Hans H

I don't think that the nationality has anything to do with it but the point that many younger tourists, regardless of the nationality, are looking for fun while travelling and act wilder than they do under normal circumstances. This often includes an increased openess for meeting other people and flirting or more. Being in Rome on hollidays increases the interest in a little romance in comparison to the situation of having had a hard day at work in Hamburg, Chicago or London. <BR> <BR>As for pepper spray, if you feel uncomfortable without a mean for self-defence, go to a shop in Italy and ask for something legal since legislation varies. Just keep in mind that it probably does more for your peace of mind than for actual security and that it shouldn't replace your common sense. <BR> <BR>For all I know, Italy is a quite safe country in regard to violence. It is of course possible to get into dangerous situations in any country, especially for a female, but Italy isn't worse than other places, including in all probability your own home town.

Hans H

By the way, I don't think that treating many places in Europe as if it was just another version of Ft. Lauderdale during spring break is clueless. That's quite exactly the way German behave when they go to Ibiza, Italians when they go to Munich, Swedes when going Denmark or British when going to the Greek Islands. Nothing wrong about that, in my opinion. <BR> <BR>I always find it ironic that Americans worry about safety in Europe while Europeans worry much more about their safety when visiting the USA than when visiting another (western) European country.

Claudia

Be careful. Don't go around alone at night (downtown areas and small towns are pretty safe though). Europe, especially Italy, is not so dangerous, yet I felt more confortable on NYC Subway at 2AM than in Milan Subway at 9.30. Shout AL Fuoco! in Italy and Fuego! in Spain. Pepper spray is illegal but you can easily smuggle it