I Lost My Wallet In Heathrow

Yes. That's how my 3-week, first-ever trip to Europe started. The busiest airport in the world (let's talk international arrivals). I was about to complain about how I did not sleep at all on the 20-hour journey (accumulating some 48 hours of no sleep), but this seems a bit more sensible to rag about, and definitely woke up my senses.

I've never lost anything in any of my travels, either by theft or by simply misplacing them, and this was the first one (Save for that shirt I "accidentally" left on Bondi Beach). However, I always try to play it smart - my wallet contains minimal cash, my credit card and my ATM card for emergency purchases. My company card, my backup credit card, and the rest of my money are stowed away in a difficult-to-steal and difficult-to-pickpocket bag.

Sadly, my wallet, like I said, had my ATM - so no more additional cash for me, and with the USD is treated like trash in UK+EU countries, I was good as broke. Worse, I had just drawn out some three hundred quid for the trip. It also had my driver's license and my office ID. And keys to my luggage. Drat.

I have this OCD-like habit of checking my pockets frequently, and I detected that something was missing halfway through the car ride into the city. I had assumed that I chucked my wallet inside one of my bags, and immediately checked them as soon as the car stopped in front of the hotel. With each bag that I rifle through, and empty, there was this sinking feeling in your gut that was saying, "It's gone!" As the last bag was searched and closed, I knew I was done.