I got pick pocketed on a trolley bus, in Lviv, Ukraine. I had my passport, drivers liscense, debit card, hotel card and about $100 USD in UKR currency in my passport wallet. When I found out the shit was gone, I went back to my hotel, canceled my debit card over skype and the hotel security took me to the police station. The police took a report and were supposedly supposed to come back to the hotel and bring their report. (Didnt happen.) I left my state ID and about $50 in my hotel room. Since I didnt have any passport. My friends western unioned about 800 buck to my friend in Ukraine. We got the money and had to take a train to Kiev to get a temporary passport.
After that fiasco, I was trying to call my bank to figure out how I was going to get access to my money. Eventually, I found out I could Western Union myself money from my account. Problem solved there.
The day before I was supposed to leave, some one brought my passport, wallet, drivers liscense and debit card to my hotel (but kept the cash.) Some girl brought it and left a note with her name anumber, saying she found it on the street and wanted a reward. (Yeah right.)
When I left for the airport, I gave the taxi driver 100 UAH as a tip. Back then, that was about $10. The bastard almost cried. He looked like I gave him $1000 bucks.
Leaving the airport didnt go with out a hitch. I was not thinking and pulled out both passports, when I was supposed to show it at passport control. The lady at the passport booth had the police come and they almost arrested me or something. I had a letter from the US counsolate saying I was robbed and it was a temporary passport. But the airport workers apparently did not understand.
Some one standing in line translated for me, saying that I was robbed, got a new passport, then some one brought my old passport and wallet to the hotel. After he translated all of this, passport lady has a look on her face like holy shit....oh, I understand now! Then she stamped my new passport and waved me through.
After that fiasco, I was trying to call my bank to figure out how I was going to get access to my money. Eventually, I found out I could Western Union myself money from my account. Problem solved there.
The day before I was supposed to leave, some one brought my passport, wallet, drivers liscense and debit card to my hotel (but kept the cash.) Some girl brought it and left a note with her name anumber, saying she found it on the street and wanted a reward. (Yeah right.)
When I left for the airport, I gave the taxi driver 100 UAH as a tip. Back then, that was about $10. The bastard almost cried. He looked like I gave him $1000 bucks.
Leaving the airport didnt go with out a hitch. I was not thinking and pulled out both passports, when I was supposed to show it at passport control. The lady at the passport booth had the police come and they almost arrested me or something. I had a letter from the US counsolate saying I was robbed and it was a temporary passport. But the airport workers apparently did not understand.
Some one standing in line translated for me, saying that I was robbed, got a new passport, then some one brought my old passport and wallet to the hotel. After he translated all of this, passport lady has a look on her face like holy shit....oh, I understand now! Then she stamped my new passport and waved me through.