By Lynne Cory

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

What if on a recent trip to the Hermitage Museum, our guide repeatedly told us to look out for pickpockets and one woman was skillfully robbed of her wallet while in the middle of our group?

What if I heard her say many times: it will probably be me that loses my luggage or gets stopped at the airport or gets lost in the crowd?

What if she “unconsciously” set herself up for this shock?

What if the pickpockets were kind in Russia and within a few minutes her wallet was found at lost and found with everything but her money and she could continue traveling with no interruption?