Beggars Belief

[Ellie]

This may seem too serious a topic for this forum.
I dont mean it to be. But its subjectthat Im intrigued by---namely begging!
During our month in Algarve we visited the main towns/cities inc.Faro/Silves/Portimao/Armacao de Pera/Loule etc. and didnt see one-beggar --that is.Yet,I think Im right in saying,that povery still reigns in many parts and we witnessed evidence to this fact.
I cant speak of Lisbon--as we didnt visit the city this holiday.
But I seem to be witnessing more of begging here in UK. Our nearest big town is Boston and I see people begging on each visit.
Two recent examples--each different.
Walking in high street -a large reasonably well-dressed woman approached me--by her looks and accent she was Slavic;i guessed from one of the Baltic countries.Quite threateningly--she said "money!" then held out a sheet of paper written in English which said"Help the homeless!"
I have to confess I didnt like her approach and answered in Portuguese saying "Sorry--I dont speak English"
Another day I came out of postoffice,Boston and almost fell over a young girl sitting on the steps;a card of "help me" held on her lap.
She was terribly thin,pale and as I put some coins in her hand noticed she was freezing cold.I spoke a little with her,then urged her to go and get something to eat and hot drink.
As I went home,she was on my mind and it bothered me.She could have been my daughter.
It could have been a con of course--but something about her told me it was genuine.
Couldnt help but notice difference between that and "not " witnessing something similar in Algarve.
Does it happen there?

[biffa]

Ellie

I regret that you get a lot of beggars here. Many are also from eastern europe. They usually operate at traffic lights, a baby in arms with the more enterprising ones offering to "clean" your windscreen.

An enetrtaining one in Lagoa pulls up his shirt and dipslays a huge scar on his torso as an extra incentive to give freely.

[Gambrinus]

they are particularly annoying when you have just spent €5 on a jet wash and they insist on cleaning your windshield.

The others are the deaf men who come to bars and restaurants offering to sell you a lighter or key chain. In all fairness, they are requesting you purchase something rather than just asking for money. Nevertheless, I was shocked and very annoyed when I witnessed one such character using his mobile phone after he had left the vicinity of Portimão marina.

A third and luckily infrequent version are those who will roam around looking for open windows or doors to help themselves to what they feel is a fair amount.

[Gambrinus]

Ellie,

I am surprised that you did not find "real" beggars (as you described or old folks, women with babies, etc) on the shopping street in Portimão. The constant movement makes those places more profitable than our streets in CVO.

[Ellie]

I have to be fair G-and say I didnt see all around Portimao--and I will take your word for it as someone resident in Algarve---I have witnessed this in Spain--particularly in Salamanca---as youve described ----woman with babes in arms even small families --sat in shop doorways there--the babies looked "drugged" to me ---not naturally sleepy but half unconscious
is this possibly true? horrifying thought!
I had experience of deaf chap--came round tables in Colombos--and yes--I did purchase lighter& keyring!
When we lived in Essex--Hub had experience of giving to poorlooking bloke in Southend high street--when he walked back the same way--he saw the fella get up and walk to practically new BMW& drive off!
How do we tell genuine ones from imposters?
Has it all become just a big racket?

[Ellie]

Biffa--your tale of chap in Lagoa& huge scar!
It made me laugh
Got to give him credit for trying havent you?