"Do you speak English?" If it’s not a bewildered traveller asking you this question, it’s likely to be a beggar – but one possibly doubling as a thieves’ accomplice.
Often turning on the waterworks or adopting a sorrowful demeanour, they will hand you a card – suspiciously laminated, so it’ll withstand crumpling – with a pidgin-English account of why their need is so great. As they touchingly implore you, you may not notice the loss of your wallet or camera.
It is one of the attractions or distractions while waiting in the queues around the Eiffel Tower but it can happen anywhere.
How do you avoid this approach? Well, when approached, just pretend to be German. Brits can say “nein” convincingly.
Most beggars nowadays will speak a few words of most European languages and some (more professional ones) will speak a little Chinese and Japanese. None of them bother with Russian because there is little future in upsetting those guys. So, why not try the occasional 'Nyet!' and watch for their reaction.
No comments:
Post a Comment