In the book, the Ugly American was the good guy.

sealady every city around the world today has the same fashions, so you will see chic and tacky like at home as you will see pickpockets in evey major city. Most people in every city around the world are not visiting the popular sites of their town. Roman women do wear quality shoes and bags.

Ya so watch out for pick pocketers everywhere.
Maybe it was just me but I saw three muggings in Rome in one day.

The children or women take a big piece of cardboard and hold it up against your stomach. You cannot see them taking things or cutting off your purse. Sometimes they have written things on this piece of cardboard but in my case the children were just talking fast and furious in Italian in an attempt to confuse me. Luckily I had seen this scam on the show 20/20 just a month before so I shouted NO! and they ran off.
Saying that I do feel very safe in Rome. In some of the cases that the people were robbed they weren't paying attention. One woman holding her purse in her hand for too long and a guy ran by and snatched it while she was paying for something.

PS This thread is stupid.

Surely you jest, NYC - this is of upmost importance to fashion mavens everywhere of Orlandese descent.

(And no, I didn't call you "Shirley"!)

Sorry, Howard, missed your post before I added my reference to the book. In the film, I believe marlon Brando played "The ugly American?"

StCirq, Can I wear white socks with my Birkenstocks? . . . or would blue or brown socks be better. Now I don't know what to wear and we're leaving Tuesday. Maybe I'll wear brown socks with my brown Birks and black socks with my black Birks. Oops, forgot, can't wear those black socks. Phooey!

>>If I were to dress like many of the Roman women, I'd be wearing a strapless sundress with a regular bra, not a strapless>>
Yeah, I saw a lot of that in France. I thought it was strange, but if everyone does it, it certainly would be more comfortable.

Just to stir the pot -- who died and left the Italians in place as the fashion police? Did I miss that announcement?

Forget about fitting in. I've been to Italy numerous times and as a tall, blonde woman of Irish and German heritage, no one has ever mistaken me for an Italian. I wear what I wear at home and I don't worry about looking American - and I'd never be ashamed of being an American.

Worrying about what perfect strangers may be thinking about your mode of dress is a complete waste of precious time, to be blunt. Life is just too short to spend time on such nonsense.

And, just to really enrage a few more people, remember, some Italians may have an inate style and flair, but if it weren't for "ugly Americans" they'd all be speaking German and wearing lederhosen.

Go, be comfortable, and have a good time.
((c))

Goody - I had never dreamed of wearing sundresses this summer in Paris, just for the lingerie reason mentioned, but now it sounds like a real possibility :).

I read in today's papers that not only is 'Kerry' capable of speaking French, but he 'Looks' French.

I would study him for travel tips.

Be proud you are an American, just dont act like you better than all. Try to speak the language of where you are going and you will get respect. Wear you countries colors. I do when I go, Ill be wearing my team USA hockey jersey and am real proud to do so.

The USA plays hockey?

Stop, of course go see miracle

"if it weren't for "ugly Americans" they'd all be speaking German and wearing lederhosen."

And worse all the operas would be Wagner!

So true!
((c))

Oh No!
You have really hit a nerve with all the ugly Americans on this forum.

lose 35 pounds, darling

Oh, Lordy!! Thank you for the laughs!!
chardonnay, LOL, you are SO funny!
and yes, NYC, this thread is stupid but at least it is funny!

My suggestion:
If you didn't worry about it in Budapest, don't worry about it in Rome.

addendum; in addition to losing flab, try not wearing jogging shoes, and talking loudly in these elegant cities. Remember, this is not Fort Wayne!

lilliancroft,
Do you have something against Fort Wayne?
You risk hitting a nerve with us Hoosiers!