Greetings, gentles...

Just a few comments, having just returned from our short break in
Rome!

We were staying in a nice hotel at the Opera House end of the Via
Principe Amadeo, literally 2 minutes walk from the Termini
station. We were able to walk to the station and back without
feeling at all unsafe, and without seeing any (obvious) gypsies
or other pickpockets... We also used the buses a couple of times,
and while they were crowded (understatement!) again we did not
feel unsafe...

There were a few beggars on the streets as we walked about the
city who might well have been pickpockets in their 'spare' time,
but none accosted or came anywhere near us.

More annoying than potential pickpockets were the hustlers at the
various tourist sites (particularly bad around the Trevi Fountain
and in the Piazza Navona). If you say 'no' sufficiently
forcefully they back off, though...

We found the Italian people we met were much more friendly to
those with minimal Italian than (say) the French are to those
with minimal French. Everyone seemed impressed when we essayed
anything in their language and were happy to help out with
whatever English they had, plus signs where necessary. We
certainly had no trouble making ourselves understood.

Highlight of the trip for me - walking through the Forum and
seeing flowers placed on the spot where Caesar was assassinated.

We very much want to go back to Italy - if not to Rome, then to
perhaps to the Bay of Naples (Pompeii is on my 'must see' list)!

Martin D. Pay
And we had no problems with Shirley's diabetic requirements,
either, thanks in part to a couple of responses, public and
private, to my earlier post on *that* subject...

"Martin D. Pay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Greetings, gentles...
    > Just a few comments, having just returned from our short break in
    > Rome!
    > We were staying in a nice hotel at the Opera House end of the Via
    > Principe Amadeo, literally 2 minutes walk from the Termini
    > station. We were able to walk to the station and back without
    > feeling at all unsafe, and without seeing any (obvious) gypsies
    > or other pickpockets... We also used the buses a couple of times,
    > and while they were crowded (understatement!) again we did not
    > feel unsafe...
    > There were a few beggars on the streets as we walked about the
    > city who might well have been pickpockets in their 'spare' time,
    > but none accosted or came anywhere near us.
    > More annoying than potential pickpockets were the hustlers at the
    > various tourist sites (particularly bad around the Trevi Fountain
    > and in the Piazza Navona). If you say 'no' sufficiently
    > forcefully they back off, though...
    > We found the Italian people we met were much more friendly to
    > those with minimal Italian than (say) the French are to those
    > with minimal French. Everyone seemed impressed when we essayed
    > anything in their language and were happy to help out with
    > whatever English they had, plus signs where necessary. We
    > certainly had no trouble making ourselves understood.
    > Highlight of the trip for me - walking through the Forum and
    > seeing flowers placed on the spot where Caesar was assassinated.
    > We very much want to go back to Italy - if not to Rome, then to
    > perhaps to the Bay of Naples (Pompeii is on my 'must see' list)!
    > Martin D. Pay
    > And we had no problems with Shirley's diabetic requirements,
    > either, thanks in part to a couple of responses, public and
    > private, to my earlier post on *that* subject...


Does the word "Patronising" exist in your vocabulary?

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 12:49:46 -0000, "Ross Lyn" <[email protected]>
wrote:

