Comments on: Italy Deploying 3,000 Soldiers to Cities to Fight Crime http://www.vagabondish.com/italy-deploying-soldiers-cities-to-fight-crime/ The Travelzine for Today's Vagabond Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:10:03 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: lara dunston http://www.vagabondish.com/italy-deploying-soldiers-cities-to-fight-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-7637 lara dunston Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:42:14 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/?p=2174#comment-7637 I've just spent 3 months in Italy researching some new guidebooks, and the increase in police is noticeable on the streets. Completely unnecessary of course - I've been travelling to Italy for years and never felt safer in any other European country as I do in Italy - and equally as useless. They don't actually *do* anything, and they're certainly not about to stop couples from canoodling under street lamps late at night or Italian hippies smoking dope while they 'picnic' in the park. They're just there for show so Berlusconi can appear to be meeting some of his promises. The gypsies, however, do have something to worry about, according to local news reports I read. Travellers, on the other hand, can feel a tad safer - they're also cracking down on the increasing number of organized pick-pockets, working in gangs masquerading as beggars. I’ve just spent 3 months in Italy researching some new guidebooks, and the increase in police is noticeable on the streets. Completely unnecessary of course – I’ve been travelling to Italy for years and never felt safer in any other European country as I do in Italy – and equally as useless. They don’t actually *do* anything, and they’re certainly not about to stop couples from canoodling under street lamps late at night or Italian hippies smoking dope while they ‘picnic’ in the park. They’re just there for show so Berlusconi can appear to be meeting some of his promises. The gypsies, however, do have something to worry about, according to local news reports I read. Travellers, on the other hand, can feel a tad safer – they’re also cracking down on the increasing number of organized pick-pockets, working in gangs masquerading as beggars.

]]> By: Anna http://www.vagabondish.com/italy-deploying-soldiers-cities-to-fight-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-7631 Anna Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:29:33 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/?p=2174#comment-7631 I just returned from two weeks in Italy (my first trip to Italy), including several days in Florence and nearly a week in Rome. I never saw any of these soldiers (I did see two armed guards outside the gate-door of the British Consulate in Florence). Didn't worry much about pickpockets, either, as my valuables were stashed in an undergarment money belt and fairly concealed securely closed pockets. I never had more than a day's cash in my purse in the event that my purse was stolen, and even then, the wallet holding on a bit of cash was tethered to a clip in the purse, so anyone who got as far as lifting my wallet would have had some difficulty. We passed through Rome's Termini rail station daily while in Rome and my 9 yo son enjoyed watching the station's "brush-up" characters, though he couldn't say for sure if they were successfully lifting wallets. I just returned from two weeks in Italy (my first trip to Italy), including several days in Florence and nearly a week in Rome. I never saw any of these soldiers (I did see two armed guards outside the gate-door of the British Consulate in Florence).

Didn’t worry much about pickpockets, either, as my valuables were stashed in an undergarment money belt and fairly concealed securely closed pockets. I never had more than a day’s cash in my purse in the event that my purse was stolen, and even then, the wallet holding on a bit of cash was tethered to a clip in the purse, so anyone who got as far as lifting my wallet would have had some difficulty.

We passed through Rome’s Termini rail station daily while in Rome and my 9 yo son enjoyed watching the station’s “brush-up” characters, though he couldn’t say for sure if they were successfully lifting wallets.

]]> By: Italy Deploying 3,000 Soldiers to Cities to Fight Crime « Blogging for a free world http://www.vagabondish.com/italy-deploying-soldiers-cities-to-fight-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-7628 Italy Deploying 3,000 Soldiers to Cities to Fight Crime « Blogging for a free world Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:14:15 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/?p=2174#comment-7628 [...] Italy Deploying 3,000 Soldiers to Cities to Fight Crime. [...] [...] Italy Deploying 3,000 Soldiers to Cities to Fight Crime. [...]

]]> By: Jet Set Life http://www.vagabondish.com/italy-deploying-soldiers-cities-to-fight-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-7623 Jet Set Life Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:29:17 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/?p=2174#comment-7623 I was just in Greece shooting for Jet Set Life and I couldnt help but feel the udertones of the vibe you described here. Nice post I was just in Greece shooting for Jet Set Life and I couldnt help but feel the udertones of the vibe you described here. Nice post

]]> By: nyctek http://www.vagabondish.com/italy-deploying-soldiers-cities-to-fight-crime/comment-page-1/#comment-7620 nyctek Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:42:54 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/?p=2174#comment-7620 Now when I read this, then read about violent raids on Gypsy camps, and then read about calls for expulsion of immigrants, I cannot help but wonder if Italy is drifting back towards its fascist past. Now when I read this, then read about violent raids on Gypsy camps, and then read about calls for expulsion of immigrants, I cannot help but wonder if Italy is drifting back towards its fascist past.

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