The good people of Playa

**Susie Q Roo** · 05-12-2006

Just wanted to share what just happened to me at Walmart. I had first gone to Sam's and used the ATM there, getting out 8000!!! pesos in anticipation of paying a workman at my home later. I bought my few things at Walmart, paid, headed out the door with my cart and just then put my hand into my purse to put the coins into my wallet.

NO WALLET!!! So I turned around, the security guard stopped me and I tried to explain about mi dinero - who knows how to say wallet en espanol! So he radioed the other security guard and let me pass and I ran to the cashier and asked and she pointed at the service desk and and there was my wallet in the hands of the other security guard! Es mio!! So he handed it to me and told me to check it and it all looked fine and I thanked him and stopped sweating and went back out to the car. I waited until I was seated there to count every bill and not a single peso was missing! Whew... it's not been the best of weeks and if I had lost my wallet and everything in it, it would have become the worst of weeks. Thankfully, most people are good, and whoever touched my wallet fell into that category. I (STILL) love Mexico!

angelhouston819 · 05-12-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Susie Q Roo

Just wanted to share what just happened to me at Walmart. I had first gone to Sam's and used the ATM there, getting out 8000!!! pesos in anticipation of paying a workman at my home later. I bought my few things at Walmart, paid, headed out the door with my cart and just then put my hand into my purse to put the coins into my wallet.

NO WALLET!!! So I turned around, the security guard stopped me and I tried to explain about mi dinero - who knows how to say wallet en espanol! So he radioed the other security guard and let me pass and I ran to the cashier and asked and she pointed at the service desk and and there was my wallet in the hands of the other security guard! Es mio!! So he handed it to me and told me to check it and it all looked fine and I thanked him and stopped sweating and went back out to the car. I waited until I was seated there to count every bill and not a single peso was missing! Whew... it's not been the best of weeks and if I had lost my wallet and everything in it, it would have become the worst of weeks. Thankfully, most people are good, and whoever touched my wallet fell into that category. I (STILL) love Mexico!

wallet is cartera. i learned that word after mine was stolen right out of my purse by a kid when i was there in february leaving me there with no cash and no way of getting cash. thanks to my playa info friends i was able to make it for the next 8 days i was there. you were soooo lucky!!

A'ndrea

Rissask · 05-12-2006

That is a great story!

I think the majority of people are honest.

maestranba · 05-12-2006

¡Qué suerte tienes!!

It's a good thing you realized it right away. My feeling is that you might not have found all your pesos "a dentro!"

prettywoman · 05-12-2006

So glad to hear your wallet was safe and sound. On a trip to Ixtapa years ago I left a very valuable watch on the bar of a pool bar and didn't realize until the next day that I did that. Imagine my excitement finding that the bartender was holding it in hopes I would visit his bar again! He was tipped very well!!!
On my last trip to Playa del Carmen (last week of February 2006) I had my wallet stolen also, right out of my purse while dancing at the ******t, No money for the rest of my trip. I never take my purse out at night, typically just a lipstick and pesos in the pocket but I wanted my camera that night and thought it would be easier to just bring my purse. Never make that mistake again. There are good and bad people everywhere.

krazy4playa · 05-12-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by angelhouston819

wallet is cartera. i learned that word after mine was stolen right out of my purse by a kid when i was there in february leaving me there with no cash and no way of getting cash. thanks to my playa info friends i was able to make it for the next 8 days i was there. you were soooo lucky!!

A'ndrea

I remember reading about that. That just sucks when you are in a position and then have to borrow from your friends to get through.

angelhouston819 · 05-12-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by prettywoman

On my last trip to Playa del Carmen (last week of February 2006) I had my wallet stolen also, right out of my purse while dancing at the ******t, No money for the rest of my trip. I never take my purse out at night, typically just a lipstick and pesos in the pocket but I wanted my camera that night and thought it would be easier to just bring my purse. Never make that mistake again. There are good and bad people everywhere.

that is exactly when my wallet was taken out of my purse. it was during Carnival. hadn't had one drink yet for the evening. turned my back for about 1 minute, saw a little kid standing by my purse, but didn't think anything of it. i then ordered a drink and went to pay.....and no wallet!!! saw the kid the next night trying to attempt the same thing with other people. now, i don't carry cash in my purse.

A'

xqqzme · 05-12-2006

Happy story Susie...I like those.

playadreamer · 05-12-2006

[quote= Thankfully, most people are good, and whoever touched my wallet fell into that category. I (STILL) love Mexico!

[/QUOTE]

What a relief! I know how you feel...

