The stupidest thing I ever did..?
But it turned out all right (so that's spoiled the suspense for you).

A few years ago, I quit my job and decided to go backpacking around central America. I booked a flight with Lufthansa and then bought of copy of the Lonely Planet guide, which is obviously all you need to traverse the globe when you're young and optimistic. Come the day, I hopped on my flight to Frankfurt (to transfer to Mexico City), only for delays to mean I missed by conection and was given the option of flying that day (viz Chicago) or staying in Frankfurt overnight. I flew straight away.
After yet more delays in Chicago, I finally arrived in Mexico City at about 2am only to find that my luggage was all still in Frankfurt. Moreover, the entire airport was shut down for the night and I had no way of converting my travellers cheques to money to get a hotel.
There I was - 7000 miles from home, lost, with no money. I wanted my mummy.
As I stood looking forlord, the mexican bloke I'd been sitting next to on the flight from Chicago walked over. "Are you okay?", he said.
I told him what was wrong and he shrugged. "That's okay. I have a spare room. Come and sleep at my house."

I'd got into his car with him and his friend and we'd driven off into the night before I realised what I'd just done. As we left the lit central areas of Mexico City and vanished into the darkness of the barrio, it struck me that I could well never be seen again. I wasn't just 7000 miles from home and pennliess. I was 7000 miles from home, penniless, in a complete stranger's car speeding into the back streets of one of the most dangerous cities on earth. I nearly shat myself right there and then.
We eventually stopped and got out. The two flanked me into a house and showed me to a little room with a small bed in it. "You can sleep here!", they said. Was there an evil leer as they said it? I thought so, so I wedged a chair under the doorhandle.
Fearful, I slept badly. As the sun was rising at about 6am I realised that someone was trying to get into my room. The handle was rattling but the door wouldn't open as I'd wedged it. Like the coward I am, I hid under my bedsheets until it stopped.

Eventually I got up the courage to get up and peek outside.

Sitting outside the room, neatly piled, was all my luggage. My host had got up at the crack of dawn and driven back to the airport and collected my bags for me off the next flight.

I felt like such a shit. I'd been obviously scared and mistrustful, and this bloke was indeed a genuinely kind and generous man. I took him to breakfast and he showed me his city. I got his address and promised to keep in touch. I'd send him Christmas cards and gifts, such was my gratitude (and embarrassment at being an untrusting jerk). We'd be friends forever.

I kept all my papers and stuff in a bag inside my clothes for the duration of my stay in Mexico so I wouldn't be robbed.
Then, on the way home, when I thought it was safe, I had my pocket picked in Frankfurt airport and lost the lot.
And somewhere, in the back streets of Mexico City, there's a bloke who I not only offended by not trusting him but who presumably also now thinks I'm a twat because he never got the cards and gifts I promised.
(davywavy, Thu 20 Dec 2007, 15:49, Reply)