People who want your money

I feel I should write a side note about the various people in Italy who are determined to take the money of unsuspecting American tourists. Nigerian purse salesmen are the most prominent. It's unclear why they sell only purses or how they even exist in Venice or Florence at all, seeing as what they're selling is illegal. Venice is not a big place and since there are few black people there, the Nigerians stick out like a sore thumb. Also, they only seem to set up shop directly in front of Prada, Gucci, and Chanel. Its not like they're hard to find. Occasionally the police come down the street and the Nigerians flee en masse to another part of the city like a herd of wildebeest migrating. My only guess is that the police are somehow in on the deal, because that would the only way that these people could operate freely. Most Americans are dumb enough to think that the bags the Nigerians sell are authentic, but they actually want the replicas because they look so similar to the real thing. Sadly for those of that school of thought, purchasing a counterfiet bag can result in a fine of several hundred euros to the buyer. Bottom line: dealing with the Nigerians at all can be hazardous to your wallet.
Some other fun people are the flower guys. Their MO is to shove a rose in your face as you walk down the street. The upside is that you can get a free rose. The downside is then they want 20 euros for it. These guys are pretty easy to deal with most of the time cuz they back off after one "no grazie." Their most annoying quality is their tendency to sneak into restaurants and stealth attack the diners. However, my favorites are the street beggars. Some are creative, while are less than imaginative. One lady showed me a picture of a baby saying she needed the money for baby food. Unfortunately for her, the baby in the picture wasn't the same race as her...and I doubt she adopted. The most bizarre beggars, however, are a group of women who dress up in all white, wear veils, and paint their faces white. They never speak but instead make clicking noises. They're pretty aggressive and won't leave you alone until you give them something. I have found the best way to get rid of them is to take a euro out of their bucket when they shove it in your face and say thanks. They don't like that very much.