I Almost Got Mugged in Brazil

Getting mugged is probably one of the most common concerns when traveling to a new location, especially solo. 

Manaus, Brazil is known for higher crime rates and targets towards unsuspecting tourists.  Although I knew this in advance, I decided to take a chance.  It was a port that the ship was staying overnight in, and a group of people decided they wanted to go out and check out the night life. 

I initially declined, but the more I thought about it I decided I might as well see what it has to offer.  It is "better to regret doing something, than to regret doing nothing," afterall, right?

I attempted to exit the ship fast enough to catch up with the rest of the crew, however they were nowhere to be found.  Alone & female in the dark hours of the night, I instantly felt sketched out and unsafe.  I decided to walk up to the nearest intersection to see if I could spot any people walking.

After not seeing a single soul in sight, I decided to turn around and call it a night.  As I was heading back, I heard someone approaching from behind.  He was jogging towards me and appeared to be in a hurry, so I stepped to the side to let him pass. 

At that point instead of him passing, he came right up to me and started grabbing at my arms.  I knew he was trying to get my cell phone out of my hands which was the only belonging I was holding.  He was shouting something in Spanish (which I could not understand) but I still knew what his intentions were. 

Although it was a scary situation, I did not feel in immediate danger and continued to defend myself since he did not introduce any weapons or try to use strong force.  We basically danced around for a few moments until the ruckus caught the attention of another group down the street. 

At that point, they shouted and the guy ran off.  It was a moment of relief and from there I decided to join the group, who also happened to be ship crew and were heading to the same club that my other friends had gone to.   

Although everything worked out in the end, it definitely taught me to take precautions, don't expose your valuables, and always be aware of your surroundings!