THE DANGERS OF TOUR GROUPS (PART 2)

By the time I reached the lobby Carol was there like a blood hound- and all I saw were three young guys talking German- loading bags into two vans outside- and I did hear Carol say, "YOU HAVE OUR BAGS!!!" Just then I saw the pick up a green Rick Steves backpack- and I said, "That's mine!" He stops- and one of the young guys says, "Yah- the bags are all on the bus-- its fine"- Carol says, "No- its not fine- you have our bags!" "Yah- and dey are on the bus- its fine- dahn't worry.." That's when I said, "We aren't with ANY group!" The guys freeze- look at each other- and then for the next couple of minutes its kind of a blur- the backpack was clearly mine- and not only did it include all my clothes- but my computer- all my paperwork including every password I need for every account I have on the internet- my credit cards- license-- yeah I KNOW I never should have left it out of my sight, but we're talking SCRAMBLED EGGS AND BACON!!!

We found Carol's suitcase first- and when it seemed we might not find mine- it was in the front seat of the van- the guys felt so bad- but it wasn't there fault we left the luggage in a pick up place for the tour- as we started down the street our hearts were pounding- and it took a few minutes to fully comprehend what it might have meant to have lost all that- as we were saying about our 25th CAN YOU BELIEVE we were so lucky! The guys drove by in the vans, honked the horns and the driver yelled out the window, "Have a greaht rest of your holiday!" We waved back- and made our way to the train- and remember I thought that construction was going to be our biggest problem getting out of town! :)