Anyone Else Been to United Kingdom, Spain, Morocco?

[Dibbons]

In the summer of 2009, as part of my University graduation requirements (Spanish major), I spent the required study time abroad in a few places. Beginning in Spain: Madrid, Avalon, Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial, Malaga, Barcelona, Cartagena, Sevilla, Ronda, Mijas, Torremolinos; then: Gibraltar (United Kingdom); then Tangiers, Morocco (Africa); and finally: London (England), Bath (England), Windsor Castle (England), Stonehenge (England).

In plain daylight, three guys assaulted me when the door opened for me to get on the subway in Madrid. The first one dropped coins in front of me and stooped down to pick them up so I could not walk forward. The second one (from behind) put his arms around both my legs so that I could not move. The third one stuck his hand in my right front pocket and flipped my passport out onto the ground. Fortunately, my wallet was in the opposite pocket. When they let me go, I crawled over on my hands and knees to where my passport was lying on the ground and recovered it. Meanwhile, the delinquents ran away and I was able to keep both my wallet and passport.

 

[SattyNoCar]

In plain daylight, three guys assaulted me when the door opened for me to get on the subway in Madrid. The first one dropped coins in front of me and stooped down to pick them up so I could not walk forward. The second one (from behind) put his arms around both my legs so that I could not move. The third one stuck his hand in my right front pocket and flipped my passport out onto the ground. Fortunately, my wallet was in the opposite pocket. When they let me go, I crawled over on my hands and knees to where my passport was lying on the ground and recovered it. Meanwhile, the delinquents ran away and I was able to keep both my wallet and passport.

Sounds like tax time here in the US! Scary stuff!

I've never traveled over seas. The only times I've left the country was when I went to Ontario with my Mother when I was a kid, and when I moved here to TX...........

 

[MOPOWER871]

You are lucky, by now they probably got their act together and are fine tuned at the art of picking pockets. spent two weeks in the U.K. Duxford, Swindon, Fairford for the Air Tattoo international airshow at RAF Base Fairford.

 

[Sahara]

Of the places mentioned I’ve been to England, wife has been to Spain for the Olympics. Never had a problem, due in equal parts to blind *** luck and a measure of street awareness from a youth spent drug dealing. I can generally sense what is going on around me. So far, at least.
Saw a few interesting things though, which weren’t at all like being in northern Canada.
We are in Lyon, France. Shuttle bus drops us off about a block from our hotel for some unknown reason. We have to cross a park carrying our luggage, it’s about ten at night, and dark. Park is full of what appears to be zombies. Wife and I know that this is a bad situation. While we are mulling over our options two police officers on patrol appear, with H&K MP5 submachine guns. They are alert and aware. Wife and I sprint across the park to our hotel while they are there.
Washington D.C., we emerge from the subway after a late supper. Leaving the station a female crack head lunges from the bushes and screams at us, scaring the living dog **** out of us. She laughs at our fear, but Jesus, if she had a knife or something we could be dead now, it happened so fast.
Immediately after the 9/11 attacks when they reopened airports wife and daughter and I are going to Dallas. At that point they weren’t sure if there were gonna be more attacks. The U.S. military was providing airport security, and they were NOT ******* around. Every soldier that we saw was alert, ready for action. Very professional. Very, very tense times.
On a humorous note, just before covid shut everything down we are in Victoria, B.C.
We are walking back to our hotel. On our way we pass a police SWAT operation just shutting down. There is an unmarked black SUV and officers are putting their assault rifles into the safe in the back. I carefully wander over and ask if they are selling guns.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Not Morocco.. But as a kid I lived in Spain for two years... Spent time in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon & Iran.. Pops was in the Air Force...

Then I joined the Navy & spent time in a few more interesting places..

 

[69a100]

I've been to both Spain and the U.K. Safety in numbers, we're you alone or with a group? I've never had a problem being in a group.

 

[Red63440]

Been in the U.K. twice and in Africa twice....

 

[DeltaV]

England, France, Germany, Malaysia, and Taiwan. No problems. I haven't been out of the country since 2001.

I was going to visit Cypress in 2018, but the U.S. State department recommend against it.

 

[JDmac72chrgr]

85 & 87, Italy (7 times) & Toulon France: 86 throughout South America (Pablo was having "fun") & Scotland: Leave wallet "hidden" (tape it under a drawer in hotel room) and only carry ID & passport in a hanky in your back pocket, $10 in one pocket that you give up IF this happens, extra cash in your sock/shoe/boot so u can get back to hotel. Work in a CITY, ya learn things like this.

 

[5.7 hemi]

Never been to those 3rd World Countries, but I’ve flown over them.

 

[ruffcut]

I think I'll stay close to home! None of that **** going on here!

 

[Alsd65]

Travel money belt better stash for passport

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I think I'll stay close to home! None of that **** going on here!

Wanna Bet?

 

[ACME A12]

Never been to Morocco, but I've been to Spain & the UK...and a lot of other places beyond our borders...