    |
    |"Martin D. Pay" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    |news:[email protected].. .
    |> Greetings, gentles...
    |>
    |> Just a few comments, having just returned from our short break in
    |> Rome!
    |>
    |> We were staying in a nice hotel at the Opera House end of the Via
    |> Principe Amadeo, literally 2 minutes walk from the Termini
    |> station. We were able to walk to the station and back without
    |> feeling at all unsafe, and without seeing any (obvious) gypsies
    |> or other pickpockets... We also used the buses a couple of times,
    |> and while they were crowded (understatement!) again we did not
    |> feel unsafe...
    |>
    |> There were a few beggars on the streets as we walked about the
    |> city who might well have been pickpockets in their 'spare' time,
    |> but none accosted or came anywhere near us.
    |>
    |> More annoying than potential pickpockets were the hustlers at the
    |> various tourist sites (particularly bad around the Trevi Fountain
    |> and in the Piazza Navona). If you say 'no' sufficiently
    |> forcefully they back off, though...
    |>
    |> We found the Italian people we met were much more friendly to
    |> those with minimal Italian than (say) the French are to those
    |> with minimal French. Everyone seemed impressed when we essayed
    |> anything in their language and were happy to help out with
    |> whatever English they had, plus signs where necessary. We
    |> certainly had no trouble making ourselves understood.
    |>
    |> Highlight of the trip for me - walking through the Forum and
    |> seeing flowers placed on the spot where Caesar was assassinated.
    |>
    |> We very much want to go back to Italy - if not to Rome, then to
    |> perhaps to the Bay of Naples (Pompeii is on my 'must see' list)!
    |>
    |> Martin D. Pay
    |> And we had no problems with Shirley's diabetic requirements,
    |> either, thanks in part to a couple of responses, public and
    |> private, to my earlier post on *that* subject...
    |
    |
    |Does the word "Patronising" exist in your vocabulary?
    |
Are we reading the same post? I didn't notice that at all. To the OP -
Pompeii was wonderful (but I'm an ancient sites nut anyway) but Naples
itself was, well, the only place I found where the drivers were worse
than Rome and with incredible pollution. See Pompeii and the coast,
but ignore Naples IMO.

And see if Shirley will lurk for a while in the other ng I
mentioned:-)




Cheers, Alan, Australia

"Alan S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 12:49:46 -0000, "Ross Lyn" <[email protected]>
    > wrote:


<< Are we reading the same post? I didn't notice that at all. To the OP -
Pompeii was wonderful (but I'm an ancient sites nut anyway) but Naples
itself was, well, the only place I found where the drivers were worse
than Rome and with incredible pollution. See Pompeii and the coast,
but ignore Naples IMO.>>

Maybe your right but it is the amazement shown on this NG that you can walk
about without being molested and set upon by thieves and bandits which
irritates.

The bit about

<<We were able to walk to the station and back without
feeling at all unsafe, and without seeing any (obvious) gypsies
or other pickpockets... We also used the buses a couple of times,
and while they were crowded (understatement!) again we did not
feel unsafe...>>

This is probably more than you can say about Times Square Garden.

And what do they mean by obvious "Gypsies" Do they think that rogues who are
bent on committing a felony get dressed up in colourful headscarves and
golden dangly earrings to warn their marks that they're coming.

Then there is the bit about

<< There were a few beggars on the streets as we walked about the
city who might well have been pickpockets in their 'spare' time,
but none accosted or came anywhere near us.>>

It makes the place seem like Chicago in the 1920's depression - "Buddy can
you spare a dime" era.

It is a fact of life that people on holiday drop their guard and are not as
tuned in as they are on their own home ground. This makes it a bit easier
for the low life so they gravitate towards places with large concentrations
of tourists such as Railway Stations. This is not a phenomena common only to
Europe.

"Ross Lyn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "Alan S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 12:49:46 -0000, "Ross Lyn" <[email protected]>
    >> wrote:
    > << Are we reading the same post? I didn't notice that at all. To the OP -
    > Pompeii was wonderful (but I'm an ancient sites nut anyway) but Naples
    > itself was, well, the only place I found where the drivers were worse
    > than Rome and with incredible pollution. See Pompeii and the coast,
    > but ignore Naples IMO.>>
    > Maybe your right but it is the amazement shown on this NG that you can
    > walk about without being molested and set upon by thieves and bandits
    > which irritates.
    > The bit about
    > <<We were able to walk to the station and back without
    > feeling at all unsafe, and without seeing any (obvious) gypsies
    > or other pickpockets... We also used the buses a couple of times,
    > and while they were crowded (understatement!) again we did not
    > feel unsafe...>>
    > This is probably more than you can say about Times Square Garden.
    > And what do they mean by obvious "Gypsies" Do they think that rogues who
    > are bent on committing a felony get dressed up in colourful headscarves
    > and golden dangly earrings to warn their marks that they're coming.
    > Then there is the bit about
    > << There were a few beggars on the streets as we walked about the
    > city who might well have been pickpockets in their 'spare' time,
    > but none accosted or came anywhere near us.>>
    > It makes the place seem like Chicago in the 1920's depression - "Buddy can
    > you spare a dime" era.
    > It is a fact of life that people on holiday drop their guard and are not
    > as tuned in as they are on their own home ground. This makes it a bit
    > easier for the low life so they gravitate towards places with large
    > concentrations of tourists such as Railway Stations. This is not a
    > phenomena common only to Europe.

