I bought a gold ring from a woman trip before last for 1.40 euro. She was disappointed but took the money. I saw her again near the Chapelle Expiatoire that same trip.

THIS TRIP I saw her near rue Jacob. She showed me the ring, I pulled out my camera to make like I was taking a photo of it and got a photo of her holding the ring! AHA!! :D I'd kept the ring from last trip slung onto a strap on my purse and showed it to her saying I'd gotten it from her. She backed away and kept saying "non, non". I don't think she realized I captured a pic of her.

Saw another different lady in Montmartre at Place des Abbesses. I was touring with Michael Osman, he saw her out of the corner of his eye, grabbed the strap with the ring and showed it to her so she backed off. Tried to take a photo of her, too, but she moved away too fast and I only got the back of her as she melted into the crowd.

Met a guy in the line at CDG as we're leaving Paris. He met 5 different people running the scam in one day, all in the area around the Louvre. He was amazed at the number in one short day!

You can see the photos here:
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tp/1b3d8d/

I was in Paris with my mum in Sept 06 and didn't come across the ring trick. We did however, come across the guys at the bottom of the funicular to Sacre Couer who wanted to perform some string trick. I said 'no', avoided them and kept going on my way. Mum or I would not engage with such strangers anyway, but I think it freaked her out a bit.

I've heard of problems in Florence, Italy and a work colleague had his backpack taken in Spain recently, which I've heard is common for bag slashings. I haven't been to these places though.

In 06 I did notice a beggar in Scare Couer church doorway and one in Venice, but they weren't trying any tricks, just sitting down with a plate begging for money.

The best thing is to be assertive, say no and physically avoid them if you see them coming.

Call me po-faced, but if I dropped a piece of jewellery and somebody pocketed it and sold it to a tourist, I'd call the finder a thief and the buyer a recipient of stolen goods.

I was in Pigalle in May and saw a woman sitting on a sidewalk with both legs gone above the knee. Nothing was covering her stumps. It was as shocking as the time on Houston St. NYC when I saw a three-legged dog wretchedly limping along.

Amputee beggars like to show their stumps in the months of good weather.

Withered limbs are also a treat.

When we were in Florence last month, we saw a woman who was definitely 20-something, but good at faking being a crippled old woman (including babushka hiding her face). (I was not fooled.) We passed her one day near our hotel and the next day we saw her on the other side of the street. At that point, two police officers came by and were very assertive and loud in telling her to get up; I reckon' they knew her well, and she them, because she got up like a 20-something and quickly headed off down the street, no evidence of crippling in sight.

Eiffel Tower this past May. A rather feckless scammer 'finds' a gold ring and tries to draw my attention to it. Having read the Fodor's forums, I laugh him off and make a mental note of it for a trip report-to-come. Enjoy the Eiffel Tower and environs and walk back along the other side of the Seine. Guess who 'finds' another gold ring? Same guy and he has no idea why I start laughing. Truly Paris' most feckless scam artist. :D

Gypsies aren't theives. They did used to use the more Indian style of business of more buyer beware and bargaining. That got spun out of control into bigotry against gsypies as being theives and behind every scam.

These pickpockets were investiaged by one of the major news magazine programs (I don't remember which one, 60 minutes maybe) - and it was mostly sponsored by Russian mob groups. The children used were essentially forced labor.

Get a clue, be kind to the world, and think before you slander whole groups of people. In the past it's lead to violence by Europeans of unparalleled proportions.

Actually Europeans are extremely violent and prone to hypnotic suggestion by hateful leaders. This includes their descendents throughout the world.

Believe that and I'll tell you one about gypsies (Roma)...

That excuse that the word is now generic doesn't fly. It comes out of hate and slander and perpetuates biogtry. You can't tell if someone is Roma, certainly not now a days.

My Paris experience was a little different.

First my family were followed on and off the metro at 9pm. We got off at a random stop, and he did. We got back on the next train and he did. We finally pretended to get off and quick got back on as the train was leaving and shook the man. We're talking mid-40s parents, and two late-teen teenagers, and he never did more than attempt a casual chat.

Second I was masturbated on while sitting with my sister on the metro in a different incident.

Neither gave any appearance of being gypsies. Both were pasty white males.

Oh, and when we got back on the train the first time, it was back in the direction we'd come from - and he did too. Very weird.

Although "Gypsies" is not a single race of people. I think it's a far stretch to accuse someone of being Hitler like if they use the term. Would it be more PC to call the persons that try these kinds of scams... "LOW LIFE SCUMBAGS" Oh wait, didn't Hitler put to death 1000's of scumbags too? Never mind.

