Beggars…a compilation

Before we get to the highlights of Rome, let’s discuss the many types of beggars we’ve encountered on our journey.
It’s no secret, of course, that everyone, except for the other tourists, wants some of the money I’ve got in my pocket.
That goes for churches — free entry in a lot of places but fees do apply to “special sites,” like the altar in Venice’s Basilica de San Marco, once you get inside — ancient relics like the ones found in Rome, souvenirs vendors, restaurants, ice cream shops and street merchants.
But beggars are a different breed entirely.
Here’s a compilation:
- We passed many women in gypsy-type clothing while in Berlin. Each was holding a two-sided card with a sob story (I’m guessing here since I didn’t ever read one) in English and in German that was meant to make you give them some spare change. They’d come up to you, ask if you speak English and then try to get some money.
To get them to walk away immediately, all you’d have to do is answer “no” to the “do you speak English question.”
We even practiced with our guide George on the free walking tour.
- The guy we saw on the Berlin city metro was probably the best.
Instead of using his arm-cuffed crutches, he was carrying them in one hand and was walking through the train cars loudly demanding alcohol from anyone who happens to make eye contact.
He apparently had gotten fed up with the “I’m handicapped and need money to live” routine and cut straight to the chase, in the typical, rigid German style.
“Forget about this stupid game I’ve been playing,” he seemed to be saying. “Let’s forget about your change and cut out the middle man. I just want alcohol. Now reach into your plastic grocery bag and hand it over.”
- The beggars in Prague were much less direct.
Instead of actively working the crowds at the main tourist sites, they would simply kneel and bow until their heads touched the ground. They’d clasp their hands and put a hat in front of them where people could drop loose change.
The pose almost looked like the way Muslims bow for daily prayers.
In fact, that was what I thought of when I first saw this type of beggar in Prague.
I saw him and thought, “Oh, this must be a Muslim doing his daily prayer ritual. We’re in Eastern Europe, so they’re must be more Muslims here than in Western Europe. Is that east he’s facing? It seems like more west to me. Wait, is he sleeping?”
Then it hit me. He wants my spare change.
- The beggars in Venice and Florence took a different approach.
Why not sit outside of a church and see if you can conjure up enough guilt from the tourists entering houses of God to fork over some change?
And having a child on your arm always helps to tug further on those heartstrings.
One women played up the “I’m injured” card by walking with a cane while being bent over almost 90 degrees at the waist.
This method obviously wasn’t achieving the desired results because we saw her later in the day lying on the ground with the cane strategically placed in front of her to make it look like she’d fallen and couldn’t get up. She also threw in a quivering hand, the one holding her Styrofoam cup, for added effect.
Her back, however, was straight.
Now not all beggars are trying to scam tourists, and there are many who genuinely need help.
The ones we just described, though, don’t fall into this category. The people we saw are often chased off by the police, but soon return after the authorities are out of sight.