 

[1 Wild R/T]

Never been to Morocco, but I've been to Spain & the UK...and a lot of other places beyond our borders...

Sorry but the words triggered this...

Well I never been to Spain
But I kinda like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it
They don't abuse it
Never gonna lose it
I can't refuse it
Well I never been to England
But I kinda like the Beatles
Well, I headed for Las Vegas
Only made it out to Needles
Can you feel it
It must be real it
Feels so good
Oh, feels so good
Well I never been to heaven
But I been to Oklahoma
Well they tell me I was born there
But I really don't remember
In Oklahoma, not Arizona
What does it matter
What does it matter
Well I never been to Spain
But I kinda like the music
Say the ladies are insane there
And they sure know how to use it
They don't abuse it
Never gonna lose it
I can't refuse it
Well I never been to heaven
But I been to Oklahoma
Well they tell me I was born there
But I really don't remember
In Oklahoma, not Arizona
What does it matter
What does it matter

 

[SDCoronet]

I don’t have many good things to say about the places I’ve visited in Europe. 15 Years ago visited lots of Spain, southern France, Italy, Sicily. Spanish food gave me diarrhea. Was hit on by a flaming gay man just outside the Madrid cathedral. Milan was a filthy expensive dump where the people traveling with me, including my mother, were treated poorly by the paid guide. My friend was nearly picked-pocked by gypsies there. We went to various restaurants throughout Italy, not one had pasta that was cooked correctly. The pizza was either very simple (margherita) or just average- Asked for sausage on pizza, and they put a single partially splayed hotdog facing up like a middle finger. This happed in multiple restaurants. Florence was beautiful, but after 40 or so Madonna paintings was over it. In Sicily, I witnessed my uncle pay a little ‘protection money’ to park at a public beach parking lot so the car would not be damaged when we came back.

What I liked? Lots of young beautiful women everywhere. Loved the city’s of Rome and Cefalu. Lake Como is stunningly beautiful. Some excellent food at a few French restaurants. Otherwise most of Europe that I visited was not impressive at all. As a person of Italian heritage, I was very embarrassed of my ancestral home. Hope it has changed for the better.

 

[Dennis H]

48 continuous, Tijuana and Canada. People talk like getting sick on cruises is normal and getting pick pocketed on a train in Europe is normal. Hotel theft normal. Muslims burned down Paris and over ran Oxford. Think I'd rather be low on gas on 66. **** foreign travel.

 

[Slap Stick]

I don’t have many good things to say about the places I’ve visited in Europe. 15 Years ago visited lots of Spain, southern France, Italy, Sicily. Spanish food gave me diarrhea. Was hit on by a flaming gay man just outside the Madrid cathedral. Milan was a filthy expensive dump where the people traveling with me, including my mother, were treated poorly by the paid guide. My friend was nearly picked-pocked by gypsies there. We went to various restaurants throughout Italy, not one had pasta that was cooked correctly. The pizza was either very simple (margherita) or just average- Asked for sausage on pizza, and they put a single partially splayed hotdog facing up like a middle finger. This happed in multiple restaurants. Florence was beautiful, but after 40 or so Madonna paintings was over it. In Sicily, I witnessed my uncle pay a little ‘protection money’ to park at a public beach parking lot so the car would not be damaged when we came back.

What I liked? Lots of young beautiful women everywhere. Loved the city’s of Rome and Cefalu. Lake Como is stunningly beautiful. Some excellent food at a few French restaurants. Otherwise most of Europe that I visited was not impressive at all. As a person of Italian heritage, I was very embarrassed of my ancestral home. Hope it has changed for the better.

They build beautiful motorcycles on the shores of Lake Como.

 

[440Coronet500]

Mexico, France, Germany, and Japan I enjoyed each of them. I was traveling on business and have colleagues in various countries. When you know people who live there they know where to go and where not to! I really enjoyed my stay in Japan, I like those Asian women! 440'

 

[1 Wild R/T]

48 continuous, Tijuana and Canada. People talk like getting sick on cruises is normal and getting pick pocketed on a train in Europe is normal. Hotel theft normal. Muslims burned down Paris and over ran Oxford. Think I'd rather be low on gas on 66. **** foreign travel.

There are a lot of great place to visit around the world including many places in Mexico, Tijuana isn't one of them... Yes there's plenty to see right here in the USA but I've enjoyed being other parts of the world & would love to see more.... You can get mugged in San Jose just as easily as in Madrid... Portland was on fire for months... Hell half of California was on fire last summer... I travel for a living, stay at allot of nice mid level hotels Hilton not Super 8... Stuff gets stolen out of hotels here just like the rest of the world... Yes it can be worse if you travel to the wrong places, I've been to factories in Brazil where your met at the airport by security & taken to the plant... Picked up at the plant & taken to the hotel...

But I've been to plants in parts of the USA where I'd have felt better with armed security so it's not like the US is all safe & wonderful either...