I know, I know, I know.  I’m supposed to be a “fearless” female traveler.  And I was, until three days ago.  Three days ago I got robbed in Argentina, and while it was only petty theft, it really kicked my butt in ways I’d never anticipated.  I’m writing this post to help other travelers in Buenos Aires, and other travelers who get robbed, so that you can navigate the following days with the knowledge that I wish I’d had.

How I Got Robbed in Buenos Aires

There I was, earlier this week, at 2:00 am on Tuesday morning, throwing my hands in the air and dancing along to fantastic Latin pop music at a nightclub in Buenos Aires. I’d been traveling for six months straight and everything was going my way… until it wasn’t.

It only took a second, but I knew it happened right away.  My trusty travel purse, the one with a slash-proof chain-metal strap and two zippered compartments, suddenly felt lighter than usual.  I looked down and saw that it was open.  My money, my credit cards and my transit pass were all inside, but my four-year-old iPhone 6 wasn’t.  Because the money was still there, my first instinct was to think that I’d somehow dropped my phone.  I scanned the floor around where I’d been dancing, but it wasn’t there.  I ran over to the bar to ask the bartender if anyone had turned in a lost phone, but he shook his head.  I knew I’d been robbed.