In the last two times we have been to Paris (2005&2007) We have not seen the "ring scam". We did have dark skined people at Sacre Coeur and the eiffel tower TRY to tie string around my wife's wrist. Twice we were asked if we speak English while they were handing us a a flash card with words on it? I don't know what those scams are about? I just told them NO! and they moved away.

In 2005 we arrived in Amsterdam about 11:00am from an over night flight. After checking into our hotel we took the tram to the dam area. We got off the tram about 3/4 of a mile from the central station because we saw a very busy open air market and smelled food cooking. After walking around the market we didn't find anything to eat so we headed back to the tram stop. My wife was looking at a tourist map when a very large dirty man came up to us and told us we would show us where to get the very best "weed" in Amsterdam. I told him we don't use the stuff and started to walk away. He stepped in front of us then this guy TOLD me to give him some money! I laugh at him and TOLD him he better step aside before something bad happens to him. He could tell I wasn't kidding. He smiled and said, You're Americans I love America. He had a very thick slovic accent. I said no we are Canadians! No, I can tell you're Americans? Again I said we're Canadians. He said if you're Canadians what is the capital of Canada and smiled. My wife and looked at each other like,"Oh crap"
My wife said Toronto! which was wrong. He told us it is Ottawa. We all laughed and he asked if we could please spare some change. Again I told him no but, I gave him four of my Camel wide light cigarettes. He said thank you and walked away. This all took no more then one minute. We still laugh about that encounter.

He said if you're Canadians what is the capital of Canada and smiled. My wife and looked at each other like,"Oh crap"


No comment is necessary ;-)

Sorry josser, I don't understand what you mean "No comment is necessary" This was our first visit to Europe and we were told that Europeans are kinder to Canadians than to Americans. I guess we should have done a little research on Canada. I only used the Canadians thing once.

As a CDN I think thats funny that you didnt know our capital :)

We're not Canadians.

jamikins

I wonder how many Canadians wouldn't know the capital of the United States.
I saw one of Pinchme's other posts and couldn't find a way to say politely what I thought of him.
His confession about not knowing the capital of Canada did the job for me ;-)

Funny, I just got back from my first time in Paris (only 2 days) and never got scammed. I live in NYC now so maybe I, too, have that "get away from me" look. I did see the guys with the bracelets on the steps of the Sacre Coeur... I even thought "what are you thinking!?" to a girl having a bracelet tied on. I shoved my hands in my pockets and when they wanted to know if I spoke English I looked like I had no clue what he said.

I did catch a small kid in my pack in Milan and as I was checking the contents I watched him walk away. (Since he was walking, I was pretty sure he had nothing.) But then I saw his hand reach up for a purse a block away and I yelled "attenzione!" and the woman spun around and smacked the poor kid.

Alternatively, even though I do live in NYC, I'm never in Port Authority. I couldn't find this ticket counter and a fairly dirty man walked me to the counter and I gladly gave him $3 for a slice. I actually expected it when he started talking... he got me to my bus on time!

As a music lover, I always throw money at decent musicians on the street and never to anyone who just shakes a cup at me.

I have told that story to many of my family, friends and co-workers. Only one person knew what the capital of Canada is.

"saw one of Pinchme's other posts and couldn't find a way to say politely what I thought of him"

What other posts? Have I offended you in some way? Is it my poor geography skills or writing style? I can't figure out for the life of me. Why you would make such a broad statement as that? Please explain.

I'm not surprised that many don't know the capital of Canada. Just the other night a supposedly very bright person on Jeopardy called Toronto a province!

But I'm mainly trying to figure out why people from the US would try to pass themselves off as Canadians. What am I missing here?

I read about people doing it on Fodor's and on Frommer's. It sounded like a good idea in theory. So many American newspapers and t.v shows were talking down Europe and their non-support of Bush's war in Iraq. Being our first time in Europe we didn't know what to expect. I only tried it one time and it didn't work.
In retrospect, it's funny to us now. But back then it wasn't.

If I am in Europe and someone is being rude or unfriendly, I tell them I am Canadian. They lighten up.

If they are being overly friendly or just won't shut up, I tell them I am American. They move on.

We Canadians are secretly very clever. And every Canadian knows the capital of the US is Washington, or New York.

Skimming through this thread again I was reminded of the story of two professors from a famous graduate business school, you know -- the place where they give out MBAs.

The two were walking up Michigan Avenue when one suddenly stopped. His partner said "Robert, what's the matter?" "Look there Charles. Is that a $20 bill on the sidewalk?" "It looks like one, but it can't be." "Why not?" asked Robert. Charles replied "If it was a $20 bill someone would have picked it by now." They walked on.

I saw some of josser's other posts and I CAN find a way to say politely what I think of HIM.

