An unexpected incident took place in Menidi, a suburb northwest of Athens, when a young French cyclist touring Europe was robbed inside a Roma settlement after a GPS navigation error led him off course.
The 22-year-old cyclist, identified as Andri, had set out on an ambitious journey to cross Europe by bicycle in seven months. His trip had gone smoothly until he arrived in Greece, where his GPS mistakenly directed him into the Roma settlement in Agia Sotira, Menidi. What initially appeared to be a simple navigational detour quickly turned into a nightmare, as he was attacked and robbed.
“Yesterday morning I was in Thebes and I was heading to Athens. The GPS led me into a Roma settlement without me realizing it,” the young man told Star TV. He added that “about five or six people were around me, and another three were coming from behind. They took my small bag, which contained my phone.”
After the attack, Andri was left alone, without a phone and in an unfamiliar area. A passerby helped him reach the Menidi Police Station, where he reported the incident. Officers from the local security department collected descriptions of the suspects and accompanied the French cyclist back to the settlement in an effort to identify those involved and locate the stolen belongings.
Despite the ordeal, Andri’s journey continues. Having already crossed half of Europe and experienced dozens of encounters along the way, the young cyclist says that Menidi will remain forever etched in his memory.
