[Idyllchat] Beware!

[Rpaul592 at aol.com]

Also watch out for anyone approaching you while holding out something in  
front of them.  At Notre Dame, children approached us holding out a towel  spread 
over their arms.  The towel had a few coins on it and the children  appeared 
to be begging.  In actuality they use this scheme to push the  towel up 
against you so you can't see that an accomplice (also a child) is busy  under the 
towel going into that darn fanny pack or your pockets.  Having  seen this done 
in both Florence and Rome, we knew what they were up to and  didn't let them 
get anywhere near us.  A couple of years ago in  Alsace,  we were approached by 
a young couple (probably in their 20's) who  were holding out an open map and 
started to sit or stand next to us and ask for  directions on the map.    All 
our valuables were safely in money  belts under our clothes and I had my hand 
firmly on the bag I was carrying so  they didn't try anything.  After we were 
approached in three different  cities by the same couple holding the same map, 
we knew for sure what they were  up to.  The last time I raised a commotion 
and the girl started swearing at  me.  But, they walked only a few yards away 
and started approaching some  tourists getting off the city tram tour.  I 
yelled to them to watch out and  then I really did get cursed at!
It is a shame you can't feel free to help someone, but.........  In  Berlin 
last year a woman rode up on a bike and she had a map which was folded  and 
asked if I knew where a certain Metro station was.  When I answered her  
question, my granddaughter chastised me because I "talked to someone with a map  
asking directions."  I had to explain that she didn't have it spread wide  and she 
didn't shove it up close to my body and she allowed me to stand back  from her 
and didn't press too close.  All indicated it was an honest  question, and it 
was.  If it seems a little too personal and invasive, it  probably is.
Pat Rogers



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