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Just return from a 2 weeks’ holiday in Europe.
Spent 8 days in Italy where we stayed at Rome, Florence and Milan. Took a day trip to Pisa and Venice while we were in Florence and Milan.
I wish I could post some pictures of the watches I bought to share with you but I did not buy any. What I am going to share instead, are things that you should be careful about when you are in Italy, so that your holiday would not be spoiled.
Pickpockets
Italy is renowned of pickpockets, next to pasta and pizza. More so in Rome which is the most crowded city in Italy. This pickpockets problem already exist for long when I first visited Italy 15 years ago. This time a gypsy woman with an accomplice tried to pick my wallet on a metro train. They dashed out of the train just before the door closed, after I discovered the act, pressed onto my wallet (I put it in the front pocket) and shouted at them.
The “train station assistant”
In Italy and most European countries, train stations refer to stations for regional/long distance/high-speed train. Their MRT station is usually referred to as metro station. When we were trying to figure out how to validate our tickets using the machine prior to boarding a train to get from Rome to Florence, a guy dressed neatly in track suit showed up. He helped us validate the ticket and showed us to the assigned carriage. Before we knew it, he had followed us up to the carriage and was helping to put our heavy luggage onto the shelf above the seat. And then he asked for tips. We were not very happy about it but anyway gave him some coins which amount to about 3 euros. He wanted 5 euros but I told him off.
The “metro ticket machine assistant”
When we went into the metro stations in Milan, we observed that there was a man standing suspiciously next to each ticket machine. With the earlier experience at the train station, we kind of expected what would be coming. A man tried to “assist” us by pressing the button for us when we were at the ticket machine, but we signaled to him (in a disgusting manner) that we didn’t need his help.
The “wrist band sellers”
They are usually blacks and can be found in some places of interest where there are many tourists. We had learnt earlier from our friend that some of them would put the band on your wrist by force and ask for money, so we stayed away from these guys.
The "roses men"
Mainly Blangadesh men, hanging around the Spainish Steps and Trevi Fountain with a bunch of roses trying to sell to every couple old or young. Nothing harmful but disturbing in an already very crowded places.
The “pigeon men”
You see them at places where there are pigeons, such as the Duomo of Milan and St. Mark’s Square of Venice. They keep trying to pass you something to feed/attract the pigeon so that you can take a nice picture with the bird, and then ask you for money. Annoying but we had learned our "nothing is free" lesson.
I suspect there are some other cheats and tricks that we didn’t run into. Beggars are everywhere, even on the metro.
So for those of you who are heading to Italy - while you enjoy the nice historical scene and are busy hunting for your watches and bags and shoes in Italy, stay alert and take care of your money
Spent 8 days in Italy where we stayed at Rome, Florence and Milan. Took a day trip to Pisa and Venice while we were in Florence and Milan.
I wish I could post some pictures of the watches I bought to share with you but I did not buy any. What I am going to share instead, are things that you should be careful about when you are in Italy, so that your holiday would not be spoiled.
Pickpockets
Italy is renowned of pickpockets, next to pasta and pizza. More so in Rome which is the most crowded city in Italy. This pickpockets problem already exist for long when I first visited Italy 15 years ago. This time a gypsy woman with an accomplice tried to pick my wallet on a metro train. They dashed out of the train just before the door closed, after I discovered the act, pressed onto my wallet (I put it in the front pocket) and shouted at them.
The “train station assistant”
In Italy and most European countries, train stations refer to stations for regional/long distance/high-speed train. Their MRT station is usually referred to as metro station. When we were trying to figure out how to validate our tickets using the machine prior to boarding a train to get from Rome to Florence, a guy dressed neatly in track suit showed up. He helped us validate the ticket and showed us to the assigned carriage. Before we knew it, he had followed us up to the carriage and was helping to put our heavy luggage onto the shelf above the seat. And then he asked for tips. We were not very happy about it but anyway gave him some coins which amount to about 3 euros. He wanted 5 euros but I told him off.
The “metro ticket machine assistant”
When we went into the metro stations in Milan, we observed that there was a man standing suspiciously next to each ticket machine. With the earlier experience at the train station, we kind of expected what would be coming. A man tried to “assist” us by pressing the button for us when we were at the ticket machine, but we signaled to him (in a disgusting manner) that we didn’t need his help.
The “wrist band sellers”
They are usually blacks and can be found in some places of interest where there are many tourists. We had learnt earlier from our friend that some of them would put the band on your wrist by force and ask for money, so we stayed away from these guys.
The "roses men"
Mainly Blangadesh men, hanging around the Spainish Steps and Trevi Fountain with a bunch of roses trying to sell to every couple old or young. Nothing harmful but disturbing in an already very crowded places.
The “pigeon men”
You see them at places where there are pigeons, such as the Duomo of Milan and St. Mark’s Square of Venice. They keep trying to pass you something to feed/attract the pigeon so that you can take a nice picture with the bird, and then ask you for money. Annoying but we had learned our "nothing is free" lesson.
I suspect there are some other cheats and tricks that we didn’t run into. Beggars are everywhere, even on the metro.
So for those of you who are heading to Italy - while you enjoy the nice historical scene and are busy hunting for your watches and bags and shoes in Italy, stay alert and take care of your money
(even worst imo)
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