I have read extensively on scams to look out for during our trip. I
guess I should consider myself lucky that up until today it's only been
tried on me three times - twice in Barcelona (just 3 walking steps
apart) and once in Paris. Today marked the fourth attempt and, boy, did
they mess with the wrong person at the wrong time because I was already
in a really pissed off mood.
It happened at the bottom steps of the Sacre Coeur. J and I started our
ascent to the top of the hill when 2-3 guys with colorful strings in
their hands tried to stop us. From the looks of it.. it was the classic
"friendship bracelet" scam.
I first gave them a polite "No, thank you." But, they were extremely
aggressive. I tried to walk past them, but 2 of the guys blocked my
path. They basically cornered me because I had the railing to my left,
one guy in front, another guy to my right and J behind me. I next said,
"No!" a couple of times in a higher volume, but that didn't work, which
surprised me. In the meanwhile, J is sticking out his arm trying to fend them off while also firmly saying, "No!" Finally, I screamed at them, "I AM EXTREMELY UPSET RIGHT NOW SO LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" and pushed my way past them. Honestly, images
of me punching them in the face and holding them
by their coat lapel and kneeing them in the groin flashed before my
eyes, but it was probably a good that I didn't. Despite all the anger I
could have unleashed on them, it would be hard to overcome three 6 feet
tall well-built men with who knows what kind of weapons in their
pockets.
As we left, I heard a lot of "F* you... F* you F*ing you.. F*... F*.."
I smiled inside. Me being a 5'4" vulnerable-looking Asian girl, they
probably thought I'd be cake...