That Time I Almost Got Mugged In Madrid

Yes. You read that correctly. I was in Madrid, minding my business, when I was almost mugged. Keyword: almost—because I’m quicker than that.

So this was May 2018, I’m on a trip with my momma and aunties, hopping all around Spain and Portugal (I will blog about the details of that trip another day). And because I am the traveler of my family, anytime I go anywhere with them, I am expected to create our itineraries. No pressure.

On this particular day, we were on a free walking tour (which I am a STRONG advocate for and this attempted mugging has not changed my views on them), exploring all the major sites of Madrid. Prior to the start of the tour, the tour operator advised us that we need to be aware of our belongings because pickpocketing is extremely high. I had a small backpack which I mainly wore to the front of me—not only because of pickpockets, but also because I kept needing to get my camera out.

This other lady on the tour also had a small backpack, which she seemed to not pay any attention to… like literally, two different people (not on our tour) came up to her and said her backpack was zipped open and to shut it. SMH

ANYWAY, we are on the tail end of the tour, when I was towards the back of the group talking to one of my aunties. I remember feeling the slightest tug on my backpack (which was on the side of me—hanging on one shoulder so I can easily reach for my camera.)  I look back and this man was VERY CLOSE to me and when he saw me turn around, he backed up. End of story right? Wrong.

We keep walking and I feel the tug again. I turn around and this man had his hand literally on my backpack TRYING TO UNZIP IT!!! Y’all I went OFF! You hear me?! OFF!! I began screaming at the man that he was trying to ROB ME (chile the dramatics!) and how he needed to BACKUP NOW!! He and his friend looked terrified!! Partially and probably because they didn’t speak English and I was hollering and pointing, etc. etc. and accusing them of trying to rob me.

But get this. Remember the woman I spoke about earlier? The one who didn’t pay attention to her backpack? One of the muggers handed her HER WALLET once I started yelling! And the woman told the mugger thank you! I said, “HE JUST ROBBED YOU, DON’T THANK HIM!” The muggers kept shaking their heads before running down a side alley. Lol whew it was a scene!

So we catch up with the group and I start telling the tour operator how I almost got mugged and how I was pretty sure the other lady was definitely mugged. And the operator told me (after everything calmed down and the tour was done) how he has never been to America but has seen movies, and I reminded him of the angry black woman character (he was so pure when he said it, I couldn’t be mad—he didn’t know that was offensive LOL.)

Anyway, I wore my backpack to the front for the rest of that trip.

Happy Traveling Travelsetters!

All smiles, with my backpack, at the end of the tour in Madrid, Spain.