Lost ATM card: Samos     I had just spent four days on the island of Samos enjoying its mellowness and splendor. I had spent my last day on the island in Samos Town exploring and swimming. On my way back to the port I realized that I need to more money to buy my boat tickets onto the island of Kos, the complete opposite of Samos I would soon learn. ATM's are so commonplace in Greece now I had no trouble finding one. In fact I had planed to spend most of my money using my ATM card, only brining 500 dollars in emergency reserve.      I got to the ATM and took out my wallet to get my card. Only one problem, my ATM card did not seem to be there. I looked again. I went back to the hotel and checked my large bag and my daypack. I emptied my money belt. I went to the scoter rental place and to where I had dinner the night before. (For some reason I did not go to where I ate lunch). I became desperate. It was five p.m. on Friday with the banks already closed with the travel agencies closing in an hour. I went to the police and they said there was nothing they could do. My biggest problem is the bank had forced me to take a debit card with the visa logo. I had to make a decision. First I had to cancel my ATM card that was but a quick call back to the states. Remember always bring your bankcard over sea numbers with you. Having that taken care of, I went to the travel agent, booked my ticket, to my dismay from the summer port on the other side of the island, and cashed about 100 in traveler's checks to get me through the weekend.      I ended up financing the rest of my trip with a series of cash advanes on my credit card. Fortunately my card had a middle of the month cycle that I just missed so I got back in time to get the bill. When I called the bank a couple days latter to make sure it was canceled no money had been charged so I figure I lost it somehow. This may have been fortunate because I was very conserve on cash not wanting to put too much on my card. I think I ended up spending about 400 on my card and 300 on traveler's checks. My budget was one thousand.      About a year to the day I was at a pub in Berkeley. When the waitress brought me my bill, I took out my wallet and saw a bit of white fly out and hit the ground out of the corner of my eye. It was my new ATM card. I am wondering if, by chance, my lost card flew out of my wallet when I paid for my lunch. Who Knows Guide Books |  FAQs |  Photos for Sale |  Travel Essays |  Links Contact info: