"Marty" wrote in message
...
SNIP STEVEA'S BIT

"Beggers" seem to be fairly common in European train stations. At Bern
in Switzerland the youth hostel is behind the parliment house and there
is a park area where drug addicts hang out. At night time you have to
"run the gauntlet" and hope you don't lose your wallet in the process.

Marty

One of the funniest beggars I saw was in Florence. An old dear, walking
along. As she approached a group of tourists outside the Duomo she pulled
out a collapsible walking stick, bent almost double to use it and hobbled
pathetically around the group, rattling her paper cup. Once she got her
'donations', up she stood, folded up her walking stick and strolled away.
And they wonder why you become cynical!

Me