Tricks of the Trade In Italy
Updated: 15 hours ago

Tricks of the Trade In Italy
As I was saying, after traveling for many years I am a great believer that as well as being a great teacher traveling also brings gratitude and understanding of the many cultures and issues that are going on in the world.
Being a regular traveler has not made me inaccessible to some of the trials and tribulations that can happen whilst traveling. I would like to share some of my learning curves with you that I hope you will enjoy and help you on your journey.
The next story takes us to the Mediterranean, the home of great food including pizza and pasta. Yes, the lovely country of Italy.
In the main tourist stops of Rome and Naples pick pocketing is strife. The thieves have got it down to a fine art form. It’s so quick you do not feel a thing, completely painless until you discover your wallet or purse has gone. Do not leave your bag on the ground inside a restaurant. Even at your feet, it is not safe! The back pocket of trousers and the inside of jacket pockets with no zips are other targeted areas. Be aware of your surroundings on tubes, in stations, and at airports.
I have been lucky to the extent that none of the above has happened to me. I have a very different story to tell.
As I traveled through Naples in my early teens, photography being very much a part of my life I came across a stall selling SLR digital cameras. The price was just too good to be true! The sales male and his assistant were very helpful in pointing out an atm. Upon return, I held the camera, watched it being put in the camera box, then wrapped it in brown paper and into a plastic bag. I was ecstatic! Brand new camera to play with and take some brilliant shots while in Italy. I couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel and get it out of the box, load it with film, and get it working for its money. I was gutted to discover what I thought to be a camera turned out to be an expensive box of soap powder!

More recently I traveled to Milan for the first time, so excited to see the incredible architecture, discover more about Leonardo da Vinci, and of course for the pizza and ice cream.
My flight arrived late in Milan, so I opted to stay at the Moxy airport hotel. The following morning I headed for the bus that departs the airport and drops off at the train station. This was when things got interesting! <