Things our fathers taught us
My mom's dad taught her, and my dad taught me, no matter where you go, always look and act like you belong, and no one will bother you.
Well today was alesson in that! I was out taking photos as it was a BEAUTIFUL day, albeit REALLY cold (something like 12F or -10C) but really sunny. I was on my way home and ended up going through the main train station, and like all big stations in any city, it's a big dodgy, but for Prague, even dodgy is pretty safe!
And I run into this older couple, probably in their late 60's and the woman says to me, "If I were you I'd put my camera in my case". So I said thank you but I have it out as I am shooting.
So they told me they had JUST had their camera stolen right out of the case, several guys surrounded them and took it. And on top of that, they'd been mugged two nights before!!! Well the guys who took the camera must have seen them using it and followed them into the train station, and I am sure heard them speaking English. Part of the theft attitude is that anyone who speaks English must be rich so taking something is no big deal, they can just buy another one!!
But the point of this story is.. don't make yourself a target.. as I told this couple that I had been living here for 6 months and hadn't had anything close to a problem! Now I often go places by myself, so no one can hear me speaking, but also, many people come up to me and start speaking Czech, that or German!
I don't mark myself as a tourist... even today when I was out shooting photos, I had someone come up to me and ask me the time in Czech!
So the moral of the story is.. don't stand out and no one will bother you... oh and that sometimes our dads teach us very important lessons!!!
Well today was alesson in that! I was out taking photos as it was a BEAUTIFUL day, albeit REALLY cold (something like 12F or -10C) but really sunny. I was on my way home and ended up going through the main train station, and like all big stations in any city, it's a big dodgy, but for Prague, even dodgy is pretty safe!
And I run into this older couple, probably in their late 60's and the woman says to me, "If I were you I'd put my camera in my case". So I said thank you but I have it out as I am shooting.
So they told me they had JUST had their camera stolen right out of the case, several guys surrounded them and took it. And on top of that, they'd been mugged two nights before!!! Well the guys who took the camera must have seen them using it and followed them into the train station, and I am sure heard them speaking English. Part of the theft attitude is that anyone who speaks English must be rich so taking something is no big deal, they can just buy another one!!
But the point of this story is.. don't make yourself a target.. as I told this couple that I had been living here for 6 months and hadn't had anything close to a problem! Now I often go places by myself, so no one can hear me speaking, but also, many people come up to me and start speaking Czech, that or German!
I don't mark myself as a tourist... even today when I was out shooting photos, I had someone come up to me and ask me the time in Czech!
So the moral of the story is.. don't stand out and no one will bother you... oh and that sometimes our dads teach us very important lessons!!!
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