I debated posting anything about this but if I can help anyone through this experience then it will be a good thing. A few months ago Alana, Becca and I planned this trip to COSTA RICA. I felt 100% safe and confident going here being a Spanish speaker and having already traveled around South America.
I will preface this with the fact that we are safe and sound here right now at the Marriot relaxing and rejuvenating. The first day that we were in Manuel Antonio we were walking down the beach back to our hotel at night (early though like 8:30). We saw two men come out of the jungle and they attacked us and robbed us. It was very scary for us and kinda personal to the details as of what really happened so I will not go into that here. My purpose is to tell everyone to prepare themselves and have a plan.
As we talked it over after we wish we would have had a plan as to what we would have done. All of us reacted on our raw first instincts.
2. One of us didn't fight and gave up the purse pretty easily as not to be more physically hurt or raped.
3. One of us fought them, struggling to keep their stuff and got thrown around.
Luckily we were not stabbed or shot or nothing like that happened. It was one of the scariest things seeing those men come out of the jungle and seeing them approaching us. What I wish is that we had
1. MACE. I would have had it out. Ready to spray (not in your mouth like I did when I was 12. Yes that is right. I thought it was Binaca and sprayed it in my mouth and Tarzan screamed it all the way to the faucet where I spent the next few hours drinking my guts out)
2. TASER. One of my friends told me she asked for a taser for Christmas I think. I was like "Really? A taser?" But now I totally get it. This was actually the first time in my life that wish I had a gun on me. I really wish I had power over them to get them away from us.
The point is we feel like we were in a movie. The things in the movies like 'Taken' and 'Broke down palace' really do happen. You always think of what you would do in that situation but then you never really know untill you go through it. The scariest part for me besides right when I saw them coming at us was when I had got to safety, I handed my stuff off to Alana and had to run back in the dark to ....what? Was I going to try to beat up the guys attacking Becca? Was I running back in to find that they had taken her? Did I do the right thing by running?
Well, please prepare yourselves for a situation where you are taken off guard and have a plan for when you feel unsafe. Besides about 800$ cash, iphones, cameras, credit cards and passports, drivers licenses, etc luckily we came out of there alive. We spent the day yesterday at the US embassy trying to a temporary passport for Beccs and lane so we could get back home.
When all was taken care of in that sense, all we wanted was the Marriot and pizza. Anything American and safe...so we came to this AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL HOTEL and we had a great day today recovering, laying at the pool, spa timing it, working out and eating out and FEELING SAFE. Interestingly enough that on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the basic human needs are survival and feeling SAFE.
We have an escort for the next few days until we leave. We will still be able to see some of the country and not be scared for our lives. Please pray for us. I hope this experience can all help us in the future.
16 comments:
O mY goodness!! I m so glad u girls are safe. What a horrifying experience.
I'm gunna throw up! Are you ok? I'm freaking out. I love you and will pray...COME HOME!
OH....MY......GOSH! I am speechless! That sounds absolutely horrific! I am SOOO glad you girls are ok! AHHHH be safe and get home safe and sound! Stuff like that has always been my worst nightmare...I don't even know what I would do! I'm prayin for ya! XOXO!
Heids, I am in tears right now! I am so glad you are safe. I can't believe it! I pray that you are all ok! Love you.
Oh my........we are soooo glad and feel really blessed that you girls are all ok. Wow........how scary. You have taught us to think again about safety as we travel in these third world countries. We arrived late last night in the Philippines with the missionaries picking us up. We are safely staying in the Holiday Inn which is a nice hotel here. We'll leave our valuables in the safe and look for mace today!! Until then, we'll deal with the jet lag. The time is exactly opposite from us. Can't wait to give you and the girls a BIG HUG and cry together. Love you Love you all
Oh my........we are soooo glad and feel really blessed that you girls are all ok. Wow........how scary. You have taught us to think again about safety as we travel in these third world countries. We arrived late last night in the Philippines with the missionaries picking us up. We are safely staying in the Holiday Inn which is a nice hotel here. We'll leave our valuables in the safe and look for mace today!! Until then, we'll deal with the jet lag. The time is exactly opposite from us. Can't wait to give you and the girls a BIG HUG and cry together. Love you Love you all
Que te paso?... ok lo que entendi , es que fuiste a costa rica con unos amigos y te robaron unos hombres que salian del bosque, oh es terrible lo que cuentas...pero ver que lo escribes es saber que estas a salvo ahora junto con tus amigos por favor cuidate... abrazos gigantes!!!
Mi rota te quiero mucho!!!
"Comentario con respecto a la piramide de Maslow"
Mami Nancy dijo que los sudamericanos somos paises 3th mundista y es cierto por que no tenemos las necesidades basicas (minimas ) cubiertas , tal como lo indica la Piramide de Maslow , en tu caso fallo la seguridad pero en el caso de tus agresores , que en ningun caso estoy defendiendo,pero quiero decir con esto que sus necesidades tampoco estan cubiertas y sin duda es algo que involucra a la sociedad y principalmente a los gobiernos cubrir las necesidades de estos tipos de sujetos y de el entorno en que se desenvuelven, si se supera esto podremos decir un dia que los sudamericanos dejamos de ser paises 3th mundista
y las personas podran viajar por el mundo sin amenaza alguna .
es una quimera...
fue un pensamiento no mas.
This is nuts- I am so glad you are safe....I almost called you last week and asked if I could meet you all down there....I am so glad everyone is ok- I hope Becca and Alana are doing ok.....I heard you bolted and got away. I am sick about this.....call asap
Con Cuidado! I'm so sorry, I hope it all works out okay, I am glad you are all safe.
Oh Heidi this is really scary. I hope you are okay as well. It is such a good reminder to us all. I think we get so used to being safe as we travel wherever we go. Being robbed is scary in itself but to be attacked and robbed is sooo awful. I hope you girls are okay and are feeling better. Have a safe rest of the trip.
I am so glad you girls are safe and everyone is ok. I can't imagine how scary. I am praying for your girls! Stay safe and next time just come to Boston!
I am freaking out! I have an extra thing of mace, I should've given it to you before you left.
I love you and hope you will be ok. Can you get home without your ids?
Give Alana and Becca my love too.
You are in my prayers.
Heidi! I'm freaking out!!! Are you ok! This is soooo scary...you are all in my prayers...I just saw this today...I'm so glad you all are safe and together right now...be careful! I can't wait to see you...i'm so glad you're safe! I love you tons! Call me when you get back!
Yikes! It scares me to think of what could have happened. I am so glad you guys are safe and you had no serious harm. You guys were really blessed to get out of that okay. I've heard Costa Rica is a really scary place to be right now so BE SMART and have fun.
Oh my gosh Heids!!! So scary! I can't even imagine what that felt like! I am so glad you girls are safe. Love you!
WOW! When dad told me I was freaking out!!!!!!!!! I am so glad you are ok! What would I do with out you Heidi?
Glad you are safe!
Love you so much <3
Hill
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