The Gypsy.
As a frequent world traveler, I’m aware of my surroundings and security at all times, and one of the things I’m always attuned to is pickpockets in large crowds, like at concerts, markets, busy streets and while traveling on public transportation like buses or trains. For years I’ve heard of the Gypsies of Central Europe, and their abilities to pickpocket tourists. Every time I go to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, , I’m warned to pay attension to my surroundings especially if I’m going to travel by public transportation. I usually rent a car and drive around, so because of that I have never run into Gypsies. In Paris, France, I did use the subway system, (the metro), and Jme and I were super vigilant the whole time. Money secured under our clothing, in the front, not in our back pockets, or in a purse. So one year we led a bead tour in the Czech Republic and met our tour guests in Prague. One couple arrived a few days early so they could explore Prague alone before the tour stated. They were experienced travelers, and knew all the dangers, but when we all met up to start the tour, they sheepishly told me that they had fallen victim to Gypsy pickpockets while at the railway station in Prague.and lost all their money in their possession. They had been surrounded by a group of Gypsy children, and in the process had been pickpocketed.It happened so quickly and they were so agressive that they could not protect themselves. That was the only time I had heard of it occurring. First hand, from someone I knew, not just a story. In the Czech Republic, Gypsies are not well loved, and everyone we met warned us about them and had a story to tell us about them. About the damage they caused to houses and entire apartment complexes the government placed them in where they stripped the building of all the wiring and fixtures, even tore up the wood flooring and burned the wood for cooking and heating. Then when they were moved and placed in another housing complex, they would strip that building again. Non Gypsy citizens did not trust them. We did meet some Gypsies in Jablonec, a wholesale warehouse of antique jewelry components. They were men who owned and operated the business. They were wonderful, and we go back every year on our tour. But all the other businesses in Jablonec are distraught that we go to see them and warn us about them. They treat us good, don‘t cheat us or our tour guests. Anyway, maybe they are the exception to the rule about Gypsies. By the way,The term "Gypsy" is considered a racial slur by many Romani people; "Romani" or "Romany" is preferred.
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