Attacked!

Valencia was amazing! Parks, beaches, sun, Lladros... but enough of the great times because tonight was SCARY!

I arrived in Madrid at 3pm and toured the wonderful Prado museum. Afterwards I walked back towards my hostel and stopped for a kebab on the main street. As I was walking, i noticed a guy following me and i stopped to look in a window and then turn the other way, letting him pass, when he grabbed my purse. He pulled out a knife and held it to my face. I held my purse tightly, not because it had money - a whopping 5 euros - but it had my journal and that is priceless to me. i screamed - help me, help me, help me - and then i kicked him. We swung around a bit on the sidewalk as i peed my pants screaming and then i was thrown into the busy street where a taxi slammed on his breaks and was honking. Two American girls came to help as the 16ish year old guy and i were spinning and i was kicking around in the street, and i was still holding one end of my bag and he the other. Finally he ran.

One of the girls cut her hand badly and was gushing blood along the sidewalk and had to go to the hospital. thankfully, i only had my chin and neck cut like a paper cut with the knife and my hand had a small cut too. Plus, i ahve my purse. There were Americans at the hotel who walked me back to my hostel because i didnt want to be on the streets alone and i havent left the hostel since. This is the first time since i have been traveling alone that i have felt scared. Everyone keeps saying that i am so brave for traveling but i am typically with other backpackers and most cities feel real safe, until now.

i leave for amsterdam tomorrow and it couldnt be sooner. then i fly home on thursday, arriving at 420pm. it is better that this happened later in my trip then at the beginning because i may have come home sooner.

thanks for reading, see you soon, adios
love
katie