belongings! people that will try to ripp you off are everywhere in the world. you just have to be smart and little careful in how you keep you stuff. Ciao!

[Mario]

When you wanna come to Perugia, Italy, you will be my guest,lodging and a real Italian food it's on me.

Let me know be email!

By

[Joemallo]

Hi Matt, when you'll come back in Italy, write me and go here in Minturno, in the middle between Rome and Naples. You can visit these cities and other with me. Thanks a lot!!!

j.

[Stefano]

Hi Matt.
My compliments for your trips and dancing.
Dont'listen at those idiots saying that Italy is "full" of thieves.
I've been robbed EVERYWHERE in the world but for this i do NOT think that that country is full of thieves.
Enjoy the life and stay far from that idiots
like Simone who commented that... ;)

[christian]

sei un grande matt!!! ti aspetto in centro italia... ci sono dei posti da paura!!! per non parlare della pizza e del vino! dai vieni.. ti aspeto!

[GmGasTer]

Hi Matt, I live in Venice, and I'm sorry for what happened. I apologise, really. But Italy is not that, and things like that happen everywhere... I've been robbed in NY, for example ;)

Hope you're enjoying your life

See ya
G

PS: great video!!

[Ted]

Matt,

I'm sorry to hear about the train. I guess shit happens. I once had a buddy who got robbed in Bolivia and lost his camera and all the photos in it. It was a great shame since we just spent a month in Chile and Argentina. But it didn't make us think less of Bolivians and we both enjoyed traveling in that country tremendously. Keep on trucking and hope you keep up your dancing!

PS- I can't believe all these other people who supposedly travel the world but can issue generalizing judgements just based on one or two incidents.

[Morena]

I'm sure that you still were in Austria, when they stole your wallet.
Sorry for your mum... but if you come around next Xmas, I'll know what to give you as a present :-)
cheers,
M

[bzach]

When i visited italy last summer, naples was one of my favorite places in all of italy. I was on there for one day, and maybe it was because it pissed rain and everywhere else i went was 35 degrees celsius and it was a welcome change. Either way, I found naples to be beautiful and patriotic.

[the dude]

Heh, I posted the Den of Thieves thing. I saw a guy I was with get pick-pocketed by children with cardboard squares. They come up to you and kiss and touch you, and the cardboard conceals what they are really doing. And I've heard other stories from people who have gone there as well. I had a woman in Rome try to con me saying she was interested in sex for like 5000 lira which was about 3 bucks or something at the time. They try to lead you somewhere and rob you.

In addition to a money belt, I suggest a biker wallet with a chain. I used one and it served me well.

[fabio]

go to sardinia! the best place in the world, with the best sea!

[Maribel]

Hello Matt,
if you'd like to visit Bologna I'd be happy to show you around (at no cost). Its such a great city, with lots to see, eat and enjoy.

Sorry to hear about the theft of your wallet. Unfortunately, thieves are everywhere and not just in Italy, but with some attention they are not difficult to keep at bay.

M.

[Napolillo]

Please come in Scampia (NA) where the people are frendly and is the place most loved in Naples after capri. There are the most important palace of the city.

Here you can dance with the shooting of 47magnum under your feet.

Whit love your Fan.

[Verena Sticherling]

Hi Matt,

fascinating great idea!
keep on going!
keep on dancing!

Verena Sticherling

[Lynn]

Sorry to hear that Italy was a bad experience. We went last fall, but did not go to Venice. Naples is supposed to be the worst for crime. We were warned to watch our stuff! If you have not been there, try Capri. Take the chairlift and try the Lemoncello when you get to the top. I really enjoyed the videos! Keep on dancing and happy travels.

[Marco]

Really Italy is out of control. Fuori controllo. Mafia rules in the south and in the north, where i live. Italians are good people, but unable to carry on their ex-wonderful Country. Matt, you visited worst places... as security... so don't renounce to the italian spectacular scenarios for your dance.

[christian]

tanks matt...
when i see this video.. i smile and i dream all time..

when you come in rome write...

christian.depropris@gmail.com

[Andrea]

hi matt!!
why u dont come in rome, italy?? we waiting here!!^__^
great man! see ya next travel!

