BA police refused help

My husband, Stephen, and I had two days in Buenos Aires, Argentina, prior to boarding Oceania Cruises’ Insignia, so we hired a driver and also a guide, Monica Varela (phone 11/15 4407 0268 or e-mail monyliv@hotmail.com or varmonica@gmail.com), who was recommended in the guidebook “Frommer’s Buenos Aires” (third edition).

On Dec. 22, 2011, the first day of our private tour, at 1:30 in the afternoon on a residential street, Stephen was attacked from behind by two men. He was put in a choke hold, rendered unconscious and robbed of his watch. The attackers escaped when two more men on motorcycles came by and drove them away.

We had been aware of our surroundings and saw nobody on the street prior to the attack. The robbers apparently were waiting in a doorway or behind a parked car.

Stephen’s arm and head were injured and his glasses damaged.

We thought we were safer with a private guide and driver than we were by ourselves, but they did nothing to help us.

The tourist police were not helpful and refused to take our information regarding the attack. They refused to give us written documentation that we had reported to them.

Our guide typed up a statement corroborating our account, including the fact that the tourist police refused to help or to give us anything in writing.

Once aboard ship, we heard stories of other passengers who also were mugged in Buenos Aires.

CHRISTINE BRADY
Wappingers Falls, NY