pickpockets in South America :(

are professionals.
today, had my first AND second taste of this cultural experience.
some (insert 'slang dirty person') stole my cell phone out of my little bag today. it was so quick and instantaneous.
:(

fran & i have been pretty good about being aware, watching our backs and our stuff, keeping an eye out, etc etc. but, coming out of a travel office next to the subway stop, coming up the stairs off Ave Florida, in the literal course of 20 seconds, i felt a jostle, turned around, noticed the one outer zipper to my bag open. the first brief thought was "did i forget that like that?" it took a block to realize what happened and what was missing. normally wouldn't have anything of value there, but frick - did then. lesson learned. bastards.
funny, too. somebody tried to hit us later, totally different neighborhood (near Recoleta off Avenida de Santa Fe). we were hypersensitive that i felt the (insert 'slang dirty lady') grab the zipper and turned around and caught her! but, she denied, and we don't speak enough for me to drill her. anyway, so that was a Reminder Lesson.
"in your easy to access pocket, leave dirty underwear."

we visited the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora del Pilar after, and the Recoleta and Evita's tomb, and had a microbrewed honey beer at Buller's, and saw a sweet tango show at La Querenda. (fran will embellish).
leaving for El Calafate in Patagonia on Sat am.
all is fine and good. ~s..