Beware of the real cost of living in Brazil...

I was in Salvador this past weekend for a friend's birthday and was mugged on the beach. Three guys ran off with my 120 year old gold Albert chain that I was stupidly wearing round my neck. With a value of over £1500, I should have known better, especially as I live in Brazil, but we were all celebrating and were dressed up for the occasion...

Equally stupidly, I gave chase shouting obscenities at these 3 locals, and nearly caught the actual thief who ripped it from my neck before cars on the main road nearly run us both over, and my friends and others wisely convinced me to stop for my own safety.

The theft is irrelevant - the real cost of my stupidity could have been my life...

Sometimes the cost of living in Brazil has to be weighed in different ways.