The men in Italy are sooo handsome, is it <BR>safe to flirt with men on the street? Do you have to be coy or can I openly flirt? We are two ladies who are going to Rome and Florence. Please advise, not a joke.

Depending upon what you mean by 'flirt' 'coy' and 'safe', but in general, I would suggest that you think carefully about where and when you want to approach men on the streets. <BR> <BR>American women have a reputation for being easy and it's a safe bet that any man you approach will think that you want to sleep with him. Especially if you are two girls travelling alone. Especially if you're attractive. <BR> <BR>Italian men are perfectly willing to say whatever they think you want to hear or do whatever they think you want them to do in order to get you into the sack. In general, they are smooth talkers. <BR> <BR>Can a girl find nice guys in Italy? Of course. <BR> <BR>That gets back to my original comment. What do you mean by flirt coy and safe? Are you in physical danger by approaching guys on the street? In general, you're less likely to get yourself beaten up or killed in Italy than you are in a US city. Will you get raped? Just like here, it depends on where how and who you approach. <BR> <BR>Are you looking to make friends or find lovers? I would suggest that you are thoughtful about what you say to them. I wouldn't recommend that you speak suggestively to an Italian man unless you've already decided that you want to go to bed with him. If you're looking for sexual adventure, you're likely to find lots of willing subjects. <BR> <BR>Who am I? I lived in Bologna and Naples for several years. My wife is Italian and I still spend a good deal of time there every year. Hope this helps.

I guess I mean just harmless flirting to get to know someone as a friend. It would be nice to have male friends/boy friends in Italy to go out to dinner/drinks. Why do they think American women are easy? Easier than other European women? <BR> <BR>

Coy: <BR>Could we discuss this in private?

Coy, why do they think American women are easy? They watch American films and American TV programs, that's why. Much of what Europeans think of Americans is learned through our media, which is widely watched over there (usually with dubbed in voices or subtitles, of course). If you think about what's been hitting our big and small screnes lately, not to mention our political scandals being so widely covered in the newspapers and on CNN, you'll understand why American women are seen as "easy".

not only american women known to be easy. germans and english as well. everyone from scandinavia. it's nothing with tv-programs! it's the way italian women are. they are proud, they show you everything but never ever touch them. they will not flirt with no one, specially not on the street. the italo guy is right, italian men tell a foregn woman everything she want's to hear. they do have no success with this with the italian women. it's not the easiest to find italians talking english, but if you find them: be aware! <BR> <BR>to get italian male friends it takes a lot. to find the ones who will not want to bring you into bed, it's even harder. my tipp is: don't start to talk with men on the street. they are a lot of sick individuals. <BR> <BR>tanti saluti! <BR> <BR>christina

Be cautious of europeans, they're sluts!

Don't forget about us Canadian's, all of us are sluts too!

I can't think of any country where it would be wise to flirt with men on the street. YOu do not get a real quality guy that way, you know, at least I would not be interested in men who would do that. Men who approach you aggressively on the street are not the kind of guy I would want, anywhere, I don't think nice or well-brought up men do this (or women). YOu don't have to do anything to get Italian men to try to pick you up, believe me, if that's what you want.

Well, then where would I meet a nice Italian man? <BR>In a restaurant? I dont go to discos, etc. I am friendly but I don't want to be misunderstood, and attract the wrong type of man. <BR>

Coy: You can meet an Italian man everywhere. In a restaurant, café/bar, museum, grocery store , etc. ...and you can get misunderstood everywhere, too. <BR>Italian men are not that different from other men all over the world. Men are men! If they smell something, they will go for it or at least try. You better learn some Italian as well, before you leave.

