Al Ladro! Quell'Uomo Mi Ha Rubato Il Portafoglio.. and other Rome, Italy Warning Or Danger Tips

That's what you should say aloud in Italian when you've been robbed.

Yes, please do beware of pickpockets and gypsy children. I experienced a taste of what it was like being robbed by gypsy kids in Nice, France... and believe me, that experience left a bitter taste in my mouth. I am now more alert and more aware of my surroundings.

These pickpockets and gypsies are so good at their craft that by the time you realized your wallet/ purse is missing, it'd be too late.

Places to be very careful of include all major tourist spots like the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain etc. These people will usually target tourists or foreign looking women - like yours truly. :-(

If you can't speak Italian, try and at least memorize some of these all-important words. You might just find them very useful when you least expect it:

"Aiuto al ladro!"
- Help, I've been robbed.

"Chiamate la Polizia, per favore"
- Somebody call the Police, please.

"Sono cittadino Singaporiana, chiamate la mia ambasciata, per favore"***
- I am a Singapore Citizen, call my Embassy, please.

*** This is what I say if I get into trouble in Italy. ;-) If you're a foreigner, just change the words highlighted in red to the following:

- American Citizen
Americano (if you're a man)
Americana (if you're a woman)

- British Citizen
Britannico (if you're a man)
Britannica (if you're a man)

Good luck!

Photo: Here I am with two very nice Roman police officers @Trevi Fountain (actually, it was them who told me to be very careful...).

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Yes, it must definitely be the TRAFFIC here in Rome.

Man, the traffic here is UNBELIEVABLE!! Just crossing the road alone in this city is considered a major triumph. Not kidding. I stood at the zebra crossing - attempting to cross the busy road to the Coliseum but soon realized that Italian drivers DO NOT BELIEVE in giving way to pedestrians. Sadly, not even if you look like Sophia Loren.

On that fateful occasion, I TRIED to cross the road when the 'green man' was on but was honked at incessantly instead. One driver even showed me his middle finger! Not joking.

Dear Italian friends - please don't take this as a negative factor. Again, this is just my personal opinion and it was what I experienced. But this does not - yes, not even for one minute - lessen my interest in this enthralling city one bit. I still loooove and adore Rome.

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