It has been a while but I didn't care much for the area around the Termini station in Rome. It may have improved but there seemed to be more unsavory characters in that area than in other areas. If you are concerned, you might consider changing hotels. If you are committed to your accommodations, I would just keep your eyes open and wear a money belt.

I live in a pretty big American city. Not only have I not heard of an armed mugging in my city in the areas a tourist might frequent, I haven’t read about such occurrences in the touristy part of any American city.

So let’s please stop suggesting that we should be grateful to be scammed and pickpocketed in the great cities of Europe because at least we’re not being held up like in America!

I’m fairly certain fra diavolo was joking, newbe. No one is suggesting that Lol. I definitely felt safer as a pedestrian in Europe than I do in most major US cities. Maybe the exception is NYC, which is also very pedestrian oriented. Lots of people around all the time. I’ve met people who have been mugged in both Chicago and SF.

The area around Termini felt a bit seedy or scruffy. I wouldn’t stay there as a solo female, I don’t think, but I wouldn’t hesitate if I was with someone. I did check it out because the nicer hostels are there, and I would have been uncomfortable at night. But I am perhaps overly cautious.

Thank you to all who have replied. As an Aussie travelling overseas for the first time, all of your input is appreciated, especially the info regarding scams and distraction techniques - not something I have ever had to contend with, even when visiting our major cities.

Please keep the suggestions coming - every little bit helps!

Cheers.

<i> Be a little worried and that is good as then you take proper precautions and then there are no worries. </i>

Nicely summed up by Pal.

Scarecrow, I've seen the ketchup trick in Wellington, not a million miles from you, and in Sanfrancisco at the docks.

City scapes and tourists who knew?

Scarecrow - a few observations.

1. The Navigli has improved (and is constantly improving) since the various works carried out related to Expo 2015 in Milan.
2. Although most think of the Navigli as the Naviglio Grande, there are various other navigli in Milan. Naviglio means canal.
3. I thoroughly recommend a dinner or lunch at Al Pont de Ferr on the Naviglio Grande near the Iron Bridge (hence the name in Italian). See - http://pontdeferr.it/en/ This is an excellent restaurant with some surprise dishes.
4. If art interests you consider visiting the Fondazione Prada in Largo Isarco which is about a mile and a half walk South East from the Naviglio Grande - http://www.fondazioneprada.org/?lang=en

While the immediate area around Termini is laced with some scuzzy figures, they're certainly not limited to that area by any means, and once you get a couple of blocks away, you hardly see any at all. I stay about 5 minutes from Termini, right in front of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, and I've never felt unsafe there. Furthermore, it's a lovely hotel, and about half the price of the same caliber hotel located in the Piazza Navona area.

<i> Al Pont de Ferr on the Naviglio Grande near the Iron Bridge (hence the name in Italian) </i>

Nochblad, that's not very Italian! It's Milanese dialect. The Italian would be "al Ponte di Ferro". I'm sure you know that, but I mention it for the benefit of those readers who are learning Italian.

molte grazie bvlenci

I almost always stay in the vicinity of Termini station, and walk around the area after dark. One should always be alert, but I don't consider it a dangerous or worrisome area at all. There are always plenty of people about, which makes me feel safe.

Some of the scams mentioned here are also found in American cities. I lived for years in Philadelphia and have seen a few of them there, plus a few more that may be local. The mustard trick is found all over the world. It has many variations, such as the bird-shit-on-your-back trick, which doesn't even require squirting, as you can't see it.

I've been to Rome many times, more than I can count, and have never seen any of these tricks or scams there, although I'm quite sure they exist. (A friend of my daughter once was a victim of the squirting trick in Rome.) I could say, the same as scarecrow, "I've never encountered such things in the country where I live."

bvlenci - haha!

What is Al Pont de Ferr in dialetto Marchese?

I have lived in Italy over 35 years and do not understand the dialect of Como, Milan or Ticino. Neither do my children or even my wife who was born in Como.

In 1982 I arrivd in Como and I did not speak any Italian and communicated with my in-laws in English but principally in French as was the usual "diplomatic" language at the times.

She thought that it might help if we went to the Cineforum - a showing of current Italian films followed by a discussion. Along we went with the first film being with Massimo Troisi and Lello Arena - Ricominciamo da Tre - all in Napoletano dialect. Most of those in Como could not understand it let alone me.

Being a Cineforum there was a follow-up discussion. As an obvious foreigner I was asked a question about the film. My honesty in saying that I couldn't understand anything won a lot of points amongst tose from Como who were embarassed to admit that they also had problems in understanding the dialect.

The bird-shit-on-your-back thing is sometimes the real deal. Really sucks when it happens on your head (and it does).

I once got bombed by a pigeon, direct hit on the head, when we were going to an exhibit with a local art group.

In a similar situation when I was a child, a friend of my family said, "Aren't you glad cows don't fly?"

I was unable to post my reply, Nochblad, about our marchegiani dialects, and I'm now too sleepy to retype it. I'll try to get back to it tomorrow.

Le Marche has a number of quite different dialects, deriving from ancient settlement patterns. A friend of ours is an expert on the subject, and, if I remember correctly, the two main divisions are between the northern area, mainly Gallic, and the southern, mostly Picene, area.

Our small town has a somewhat different dialect even from neighboring towns. I've noticed that people who live in the countryside in the southern part of our town have a speech with some features of the next town.

I still have trouble understanding a very strict dialect, but so does my husband, who has lived here his entire life, except for secondary school and university years.

Some features of our dialect:

A slight tendency to pronounce ci- and ce- like sci- and sce-.
Many different words:

Andare (to go) -> gire (from Latin ire)
Tutto (everything) -> nicó (from "ogni cosa")
Use of intendere (to understand) for sentire (to hear)
Lei (she) -> lia
Lui (he) -> lu
Use of erto (erect) for spesso (thick)
Use of mollo (soft) for bagnato (wet)

In the province of Macerata, there is a very interesting dialect which has conserved the neuter gender, from Latin. It has also preserved many words that are closer to Latin than standard Italian is.