I was in BA earlier this month, walking from the Obelisk to the Casa Rosada. I was about 1 1/2 blocks past the NH hotel when I sensed I was being watched. I've travelled alone all over the world enough to know to trust my instincts. I looked over my shoulder and there was a woman walking behind me. I then began walking on the curb, figuring that if anything were to happen I'd walk into the street.

I then felt something land on my head. Yep, it looked like a birdy hit me. A second woman appeared out of nowhere, and they began to offer me napkins. At this point, more birdy gifts seemed to materialize. One of the women tried to open my shoulder bag, pointing to a bottle of Diet Coke and asking if it was water. At that point, I knew there was something wrong. They kept wiping me down. I was thinking to myself "Who in the HELL would wipe bird crap off a stranger?" At that point, I put my hand on my wallet (it was in my front right pocket), and put my other hand over my bag - it was over my shoulder, so it couldn't be slid off. I realized that if they lifted anything, it would only be some Chilean pesos.

After their "help," they asked a man (who also materialized out of nowhere) to take me to a restaurant to "clean up." I took about 5 steps with him, at which point I said "f--- it" (out loud) and hailed a cab back to my hotel. When I got there, I realized that they got about 30,000 Chilean pesos, which is ~$45 US, from my front left pocket. I also realized that the bird "gift" smelled like ketchup, but it was green. Funny thing was, if they'd gone for my back left pocket they'd have gotten $200 USD. So that was saved.

After all this, I walked back from Recoleta (my hotel) to the place where the theft occurred (I have a compulsion to confront and exorcise bad things), and noticed that a phone booth near the tree from which the non-existent bird perched was also sprayed with green goo. Clearly I'd been had.

Oh well. Considering the extent of my travels over the last 15 years, this is the first (and only) real act of crime I've experienced. But if you go to BA, remember: If something doesn't seem right, then it's not right, and get yourself out of trouble before trouble finds you.

Will

TravelinWilly - sorry to read your story.
I found this recently on the Internet, forgot where:

".....I love Buenos Aires but I am one who had mustard/mayo combination sprayed on
mine and my wifes clothes while the man and woman who "spotted it" and
called it bird **** tried to wipe it off ( they were actually picking my
pocket). A third man was offering "agua" just around the corner to assist
in getting more of it off our clothes. Meanwhile, before we discovered the
pick pocketing, the couple had to leave and my wife was thanking them as
they dashed across 6 lanes of traffic to catch a bus. I suspected what was
happening, checked my pockets and while my wife was talking to "agua man" I
dashed after them. My wife saw me catch up with them just as they hit the
sidewalk and assumed I was going to give hem a tip. She couldn't understand
why I was shaking the man. But then he led me back to where my wife was and
removed my money clip from under a post office box, all the while
apologizing profusely. The 3rd person with the agua was simply trying to
get us away from the site so one of them could return and pick up the money
clip after we left. A lesson well learned. It happens in any large city,
Rome, Mexico city , Guadalajara etc. Gotta keep your wits about you.
Mexicowilkie...."

We met a German couple at this old café in the city center of Buenos Aires. They also complaint about a ketchup attack.

[This message has been edited by USAFAN (edited 05-21-2003).]

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[This message has been edited by USAFAN (edited 05-21-2003).]

This happened to me nearly 2 years ago near the Hilton as I was walking to Florida. They (man and woman) used green paint or something resembling that. I was onto the trick straight away, took the tissue paper they offered to help me with, and quickly withdrew from the scene.

Better than Dog crap on your sandels in Copacabana. I will tell you what though. Little guys who throw crap on me when I am in a bad mood, will never do it again. I wont go into detail, but I smashed his face in it, and made him clean it off and did not pay him...