A couple of years ago my wife and I took the ferry over to COZ for the day. It was our final full day before returning to Oklahoma. We rented scooters (don't recommend this) and cruised south to a beach club. As we were leaving, I must have dropped my wallet under the table.

I left and travel all the way around the island to about "Coconuts" when I realized I had lost it. We immediatly back tracked at top speed!!!!

We arrived at closing time and to my astonishment, a waiter had found it and held it for me!

With our flight returning the next morning I was so greatly relieved to have my drivers license and all other important information.

I gave the guy a 200 pesos finders reward!!

I have found most of the locals to be very hardworking and honest.

Pam801 · 05-12-2006

That is a great story and unfortunately I always think everyone is good because I get burnt on occasion. I too was in Walmart last January and was wearing a fanny pack; I kept my credit cards in one front zipper pocket and cash in the other front zipper pocket. It was my first day in Playa and I went to get the staples I would need for the rest of my 10 day trip. I bought my items with a credit card that I had saved for the trip. The next evening I stopped by to see some friends and I bought these beaded hand made wooden items from a man that my friends knew and spent my last pesos. I went on-line to check to see how much money I had in the bank before I left and saw that I had made 2 purchases at walmart with my bank card. I sat back wondering what was up with that, I didn't use my bank card.....................once I realized that my bank card was gone and I had not one peso left; I made the necessary calls to stop all bank transactions. Thank god my bank knew me because they let my friend go to the bank and take out all the money that was left and depleat my ready reserve and he western unioned me the money. I was so broke that the women at western union had to give me 2 pesos to make a copy of my license. Over the next 3 days 9 transactions came into the bank for an apporximate total of $900.00. The worst part of this story is that all the purchases were made at silly tourist gift shops and tequilla shops on 5th. I KNOW that my card was stolen by a tourist and I believe with all my heart that it was NOT a local person. I don't know what the safest way to carry cash is other than in a pocket because the fanny pack didn't work either. I still love playa and would live there in a heartbeat if I could figure out a way to make a living because I believe most people have integrity. Hats off to them!

caramba · 05-12-2006

I left my camera at an internet spot last year and a couple of hours later, (and after a couple of bar stops along the way) we were back at our condo and I realized it was missing. We hightailed it back up to the cafe and there it was at the front desk, safe and sound. It's not a really expensive camera but I take LOTS of pictures and was so bummed when I realized it was gone. The girl at the desk got a fat tip from me as I danced out the door shouting "gracias"!

**Mindbender** · 05-12-2006

My advice is put some semtex in your purse which can be detonated by remote control if stolen.

Effective and satisfying.

Or just don't leave your bag open or unattended.

djon · 05-13-2006

@ Mindbender. Good one!

MargaritaBreeze · 05-13-2006

Most problems can be solved with the proper amount of high explosives. I was going to recommend the fanny pack as well..Main point is AWARENESS..

mofi · 05-13-2006

Great to hear that. Similar thing happened the other day at the hotel. A man who had a little to much to drink left his wallet beside the sink in the mens room. The wallet had about 1500 dollars american in it. Fortunately for him, the areas publicas person who was incharge of the washroom that night was very honest, turned it in to security and didn´t take a thing....he was one happy guy.

05-12-2006	#1 (permalink)
Susie Q Roo paradisiac Join Date: May 2003 Location: Q Roo Posts: 10,535	The good people of Playa Just wanted to share what just happened to me at Walmart. I had first gone to Sam's and used the ATM there, getting out 8000!!! pesos in anticipation of paying a workman at my home later. I bought my few things at Walmart, paid, headed out the door with my cart and just then put my hand into my purse to put the coins into my wallet. NO WALLET!!! So I turned around, the security guard stopped me and I tried to explain about mi dinero - who knows how to say wallet en espanol! So he radioed the other security guard and let me pass and I ran to the cashier and asked and she pointed at the service desk and and there was my wallet in the hands of the other security guard! Es mio!! So he handed it to me and told me to check it and it all looked fine and I thanked him and stopped sweating and went back out to the car. I waited until I was seated there to count every bill and not a single peso was missing! Whew... it's not been the best of weeks and if I had lost my wallet and everything in it, it would have become the worst of weeks. Thankfully, most people are good, and whoever touched my wallet fell into that category. I (STILL) love Mexico!

05-12-2006	#5 (permalink)
prettywoman lost on fifth Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 21	Wallet Stolen So glad to hear your wallet was safe and sound. On a trip to Ixtapa years ago I left a very valuable watch on the bar of a pool bar and didn't realize until the next day that I did that. Imagine my excitement finding that the bartender was holding it in hopes I would visit his bar again! He was tipped very well!!! On my last trip to Playa del Carmen (last week of February 2006) I had my wallet stolen also, right out of my purse while dancing at the ******t, No money for the rest of my trip. I never take my purse out at night, typically just a lipstick and pesos in the pocket but I wanted my camera that night and thought it would be easier to just bring my purse. Never make that mistake again. There are good and bad people everywhere.