Coy, depends on what you mean by "safe." Are you concerned about your personal safety, or is that a euphenism for wanting to flirt but not have sex? I'm not sure you have to be that afraid for your personal safety but, as the previous person alluded to, if a man thinks you're flirting with him because you'd like to have sex, then he'll very likely be as persuasive as he can to convince you to try out some Italian sheets. :~)

ciao coy <BR> <BR>i thaught now where you could find them. and it's infact very easy. you find italian men, with quality at universitys! here we go. but realy it's not a joke. because there are the ones which are interested even in other things than only grab a woman. as even women studies. in al the institutes or universitys you can find the real guys with maybe the "normal interest" for a woman. because men on the street who trie to flirt with women are known to be "bad guys" they pick tourists out. o.k. and i have to tell the italo-french: you are right. men are allover the same, it's the game of hunting and catching, ooooooold history...... ;-)) <BR> <BR>auguri! <BR> <BR>christina

Grazie Christina. I just thought it would be fun to have an Italian escort for a dinner and strolling. I like your advice, even though I am past college age, an institute of higher learning could be the answer. Any suggestions? We will be in Rome for a few weeks.

Here's my personal experience: my two daughters and I were traveling Italy two years ago and though I'm not bragging, we three easily pass as sisters. Well, while in Palermo looking confused and bewildered on a street corner (much the same way we looked everywhere in Italy) two gorgeous carbinieri approached us to offer some guidance. We continued to converse with them for some time and they seemed genuinely nice and never said anything suggestive to us. But I'm sure if we had been interested in anything more than conversation they would have gladly obliged. So, you might try checking out the carbinieri or polizia. Maybe it's the uniform thing!

If they ask you if you're ca-tol-ic (catholic)- they're not asking your religion, they're asking if you're a good girl (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more) So the answer is always yes. You can always change your mind later....

i spent one year of college and 2 years before law school living in rome - and i found the men there, IN GENERAL, to be harmless - and more refreshing in their approach to women - than the men here. They tend to be very friendly and open. I find this much more appealing then the men who will silently stare down women on the street here trying to get some kind of reaction (or nudge and whisper to their companions, rather than saying hello) - which is not very effective -and, if anything, makes many of us uncomfortable. I would suggest that you be as careful as you would be here - but definitely have fun. The people in Italy - men and women - are delightful. Have a great trip.

<BR>I would agree with Holly, with a couple of comments: <BR> <BR>If you want to meet guys there, be friendly not suggestive. Don't tease. Be clear about your intentions. That is, if you're looking for friends act that way without leading anyone on. <BR> <BR>As I mentioned in my previous post, I would say that in general you're much safer from physical harm in Italy than you are here. <BR> <BR>As to protecting your heart, I would repeat my earlier advice: an Italian man will say whatever he thinks he needs to say to get you in the sack. If you want to meet men, you won't have any trouble, but I just wouldn't go in with any romantic notions about finding the romance of your dreams while you're there. <BR> <BR>The flip side of this is, as Holly points out, Italian guys are in general more charming than American men (well except for me ;-o). <BR> <BR>As to WHERE to meet Italian men? Don't worry about that, they'll find you. <BR> <BR>I don't know if I'd suggest a University over any other place--especially if you're not University age. Meet them in the Bars (not places you drink, places you get a coffee). Ask them for help with directions. If they're interested, they won't tend to be as shy as American guys; they won't just tell you how to get to where you want to go, they'll escort you there by the hand. <BR> <BR>Just pay attention. Keep your eyes open. You'll be safe from harm, just don't be naive. <BR> <BR>Hope that helps. You're going to have a wonderful time. <BR>

Thanks for the great ideas all of you. <BR>See how nice even Italo- american men are?

Well I guess from my experience I'd say to really watch your back. I've never been to Italy. In Spain this summer I was hit on by about 3 random guys on the street...they didn't touch, but the things they said were pretty interesting. I think they thought since I'm an 18 year old American that I don't know Spanish well enough to understand them. I DID, however meet a REALLY nice guy there. However, I met him through a friend I have in Madrid. She and this guy and another guy friend of hers and I all went dancing and he was VERY smooth-talking and VERY nice - hand kissing and stuff. I SO thought he was the stereotypical guy you're afraid of finding. By the end of the night I realized he really was a sweet guy. The stinger? Because my friend in Madrid is 22, I assumed he was, too - I asked...he was 26...a WEE bit old for me...oh, well, not like I'll ever see him again (or like we were going to get into a relationship) and if I did I'd be so happy because he became a friend to me. Okay, rambling...my point? Be careful, but enjoy yourself...if you know someone who has friends to introduce you, that could be a bit safer.