Most of his posts are combative,negative or noneducational to a traveler seeking advice or suggestions. The true (Hit and Run) TROLL in every sense of the word.

I was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada. I'm there now, in fact.

It's not the capital of anything. It's a banal, provincial bush-camp masquerading as a "world-class capital". (Ottawans LOVE those cliches)

Seriously, it's a dump.

No-one should be forced to learn its name. I'm trying to forget it.

Only been back 2 weeks from our month in Savannah GA ...and in 2 weeks we're heading to Paris, Rome and Tuscany for March.

YIPPEE!

Ted I assume you jest - Ottawa is a very nice city and one I enjoyed greatly. Are you by any chance thinking of Newark?

:)

Hey, I've been driving through "downtown Newark" for hours, looking for the exit. It's not that bad at all, at least it's better than Flin Flon!

Thanks Reisender – I live in Ottawa. It’s a very nice city. Some people come to think that Rome, Paris etc are better fits for their cosmopolitan talents. ((*))

I'm wondering too about Ottawa being a "dump". We spent three or four days there a few years ago and enjoyed it very much. London or New York it isn't, but there's good as well as bad to that.

&gt; <i>Seriously, it's a dump.</i>

Tedgale, you might want to add an &quot;IMO&quot; in that statement somewhere. I was just there last weekend, and it's not a dump.

IMO, that is.

Bloom

Just about everything written on Fodor's is somebody's opinion, including the positive comments from the posters above. They are welcome to their views and I am glad, even proud, that they enjoyed my city.

But it's still a place that has lost no opportunity to embrace mediocrity; that has destroyed, in my lifetime, half its architectural heritage; that has supported urban sprawl and big-box madness; that equates liveability with great stretches of unused wilderness &quot;green-space&quot; yet neglects the texture of downtown spaces and neighbourhoods; whose street and other basic infrastructure are crumbling; and that has been both over-taxed and under-governed.

And yes, that's all hearsay.

If you're wondering why I live here:

Until last October, I lived here for my job. With retirement, I have no such need. We stay here, too, because it is 1h13 from our country property, which is a paradise. But increasingly this will just be a poste restante address for us, I hope.

Tedgale- my husband was interviewed for a job in Ottawa last week. Can you share any positives about the city? I really don't like the idea of moving to 'a dump'. :S

Bloom

Bloom – I will give an example of something good about Ottawa. In last year’s Stanley Cup final (hockey), Ottawa was playing Anaheim. Before the first game held in Ottawa, at least half to three-quarters of the 19,000 fans sang the entire US anthem word for word, to the point you could hear the crowd more clearly than you could hear the singer over the public address system.

I have been in arenas all over the world and never heard a crowd sing the other country’s anthem like that. We are friendly, respectful people here.

Good to hear, Colduphere.

I know very little about Ottawa, but the two things I like most about it are the National Gallery, and the Sens.

Though I'm mainly a Leafs fan, I've always liked and respected the Sens (except for that stunt Alfredson pulled last season), and was proud of how close they came to winning the cup last year.

Bloom

Well, I like Ottawa - I visit for a few days every year and always find lots of interesting things to see and to do.

1. It has a lovely setting. The stretches along the Ottawa River are extremely attractive in the months, regrettably few, when I want to be outdoors.

2. It is -- or at least used to be -- very easy to get out of. Gatineau Hills in 25 minutes, for example.

But lately the Queensway (E-W expressway) has become nightmarish -- fully stopped traffic at 3:30 pm, for example.

3. Some very smart people live and work there.

That pretty well exhausts my list, I'm afraid.

Hmm. Okay, thanks Tedgale.

My screen name is derived from the expression &quot;Bloom where you're planted.&quot; If we end up relocating to Ottawa, I'm determined to do that.

Bloom

I grew up in Canada and we had to learn everything about the U.S. geographically, so I feel pretty confident that I could challenge an American to a dual -- and I now live in the States, and hate being asked &quot;what providence are you from?&quot; gawd.

Anyway, Europeans, at this point, do have less trouble with Americans - - as a matter of fact, last year in Dubrovnik, several shops had signs in the windows - &quot;no Americans&quot; I went in and asked about it, and they said that it's been too recently they've had bombs rain down on them, and they don't appreciate us doing the same to innocents in Iraq. Wear a Canadian flag, and memorize &quot;Ottawa&quot;

:-)

oh, and vote the neocons out in November. That will up our stock value around the world in a hurry.

Bloom - we would love to have you. Maybe we could work a trade - we get you and central Ontario gets Ted.

Actually, I know Ted and he is a good person.

Nancy - a duel between Americans and Canadians re knowledge of each other. That would end quickly. How many Oklahomans know what a Nunavut is?