Crossing the road and other Rome, Italy Warning Or Danger Tips

Perhaps it was just my imagination, but the small green man on the traffic lights, which we assume means "walk", seems to have different meanings depending on which area of Rome you are in.

In most areas, the traffic does stop. In some, they don't. Which is dangerous. Some motorists seem oblivious to the Red light.

Some junctions also seem to have the green man on telling you to walk, while also having a green light on for drivers wanting to turn into the street you are crossing..........strange!

I would say that people on Scooters are the worst. Although they won't cause as much damage as a car, they shoot in and our and roundabout as if they rule the road. They run red lights, don't stop at pedestrian crossings, overtake in silly places, squeeze between lorries and trams.......it goes on and on.

Rome is great, but be very careful when crossing the road. Make absolute sure that it is safe to cross!

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We were warned before we left about the Street Salesmen, the Gypsies and the homeless, but i have to say, the warnings we were given didn't quite describe the outcome.

Yes, these people do all exist, but if you just get on with your holiday you will be fine.

The Street Sales men were quite strange. In Paris for instance, they follow you everywhere and try to force things into your hands. In Rome however, i noticed that most of them were very laid back, and didn't seem to concerned whether you looked at there stuff or not. There was also huge Police presence, which made me think that these guys actually had street trader licenses. Where as in Paris, as soon as the police arrive the sales guys make a run for it!!

The usualy stuff was on sale i.e. bags, glasses and watches.

The gypsies were not bad either. Some did make you feel quite guilty, but at no point did i feel intimidated. One of their favoured tricks seems to be getting on your metro car and singing or playing an instrument and then asking for change........harmless enough.

I wouldn't say these people were a danger, but it wouldn't do any harm to be aware of them. There are lots of them!

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If like us, you have been to use to having your cash cards come to the rescue for you, then you are in for a shock. Not many of Romes finest sites take Visa, or any other Cash card for that matter. Which is good because it means they haven't become to commercialised. However, if you have already spent all of your loose change then you will be stuck.

Before you visit any of the sites, lift money at one of the few and far between cashline machines. This way you won't run into the same trouble we did. We missed the Sistine Chapel for this very reason.

We had thought the vatican museums were free. however, it is only when you arrive on the second Floor that you are made aware that it actually costs 12 Euros each. We only had 15 Euros with us, and they didn't accept anything but cash.

By the time we eventually found a cash machine it was to late.....we had to head back to the airport or we would miss our plane :-(

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