Gypsies

Travelling through Europe you come across of beggars, usually woman and usually of Eastern European extraction - or as they are known, gypsies.

They do a good job of presenting themselves as destitute, suffering some form of medical condition and in dire need of your loose change. They desperately appeal to your sense of common decency and that if you don't make a donation then what kind of human being are you. Most common condition is Parkinsons. But I must say those in Rome far exceeded themselves in the deformities on show. By far the most impressive was the lady who sat in the middle of the footpath and queue for the Vatican whom at some stage must have been scalped. She had a massive - and by that I say the most of the top of her head - scar that was bright pink and of course there was no hair. Not a pretty sight.

Anyway, I digress from the point of this post. Most of the time the beggars are lying prostrate on the ground, face against the pavement, hand outstretched for you to make a donation. Without exception their method is the same no matter who they are or where they are. So, it was quite funny to observe them on day in Florence when they were obviously on a break.

Susan and I where sitting in Piazza del Republica in Florence having some lunch in the sun. Not more than 10 metres from us were a group of beggars we had seen at various points around town, sitting together having lunch, laughing, interacting and generally behaving like any other office worker on their lunch break. Their demeanor, body language were no where close to the performance they put on on the street. It really was quite amusing.

So next time you feel pressured into making a donation or feel guilty for not, think again. This is their job and everything is not as it seems.

Comments

[Bevan]

Reminds me of the story in England of a politician who took pity on a beggar and took him off to Macdonalds for a burger, only to discover when the man sat down, that his pockets were bulging at the seams with pound coins.  The beggar would have had more in his pockets that the politician had in his wallet !!  You're right Pete, it is a full time profession for some of these people...  I'm not sure what money would do for the lady with the bald spot, unless she was going to use it to buy a nice hat...                

Bevan.

[Leigh Dunn]

Good story about the beggars Pete - have you got any deformities (other than the obvious ones) that you could take advantage of! Could be worth a few bucks and may be more lucrative than marketing jobs. Sorry I forgot it was your birthday about a month ago, I'm a shocker at remembering that sort of thing. Pleased to hear that you and Susan have made it to England and that there are quite a number of the extended Livingstone whanau there now. AB's have just beaten the Frogs (just as well as it wasn't a full strength France). I'll send you guys an email in due course as soon as I locate the email with your email addresses. Take care, wish I was there too!

Leigh