we are soon to go on a tour of Italy and will be visiting the island resort of capri, <BR>when we are approuched by children begging, is it safe to give them money, or will gum suffice?

Credit cards are preferred.

High sucrose gum is preferred.

On several trips to Italy over the years I have never been approached by begging children. If I was, I guess I'd give them the same as I would here at home (Silicon Valley) or say on a trip to Santa Catalina island. <BR> Oh..And I don't think Italian children chew gum.

And just what do you donate to a begging child in Silicon Valley, "Lost Child"? A Pentium 4? A used Porsche?

Don't give anything to anyone!!!!! Most are Gypsies and the children can be the worst. Been to Italy many times and have many friends there. I also know many people who have had their pockets picked by these children or the women carrying "babies". Do what the police do...chase them off.

Before I go to Italy, I always to go the market and buy several large bags of different types of pasta, which I carry around in a shoulder bag when I get to Italy. When the kids swarm, I just reach in and scatter the pasta on the ground. The kids are so cute scrambling for these treasures. Some of the bolder ones will take it out of my hand. The best kind tend to be the little ones in those funny shapes, since the long stick type pastas tend to break, and they don't bend very well. Don't get any stuffed ones, since the stuffings should be refrigerated and won't last for the whole trip.

Hope you'll understand my "heartless" position comes from experience, not from lack of compassion! <BR> <BR>Avoid them. Shun them. Send them away. Don't let them come close to you. <BR> <BR>Sadly, many, virtually all, the begging children you see are being run by Fagin's who have taught them, quite well indeed, how to pickpocket. Let them within arm's reach and you'll be donating more than gum to them, I assure you. <BR> <BR>Even more sadly, be prepared to curse them, shout at them, and kick them if they get too close. <BR> <BR>For more on "safety" in Rome (and typical of the country as a whole), see www.twenj.com/romesafe.htm ... and while some caution is required as for traveling anywhere, the country is really quite safe. Unfortunately, though, Italy tolerates thieving street urchins and their outrageous parents far more than any other country with a sound economy.