April 20

There is not a huge homeless population in Florence. There are a few beggars and gypsies that frequent the same spots in areas where tourists with fat wallets fresh from the currency exchange tend to be. Unlike in America, they tend to stand and approach you with a jingling change cup, saying "Buonasera!" (Good evening). Italian men almost always put something in the cup. I've always wondered why. Generosity? Social convention? But, it still throws me for a loop to see them reach into their pockets as they pass the beggars. It is so drilled into our American brains to not give money to homeless on the street (for a number of questionably legitimate reasons). Today, I saw a hilarious interaction ensue--a visual representation of the clash of the haves and have nots. Across the Ponte Vecchio, there are a number of high-end, fancy hotels overlooking the river. Now that the weather is nicer, they are starting to hold a number of weddings. Outside one of these hotels, there was a well-dressed family with the cutest toddler aged son. I assumed they were attending a wedding because they were dressed up and had their son in a baby suit featuring a miniature bow tie. The boy was a ball of energy, running and playing with the precious jerky, uncoordinated movements of a two-year-old. He was all over the place, unable to stay still. Well, all hell broke loose when he ran over to a homeless man, stole his change cup from the ground, and began shaking it like a marracca. I have never seen two parents sweep in so fast. The homeless man was completely unphased. I couldn't help but laugh!