05-12-2006	#9 (permalink)
playadreamer ruined Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: A Little North of the Border Posts: 83	[quote= Thankfully, most people are good, and whoever touched my wallet fell into that category. I (STILL) love Mexico! [/QUOTE] What a relief! I know how you feel... A couple of years ago my wife and I took the ferry over to COZ for the day. It was our final full day before returning to Oklahoma. We rented scooters (don't recommend this) and cruised south to a beach club. As we were leaving, I must have dropped my wallet under the table. I left and travel all the way around the island to about "Coconuts" when I realized I had lost it. We immediatly back tracked at top speed!!!! We arrived at closing time and to my astonishment, a waiter had found it and held it for me! With our flight returning the next morning I was so greatly relieved to have my drivers license and all other important information. I gave the guy a 200 pesos finders reward!! I have found most of the locals to be very hardworking and honest. Last edited by playadreamer : 05-12-2006 at 04:37 PM.

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05-12-2006	#3 (permalink)
Rissask Brit basher Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 18,429	That is a great story! I think the majority of people are honest.

05-12-2006	#4 (permalink)
maestranba añejo Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,706	¡Qué suerte tienes!! It's a good thing you realized it right away. My feeling is that you might not have found all your pesos "a dentro!"

05-12-2006	#8 (permalink)
xqqzme Bi-Coastal Beacher Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Las Vegas and St George Posts: 4,788	Happy story Susie...I like those.

05-12-2006	#10 (permalink)
Pam801 way into it Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts Posts: 103	That is a great story and unfortunately I always think everyone is good because I get burnt on occasion. I too was in Walmart last January and was wearing a fanny pack; I kept my credit cards in one front zipper pocket and cash in the other front zipper pocket. It was my first day in Playa and I went to get the staples I would need for the rest of my 10 day trip. I bought my items with a credit card that I had saved for the trip. The next evening I stopped by to see some friends and I bought these beaded hand made wooden items from a man that my friends knew and spent my last pesos. I went on-line to check to see how much money I had in the bank before I left and saw that I had made 2 purchases at walmart with my bank card. I sat back wondering what was up with that, I didn't use my bank card.....................once I realized that my bank card was gone and I had not one peso left; I made the necessary calls to stop all bank transactions. Thank god my bank knew me because they let my friend go to the bank and take out all the money that was left and depleat my ready reserve and he western unioned me the money. I was so broke that the women at western union had to give me 2 pesos to make a copy of my license. Over the next 3 days 9 transactions came into the bank for an apporximate total of $900.00. The worst part of this story is that all the purchases were made at silly tourist gift shops and tequilla shops on 5th. I KNOW that my card was stolen by a tourist and I believe with all my heart that it was NOT a local person. I don't know what the safest way to carry cash is other than in a pocket because the fanny pack didn't work either. I still love playa and would live there in a heartbeat if I could figure out a way to make a living because I believe most people have integrity. Hats off to them!

05-12-2006	#11 (permalink)
caramba añejo Join Date: May 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,475	I left my camera at an internet spot last year and a couple of hours later, (and after a couple of bar stops along the way) we were back at our condo and I realized it was missing. We hightailed it back up to the cafe and there it was at the front desk, safe and sound. It's not a really expensive camera but I take LOTS of pictures and was so bummed when I realized it was gone. The girl at the desk got a fat tip from me as I danced out the door shouting "gracias"!

05-12-2006	#12 (permalink)
Mindbender Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 3,096	My advice is put some semtex in your purse which can be detonated by remote control if stolen. Effective and satisfying. Or just don't leave your bag open or unattended.

05-13-2006	#13 (permalink)
djon lost on fifth Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 23	@ Mindbender. Good one!

05-13-2006	#14 (permalink)
MargaritaBreeze way into it Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 170	Most problems can be solved with the proper amount of high explosives. I was going to recommend the fanny pack as well..Main point is AWARENESS..

05-13-2006	#15 (permalink)
mofi añejo Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Now: Calgary, AB Before: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 2,095	Great to hear that. Similar thing happened the other day at the hotel. A man who had a little to much to drink left his wallet beside the sink in the mens room. The wallet had about 1500 dollars american in it. Fortunately for him, the areas publicas person who was incharge of the washroom that night was very honest, turned it in to security and didn´t take a thing....he was one happy guy.

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