Re: [93attendees] so, was there any crime?

[David C Lawrence <[e-mail]>]

Aaron Falk writes:
> Did the threats of pickpockets materialize?

Being hobbled, as I was by a sprained ankle, tends to make someone
hyper aware of their vulnerability ... the lame gazelle separated from
the herd.  I was alert for the possibility that my infirmity might be
taken advantage of in various scenarios, but really none of that ever
materialized.

Pretty much the worst "being taken advantage of" that I experience
almost certainly had nothing to do with my injury but rather the cost
of convenience.  When I asked my hotel for a taxi to the hospital they
arranged one, and said it would be 250 CZK (~ 10 USD) for the ~ 1 km
trip.  Further, the taxi didn't take credit cards so the desk clerk
spot-changed $20 USD for me to 460 CZK, which isn't highway robbery
but was certainly on the lower end of exchange.

The return trip from the hospital, arranged by the people there, was
80 CZK (~ 3.25).

On the flip side of all that, even with no sort of applicable
insurance, the grand total cost for four x-rays, a wrap with an
analgesic pad, and a shiny new pair of crutches was about 50 USD.

This also all made for superb treatment by Swiss Air and various
airport personnel on the trip back ... enough so to briefly entertain
(but of course reject) the idea of faking injuries for all future
flights.