[Luigi]

Hi matt,
congratulation for your project.You made crazy lot of people.:D
I am officially inviting you in naples...as many stupid italians said...we have many problems, unfortunately, but dancing is for everybody...contact me you will enjoy NAPOLI!!!Thanks to the italians that wrote to matt...next time talk more about your city and people...and thanks also to make conflicts in a wounderful projetc as MATT one!!!Italians, powerfull people!!!:)

[Daniele]

Hi Matt, you are a great man! Sardinian dancers are waiting for you ;-)

[Nicolò]

I think you cant ate Italy!
It's a very beautiful country, a lot of culture, history, and other funny thing.
Of course we have many trouble, but which country doesn t have??
Please come in Milan and I will dance with you!!
Ciao!!

[Lukariello from Naples]

Hi Matt! I'm sorry about your wallet and other things. But I'd like to underline that, as you wrote, you haven't been able to notice where you exactly were when the bastard took your personal belongings. Unfortunately, as I read here, there's a lot of people thinking the only possible thing is that the robber was Italian.IT IS NOT SO OBVIOUS!I'm from Southern Italy and I can assure you that only 0.01% of people is bad. Unfortunately most of Italian people, especially the ones referring to Naples as a Far West, are ignorant. I'd be glad to demonstrate you they're totally wrong. If you ever came to Naples I assure you there would be thousands people glad to dance with you.

Enjoy your trip.

Luka

[Dario]

Hi Matt!
Sorry for your wallet but as you said you don't know in which country it was stolen.
You could write something about Venice which is one of the most beautiful city in the world.

Ciao

[Lorenzo]

Ciao Matt, you are great, but where's the video of venice??????? See you soon

Lorenzo

[Giulia]

Such a shame they have taken your wallet :(
I hope you enjoyed your trip in venice anyway, next time we will have to dance together xxx

[Giulia]

Such a shame they have taken your wallet :(
I hope you enjoyed your trip in venice anyway, next time we will have to dance together xxx

[Fulvio]

Matt, there'a new bridge in Venice, the fourth on Canal Grande, it's waiting for you

[dancer]

Opened my mind, thanks matt...

[Luigi]

South Italia is dangerous, so if you don't care it can be a nighmare, sorry for you man, I come from Sicilia and I know that foreigners are always the firsts victimes of this acts...

[Antonio]

Sorry for what appened, I'm from Naples, so I know something... But the only thing I can say is that your travels and your MISSIONS are the best shape of freedom I've ever seen. Thank you.

[Lina from the South]

I can't believe that bitch that said the south gives all of Italy a bad name. That my friend is a fascist right there. I hope they steal that $3 from her ugly Gucci knock off.

Things like this happen all over the world, I'm glad it didn't stop you from seeing the real beauty that this earth has to offer.

[Gero]

I'm really really sorry for your wallet.
I hope you had fun in wonderfull Venezia!
I'm from Naples and in 27 years no one did never stole anything to me. I want to reply to a guy from "north of Italy" (italian thief)that there is no "Bad Guys" in Naples and in South. Off course there is a lot of problems and poor people like in many parts of the world, and we must solve it! Lucky you! Good boy that live in the quiet North-Italy, you are really an "angel"! right?
(Don't forget it happened in Venice!!)
Anyway Matt we'll be happy to host you in Napoli. The City of Pizza in wich you can dance among the sea, the Vesuvio, the History and the shining Sun.

[Jonathan]

Hi Matt,

Congratulations on this amazing project of yours. It gives an idea of how we should all feel about the joy of living on this planet and go around it visiting it's wonderful diversity of places and people.

I live in Milan at the moment and if by any case you plan to pass through here and make a video in front of the fantastic "Duomo" or the "Sforzesco" castle I would be honored to be a dancer in it.

All the best.

Jonathan K.

[Alessandro]

Ciao Matt,
sei un grande!!!
Quando vieni a Pisa sotto la torre pendente??
Ciao e a presto.
Alessandro

[kimera]

thief sei veramente un coglione!! ma va a cagare!!

[gikkio]

Great Matt!!
the guy who said things about the South Italy is a ignorant! and ruin the spirit of this site... South Italy is a wonderful land kissed by the sun full of fantastic peoples :)
Andy From Bergamo