Gypsy Street Beggars

by Ken T.
(New Hampshire, USA)

Be wary when dropping a Euro into the palm of that little old lady holding a child in rags. I was backpacking through Bolzano, Italy many years ago and I happened upon such a scenario. I placed a 5,000 lira note (US$2.50) into the old lady's hand as she stared off into space clutching a small, dirty, hungry-looking child dressed in rags.

No gesture or acknowledgment followed.

As I continued on I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the old lady was wildly gesturing to someone across the street. I became aware that two swarthy men in cheap suits were crossing the street towards me. As I walked along I could see in the shop windows the reflection of the two fellows gaining ground behind me. I turned right into an alley, grabbed my Italian girlfriend's arm and sprinted a few meters, stopped, spun around just as the two characters hurriedly entered the alley with both hands thrust into their jacket pockets.

I was reasonably sure they probably meant to show me a knife or club me with a small blunt object in order to rob me. I immediately dropped my pack and got into a defensive pose, staring directly into their eyes. They quick stepped toward me and came to a screeching halt just ten feet short, turned and fled.

In my many travels after that incident I became no less charitable but remained acutely aware of my surroundings. My advice to women traveling alone would be: Don't!

But if you are determined, take a self defense class (check with your local police department) tailored for the single female; keep a hiking/trekking pole handy; don't be charitable or draw attention to yourself...

Try to blend in and learn to say a convincing "no" with eye contact in the host language and as my old team leader would say,"keep your head on a swivel" - be aware all around you.