ahh, Mathieu...I'm just not in the mood today...

I have never traveled to Italy by myself, but I have been a "victim" of the whistles and stares on occassion. The funny thing is that they would even do it when I was holding DH's hand! Honestly its nothing worse than I get at home, and I just continue walking and try to ignore it. It doesn't really bother me, and I do find it flattering, even if it is rather annoying and embarrassing.

Tracy

I went to school in Florence when I was 21yrs old and I loved all the attention and complements I received. I must say it really boosted my self esteem. When I got home I wondered where all the people who called me "Bella" went. I never encountered anyone that was overly pushy or rude. They gave a complement and a little wink and went on. I'm sure if I followed after them it might have been different. Enjoy it.

My daughter just did a semester abroad in Paris; she and the friends who were with her are very attractive college girls. After numerous travels in Europe she reported little harassment in Italy and pronounced the French men
as the absolute worse in terms of being leering perverts!

My first time in Paris, a handsome older gentleman pinched my girlfriend just as we crossed the street. she never wanted to go to France again and we cut short the paris trip to return to London. Once I was with a Frenchman by the seine. His back to the stone steps leading up to the street. Something made me glance over his shoulder and there was guy masterbating, I screamed and the guy covered his face with his coat like dracula as he went up the stairs backwards and my friend screaming something at him. My latest incident was at a friend's home and his lawyer sat next to me at dinner. They had warned me he was a flirt. he kept leaning over me and talking in my ear til finally, I asked him if he wanted to eat or sit on my lap. He has behaved himself ever since, since my remark brought on applause.

(they were all French, by the way:) )

You can find that kind of guys here in Spain..are called "exhibitionist". My cousin met one and she looked at him and just said "go and cover yourself, you're going to freeze" (it was in winter) and the guy run very afraid of her !!

Put on your dark sunglasses, walk with confidence, avoid direct eye contact and just ignore it. I've been traveling the world annually and alone...every continent except Antartica... since I was 17 and I'm 50 now. I'm female. Yeah, I had the situation with men in Italy, but nothing I couldn't handle. Happy Travels!

vivi, I think I have to agree with your daughter! DH and I were in Paris for the first time in November, and it was the only time that I was actually approached by a man. He wasn't really rude, but he wanted me to go to dinner with him and was a little pushy. I was waiting for DH and as soon as he came back the man left me alone. Nothing that I was nervous about, really, but definitely pushier than what I've experienced in Italy.

Tracy

Well, after all is said and done..I'll be honest with you, except for the pinching which hurts, I's be loving every minute of it!!!!!!! LOL Ah, to be young again...NOT for all the "lessons" you have to go through, but to be able to wear fabulous shoes with 3" heels..oh yea!!! LOL

What a fun thread lol. Italian men love to flirt..they love women..but don't take it serious. The day they quite flirting with you is the day you should worry. ;;)

It's funny to know that my last post was removed. I confess that this kind of censorship bothers me a little, but I intend to waste no more time on this issue.

I once thought there would be some automated mechanism to censor certain words or posts, but it seems it's all edited (and read) manually. I posted a simple way to make all the ads disappear by editing the hosts file in windows. :D It was removed instantly, so I thought there would be some "trigger" words. No, a Fodors editor is reading every word ;-). Have fun!

Wow! I got absolutely no interest whatsoever on my travels....

Maybe I need to change my makeup? My clothes?

Hmmmm......;)

I have been to Rome on many occasions and have not had any whistles, hassles or pinches. Oh well, what a shame.

It would have be delightful to me.

It would have been delightful to me.

Sorry

I recall a lot of "hissing" while there (15 years ago)- particularly if you have blonde hair.

Ha, I forgot about the hissing! I think that was a fad from the past. I remember the first time a man hissed at my ear as I passed him on the street. I jumped!

Hissing? Haven't experienced that one (maybe because I'm not blond?). But I do enjoy the winks. At my age, I'll take all I can get! %%-

Latin countries in general have this problem. It's part of the warped mindset that comes with machismo. Men in such countries are happy to have quick fling in the toilets with a girl they hardly know, but if she asks for equal pay for equal work, their attitude changes.