You seem to be a new poster. In the past there has been lots of postings
about the area around Rome's Termini station being an unpleasant and
undesirable area for staying. Also lots of talk about petty crime in Italy,
especially by groups of gypsy women and children. Some individuals are very
put off by all such talk. I think this poster was trying to be reassuring.

Marianne

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 14:38:54 -0000, "Ross Lyn" <[email protected]>
wrote:

    |
    |Maybe your right but it is the amazement shown on this NG that you can walk
    |about without being molested and set upon by thieves and bandits which
    |irritates.

Hi Ross

I take it you missed Viking's re-posted re-post of his re-post on the
dangers of the Rome Termini district?

Read this (try the whole thread:-):
http://tinyurl.com/56y3o

Then you'll understand what I suspect Martin was implicitly referring
to.

I took it as both a trip report and a subtle commentary on that post.
Maybe I'm wrong, if so, Martin can correct me.


Cheers, Alan, Australia

"Mimi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

<< You seem to be a new poster. In the past there has been lots of postings
about the area around Rome's Termini station being an unpleasant and
undesirable area for staying. Also lots of talk about petty crime in Italy,
especially by groups of gypsy women and children. Some individuals are very
put off by all such talk. I think this poster was trying to be
reassuring.>>


No., I'm not a new poster to this group. I'm just a reader who is weary of
the same old folk tales trotted out about the station in Rome, amongst other
equally silly urban myths.

I don't know if you have ever noticed but the place is populated with wall
to wall Carabinieri with enough fire power to satisfy even the most red
necked visiting member of the NRA.



"Alan S" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

<< I take it you missed Viking's re-posted re-post of his re-post on the
dangers of the Rome Termini district?

Read this (try the whole thread:-): No thank you.
http://tinyurl.com/56y3o >>

I have been going to Rome, on and off, for many years. The first time was in
about 1954 whilst Italy was still putting itself right after WW2. I have
seen many changes but I have never felt that there was any threat to my
personal security on any occasion. I think Viking is talking out of a place
where the sun doesn't shine.

As I have mentioned in several previous posts, if any Americans feel uneasy
about visiting Europe, a week or two spent in Washington DC, especially
around the areas where people use the bus, will more than prepare them for
anything Europe has to offer in terms of crime and danger to life and limb.

I've stayed in the Termini area multiple times, and I think the dangers
and unpleasantries are overstated. If you wear a money belt (which you
should anywhere in Europe) to prevent pickpocketing, and you use common
sense like not leaving your bags unattended in public places, then the
chance of you having a problem is close to zero. People describe it as
being like a war zone and it really isn't. The advantages to staying
around Termini are that it gives you easy access to both train lines,
it's walking distance from the ancient sites, and any necessary
traveller services are easy accessible (Internet, laundry, travel
agencies...)

[email protected] writes:

    > I've stayed in the Termini area multiple times, and I think the dangers
    > and unpleasantries are overstated. If you wear a money belt (which you
    > should anywhere in Europe) to prevent pickpocketing,

I live in Yoorp and habitually do not wear a money belt. My pockets
have never been picked.

Des

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 14:38:54 -0000, "Ross Lyn" <[email protected]>
wrote:

[Accusation of patronisation snipped by Ross Lyn]

    ><< Are we reading the same post? I didn't notice that at all. IMO.>>
    >Maybe your right but it is the amazement shown on this NG that you can walk
    >about without being molested and set upon by thieves and bandits which
    >irritates.
    >The bit about
    ><<We were able to walk to the station and back without
    > feeling at all unsafe, and without seeing any (obvious) gypsies
    > or other pickpockets... We also used the buses a couple of times,
    > and while they were crowded (understatement!) again we did not
    > feel unsafe...>>

I'm sure the original poster was responding to those huge Rome scare
postings made a few weeks ago, the ones that reported at least a dozen
molestations experienced in the course of a 2-day visit to Rome.

--
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup

On 21 Mar 2005 08:10:11 +0000, Des Small <[email protected]> wrote:

    >[email protected] writes:
    >> I've stayed in the Termini area multiple times, and I think the dangers
    >> and unpleasantries are overstated. If you wear a money belt (which you
    >> should anywhere in Europe) to prevent pickpocketing,
    >I live in Yoorp and habitually do not wear a money belt. My pockets
    >have never been picked.
    >Des

I use a money belt when traveling to cities in both the U.S. and
in Europe. My overall reason is that I don't have to attend to
the possibility of pickpockets in crowded places or airports and
such. With my money, credit cards and travel documents all in a
safe place I can have a carefree and much more pleasant experience.
I can get distracted when traveling and it is simply a good idea
to eliminate one more area of concern. I have known just enough
people who have been victims, both in the U.S. and in Europe, to
want to avoid this. Women's purses are not immune to pickpockets.
They can be in and out without your knowing it unless you guard
it zealously which distracts from enjoying travel.

"B Vaughan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

<< I'm sure the original poster was responding to those huge Rome scare
postings made a few weeks ago, the ones that reported at least a dozen
molestations experienced in the course of a 2-day visit to Rome.>>

How can you be sure? Are you clairvoyant?

The original poster made a series of fatuous statements along the lines of
"Golly Gee, I walked abroad on the mean streets of Rome and wasn't molested"



If people persist in augmenting the crowds milling about in the hot-spots
like The Spanish Steps, The Trevi Fountain, The Ponte di Paglia in Venice,
outside the Duomo in Florence and The Termini Station in Rome but do not
take normal, sensible precautions, then they deserve what they get.



There are plenty of bits of Italy where the level of crime is almost
negligible.



How many Gypsies, beggars and pickpockets are there wandering around at
large in Corinaldo? I suspect the only criminal activity which takes place
there involves dodgy accounting procedures.

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 23:40:19 -0000, Ross Lyn wrote:

    > As I have mentioned in several previous posts, if any Americans feel uneasy
    > about visiting Europe, a week or two spent in Washington DC, especially
    > around the areas where people use the bus, will more than prepare them for
    > anything Europe has to offer in terms of crime and danger to life and limb.

I know what you mean. I spent a few hours there waiting for a bus in the
mid 80s. :-(
--
Tim C.

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 12:49:46 -0000, "Ross Lyn"
<[email protected]> mangled uncounted electrons thus:

<snip my original post for brevity>

    >Does the word "Patronising" exist in your vocabulary?

???

Not my intention, I assure you; and if you took either the tenor
or the words of my post in that way, my apologies...

Martin D. Pay
No .sig comes to mind...

Martin D. Pay <[email protected]> wrote:

    >On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 12:49:46 -0000, "Ross Lyn"
    ><[email protected]> mangled uncounted electrons thus:
    ><snip my original post for brevity>
    >>Does the word "Patronising" exist in your vocabulary?
    >???
    >Not my intention, I assure you; and if you took either the tenor
    >or the words of my post in that way, my apologies...
It seems that only one person saw it that way.

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED