We were warned about Naples and Palermo - Are they safe?

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 มิ.ย. 2024
  • Ep.30 Friends and tour guides told us to avoid places like Naples and Palermo in Southern Italy because they are gritty and dangerous. After a month in these two cities, we have our own perspective on how safe it is to travel here.
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ความคิดเห็น • 120

  • @Ziggi333
    @Ziggi333 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    This was one of the most honest reviews of Napoli & Palermo. So many people get upset when you talk about the grittiness of both places. It doesn't take away from the beauty of the place, people and foods but it must include the grittiness and grime. Thank you for your honest review.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks, Cheryl, for your comment and for sharing your perspective. We were thrilled to be able to experience both of these great cities, and we’d love to go back to them. There was not enough time this go round, but they each offered us something special. -Judy

  • @FindingGinaMarie
    @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The newest article on Judy's Journal is up. What we learned on our No Mafia Tour: findingginamarie.com/judys-journal/no-mafia-tour.
    Links to our related tours of Southern Italy:
    - Palermo No Mafia Tour: www.addiopizzotravel.it/default.asp?p=vacanza&tour=17&hl=en
    - Walking Tour and street food Tour Palermo: 
www.viator.com/tours/Sicily/Walking-Tour-Palermo/d205-126116P1
    - Pompeii Small Group tour with an Archaeologist: www.viator.com/tours/Pompeii/Pompeii-small-group-tour-with-an-Archaeologist-and-skip-the-line-included/d24336-23258P113

  • @nickking9353
    @nickking9353 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Hi guys. It was great to see you in Palermo on the No Mafia tour. We really enjoyed our break in Palermo, hope you did too. Have a fab time on your next adventure!

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you, Nick, for following along! Here's a blog post I wrote about the tour as well. Let me know if you find any discrepancies from what we learned. We had a fabulous time in Palermo and will definitely return! -Judy findingginamarie.com/judys-journal/no-mafia-tour

  • @dmz7550
    @dmz7550 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Thanks for your great content, very informative. We visited Palermo and southern Italy this past May. I never once felt uncomfortable or threatened, in fact quite the opposite. The people couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. We were in Italy for 3 weeks starting in Palermo>Polizzi Generosa>Reggio Calabria>Puglia. My husband and I are both of Italian descent and had the pleasure of seeing 2 ancestral towns, Polizzi Generosa and Santo Stefano di Aspromonte. I also got to visit family in Reggio Calabria that I hadn't seen in about 20 years. I fell in love with this part of Italy and strongly encourage people to visit this amazing part of the country. I look forward to watching your future travels!

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi Diane. Thank you for the compliment, for watching, and for commenting. It all really helps our channel to grow. We didn't say enough about the people, and you are right, they were very friendly and courteous. Sounds like you took a great three-week trip! We are planning to visit Puglia next month for a week and then to Assisi since we've never been to either place. Not sure if you saw them, but we have a video about the six Italian cities we visited in March 2022 and also a few episodes on my efforts-in progress-to obtain Italian dual citizenship. We've been to Italy three times before this visit in November, and each trip trumps the previous one. You are absolutely right that it's an amazing part of the world, and we can't get enough of it, either! Our side visit to Castellammare del Golfo is where my birth father's family is originally from (and my birth mother's family is from just outside of Napoli)! Have a great New Year! -Judy

  • @miketan9794
    @miketan9794 ปีที่แล้ว

    Very interesting! Thks for the insights. Also, good idea about the “Pac Safe” backpacks :). Btw, your videos will be more useful if you can include the costs of your travel in each city, eg AirBnB cost, meal prices, etc

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks, Mike! We are planning an episode that breaks down our budget for travel, so it's great to hear that's interesting to you. Cheers! - Kevin

  • @cherrie.l7869
    @cherrie.l7869 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    This will sound selfish, I know. But I would prefer that the myths about Palermo continue. Palermo is one of the few grand European cities where hoards of tourists are non-existent and very little English is spoken. I hope it never changes.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hi Cherrie, LOL, and we totally understand and agree (despite our video). We had a really lovely time in Palermo and would love to go back and explore even more of it. Definitely salt of the earth people who were very kind. Because Sicily is a more challenging part of Italy to access or travel to/from easily or as cheaply as other places, so there's at least a few organic reasons for it not to be the first place a tourist travels to Italy to see.

    • @DekeZivven
      @DekeZivven ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I agree. We spent 5 amazing days in Palermo. Eating great food. Swimming at Mondello.
      Walking all over. No problems but just use your common sense.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@DekeZivven It wasn't beach season, so no swimming for us. But definitely it's a reason to go back. So glad you also had a great experience! -Judy

  • @FindingFinley
    @FindingFinley ปีที่แล้ว

    First comment! We are planning to move to Europe in a year or so. You are helping us decide where to start looking. Thanks

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for commenting, Todd! One of our goals is to help others, so this is great to hear. Best wishes on your eventual move to Europe. Do you have a target country/city picked yet? - Kevin

  • @MisoMarie
    @MisoMarie ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Hello, I enjoyed watching the video. I am Sicilian so I was curious to see what you thought about it. Thanks for debunking some clichés and myths about Sicily. 😊

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi @MisoMarie! We loved Sicily! We would return in a heartbeat! Thank you so much for watching! -Judy

  • @claudiahansen4938
    @claudiahansen4938 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Favorite food in Sicily we had was in Cefalu. Favorite food from 7 trips to Italy was in Sicily.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I don't know where we ate our favorite food. It was definitely during our six-cities tour of Italy last March. We had great food in Lucca and Florence and Verona, but I don't think I can narrow it down! We haven't been to Cefalu, so I'm adding it to my list of places to visit! Thanks for the recommendation. Is there a particular restaurant or food that is a must-try? -Judy

    • @claudiahansen4938
      @claudiahansen4938 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@FindingGinaMarie let me check my trip report from Cefalu!

    • @claudiahansen4938
      @claudiahansen4938 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@FindingGinaMarie looks like the restaurant name now is Mandralisca Sedici near the Cefalu Cathedral. It had a different name 15 years ago. Still looks delicious! The reason I love Sicilian food over even really good Italian food from other regions, is that I prefer tomatoes, eggplant, squash, raisins, almonds, lemons, sardines, meat and fish over the northern Italian cream, wheat etc. Some of the shaved ice concoctions of almond, coffee and lemon granita in Sicily were unforgettable. Everything was in fact delicious in Sicily. Hard durum wheat grown there.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We have not had our fill of Sicily! I am actually a huge fan of red sauce, but your combination of ingredients all are really delicious! Hard to go wrong with any of those. I love that each region has its own unique flavors, because experiencing the local cuisine is part of the charm of traveling!

  • @debbrooks893
    @debbrooks893 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    We just finished a month in Portugal. We loved it- we felt safe, food was amazing, and the people were wonderful. We were thinking of a year tour in Europe,however , I learned that I really love our home and the closeness of family. We will still travel, but not full time. Enjoy your adventure!

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi Deb, we traveled to Portugal in early October. We had some odd circumstances surrounding the trip (work issues, just coming out of a three-month jury trial, and having to reschedule the initial trip because of being a jurist), so it didn't go as well as we hoped. Not sure if you caught our video, but we didn't love it enough to live there full time. In fairness, we stayed in Lisbon and Porto and had only a day trip to Caiscas. Coming from San Francisco, we strongly want to avoid hills to get everywhere, and as you know, both Lisbon and Porto are very uphill (especially when we stayed down by the river in Porto!). We'd like to take a fresh look at the rest of the country as visitors and not as potential expats because we only saw a small subsection and continue to hear wonderful things about it. And it's one of the safest countries in the world, which is a huge plus! We recognize that full-time travel isn't for everyone, so thank you for following along anyway! Best wishes for a happy and safe New Year. -Judy & Kevin

  • @txteach
    @txteach ปีที่แล้ว

    Just recently found your channel. Enjoying your travel videos. Do you ever give tours of your AirBnb’s? I would love to see what’s available. I was especially curious when you showed the area you arrived by taxi to. You are brave, taking and arriving by trains, taxis by night!!

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you so much for watching! We haven’t given tours, but there’s no reason we couldn’t, at least for the ones we’ve enjoyed. We always take video or photos of everywhere we stay. We didn’t love the Airbnb in Palermo, but we liked the central location. Here’s a link if you’d like to look through it: abnb.me/BoGrxU2gBAb
      We try to avoid taxis when the distances are walkable, but that’s led to some interesting walkups! And we absolutely love trains, so they’re really not a hardship! -Judy

    • @txteach
      @txteach ปีที่แล้ว

      @@FindingGinaMarie Thank you for the link! It was nice to take a look.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      It wasn’t much, but the price was right and the location was interesting. Our Airbnb choices aren’t luxury, but generally they’re pretty comfortable. We’re learning and refining the more we travel.

  • @erinaustin9968
    @erinaustin9968 ปีที่แล้ว

    I very much appreciate this video. We don’t mind gritty and often find it more interesting than a scrubbed-up hygienic soulless area.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Hi Erin, Us, too! In some ways it's like wrinkles and grey hair. They are a reflection that you've lived and experienced some things! You can't have history without having some bumps and scrapes, and those are part of the attraction for us! -Judy

  • @pepa007
    @pepa007 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Been to Palermo. Never felt unsafe in the slightest anywhere in the city. As *everywhere* in Europe, just stay away from main railway stations, those are always the ugliest and sketchiest parts of any city.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      The neighborhood we stayed in in Palermo originally seemed a little sketchy arriving at night, but we never felt unsafe there after getting acquainted with the area. We saw some trash and a small bit of damaged property, but that is not the same as unsafe. You are right about main railway stations, but even in Palermo, they weren’t too bad. Napoli had one station that wasn’t great, but truly no different than several of our streets in San Francisco with the homeless. For us, part of traveling is learning that some things may be different, but we try to give a city and its people a fair chance. We have been grateful to stay in local areas and not always the most touristy parts. We definitely would visit Palermo again and Sicily in general. There is so much to see and really wonderful people. They are just as wary about us! -Judy

  • @janetlombardi2314
    @janetlombardi2314 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    No problems with Naples at all. I spend a lot of time there. You have more problems in other countries, certainly not Naples in my experiences

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We absolutely agree!

    • @josephaugello1527
      @josephaugello1527 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@FindingGinaMarie most cities in the us are much more dangerous than naples. Most of palermo is fairly safe

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@josephaugello1527 We so agree, Joseph. The number of shootings and mass shootings in the US is terrifying. We loved Palermo and look forward to spending more time in Sicily. Thanks for watching! -Judy

  • @JosephHeck
    @JosephHeck ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I’d love to see a review of the “pac safe” bits. More interested in the smaller bags and such, and what’s available.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for letting us know, Joseph. Unfortunately, there are no stores in Greece selling some of the smaller bags. I may do a review of the two I have and include some info on the others, which all will have similar features. Would that be helpful, or would you rather wait until we are in a city with distributors? -Judy

    • @JosephHeck
      @JosephHeck ปีที่แล้ว

      @@FindingGinaMarie the specific city isn’t as relevant to me so much as the products you’ve found useful and those details.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      Okay, good to know. And I probably wasn't clear. I have two bags, but if you want me to try more, I need to wait until we leave Greece since I can't buy any in this country. There are no vendors here who carry them.

  • @hippychicktarot
    @hippychicktarot 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for this video. Palermo is my heart… and also my ancestral homeland…. Oh and btw I absolutely love your blouse and your hair is so beautiful…. Just had to say.
    Appreciate the honest coverage of these beautiful lands that have reputations that keep tourism out and authenticity in tact… I don’t mind the stereotypes because once you’re inside you know. Let the people talk and be afraid whilst the rest of us enjoy the ancient architecture and love of the locals.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Thank you so much for watching. I think I mention in this video that my father's parents are from Sicily (Castellammare del Golfo) and my mother's family is from Summonte. We loved our time in Naples and Palermo (and frankly all of Italy) and want to return and explore more. And we agree that the negative reputations have no real basis, especially these days. -Judy

    • @hippychicktarot
      @hippychicktarot 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@FindingGinaMarie wow Castellammare del Golfo is right next to where my great grandfather was born and raised in Trappeto… I’d like to imagine our ancestors have met somehow in another time…. Lovely thoughts.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @hippychicktarot What a small world! I’d love to think that, too! ♥️ -Judy

  • @TommyTheWalker
    @TommyTheWalker ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video, but you didn't mention the Neapolitan Camorra, but hey I guess you forgot. Btw there are a lot of nice areas in both cities. Lots of cities have good and bad areas

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi Tommy, You know, I did not realize that the Neapolitan Camorra was a separate entity from the Cosa Nostra. Thanks for the info! And you absolutely are right. We addressed the stereotypes-and tried to put them to rest!-since we had a lovely time in both cities. We loved Napoli and Sicily and would travel to both in a heartbeat in order to explore more of their hidden secrets! -Judy

  • @5217tuber
    @5217tuber 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    My wife and I were in both Napoli and Palermo 4 years ago and only felt unsafe once. It was in Napoli, and both of us - seasoned international travelers - just had trepidations about a neighborhood we were about to walk through. We decided to turn around. Who knows if it was unsafe in reality, but we trusted our gut. Driving in Palermo and all around Sicily had occasional challenges, but was manageable if you balanced alertness and aggression when needed.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for sharing your experience! We have had to step back at times and ask ourselves if we really are unsafe or if we're actually just uncomfortable because there are cultural differences or unfamiliarity, because it often is those things disguised as danger. But at the same time, it's critical to trust your instincts like you both did and take good precautions. Thanks so much for watching! You might enjoy the rest of our series of videos from Italy, which I'll link below. -Judy
      Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html

  • @lbunnygordon1133
    @lbunnygordon1133 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Nowhere is safe now especially London Uk. I just try to hang on to things at all times. Just curious do Airbnbs have lockers or safe boxes? I dont travel by night if can help it or arrive in daylight. Piazza Garibaldi was seedy did not get same feeling at Rome station. Usually get a gut feeling and try not to stand out. The advantage you have is your look is Italiqn Gina Marie. I can pass for Mediterranean and Turkish so fit in among crowd.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Hi Bunny, We agree that being mindful of your surroundings and watching your items are some of the most practical things you can do. Yes, some of our Airbnbs do have safe boxes. In fact the one in Cambodia we are in now has one. However, I don't like putting something in there because I worry I'll leave it behind. If you're using something in a hostel, etc., I would have two or three types of reminders so that you empty it. We've felt very safe in the Airbnbs that we've chosen, but we lock our doors and there are devices you can use as additional safety measures to give you peace of mind, especially when you're traveling along. Here's an article I put together specifically to help with this question: findingginamarie.com/articles/stress-free-stays-how-to-choose-secure-your-perfect-travel-home

  • @pennylombardinogeorge8385
    @pennylombardinogeorge8385 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    There is more Mafia in the USA than Sicilia. You have Russian, South American, Asian, etc Mafia in the States. In Sicilia you only have the Sicilian. You are very safe there.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for watching, Penny! There are a lot fewer guns in Italy as well! -Judy

  • @jeffmill999
    @jeffmill999 ปีที่แล้ว

    Good to see you understand the real Mafia is from Sicily...
    It is such an overused term for what is organized crime...
    Cool tour...
    You two are so adventurous..
    And I live in Cambodia...

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks, Jeff, for the comment. I also wrote a blog post about the Mafia based on our tour and additional information I was compelled to research. It was a fascinating tour. We are having an awesome time and appreciate you are joining us through the magic of TH-cam! -Judy findingginamarie.com/judys-journal/no-mafia-tour

  • @MT-ys6ju
    @MT-ys6ju 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Naples is a crazy place to drive.. I experienced driving and had an experience with a roundabout that blew my mind! No rules! anyone would just go around it how they felt like it. But other than that, i felt perfectly safe! It was actually an awesome experience. There is an Italian saying "Vedi Napoli e poi muori - You see Naples and then you die".

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      We would never dream of driving in Napoli, and really don't drive anywhere on our travels if we can help it (except for the US, which is so spread out). In many parts of Italy, and of course certain parts of Napoli and also Palermo, we felt like even being pedestrians is a tricky prospect! But I love your Italian saying! My birth family is from outside of Napoli, so it holds a part of my heart! We have an entire series from Italy, and we'll be in various parts of the country scattered throughout the rest of the year (with detours to other cities/countries mixed in). Thanks for watching and for sharing this fun quote with us! -Judy
      🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html

    • @MT-ys6ju
      @MT-ys6ju 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@FindingGinaMarie thanks for sending the link! I will definitely have a look at your Italian series!

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@MT-ys6ju Thank you so much! We'll be in Orvieto in just a few short weeks and are looking forward to being back in Europe (and especially Italy!). -Judy

  • @FortunateXpat
    @FortunateXpat 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I’ve lived in Palermo for 3 years and have never felt unsafe

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      We didn't feel unsafe either. We weren't sure what to expect, but we enjoyed ourselves a lot. Thanks for watching. We have an entire series from Italy and in 2024 we will be in Orvieto, Sardinia, Summonte, and a whirlwind two-week trip introducing Italy to our daughter. -Judy
      🎥 Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html

  • @starraider25
    @starraider25 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    "I didn't feel unsafe at all" (gunshots in the background) LOL

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It actually was only firecrackers 🧨 We were fine! Thanks for watching! -Judy

  • @welltravelledlife
    @welltravelledlife ปีที่แล้ว

    You are doing this exactly how we would do it. Stay and live local. And if you're there for a bit, you really will meet locals, find your favorite vendors, walks and experiences. It makes sense to always be cautious, but that's true no matter where you go - except Singapore - there's no such thing as unsafe there!

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yes, exactly! We love finding a single cafe and frequenting it daily, ideally for the entire time we are in a city. We've built so many relationships with our waiters, and in both Cyprus and Egypt we were told how much they enjoyed seeing us every day-and we felt exactly the same! In fact, I wrote about it here: findingginamarie.com/articles/its-all-about-the-little-things
      We can't always be in a city for a month at a time, but we love when we can because we enjoy truly assimilating as much as possible. Good to hear about Singapore. It's an expensive city, but we continue to hear wonderful things about it. Thanks for the recommendation! -Judy

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I can't find the comment you left, but thanks for sharing your interview from Zwolle! It's a pricier country for us, so we haven't been able to visit yet, but we would love to do so. What a passionate man Itommy is, and so hardworking. But it's an expensive place to live, so I completely understand his need to diversify!

    • @welltravelledlife
      @welltravelledlife ปีที่แล้ว

      @@FindingGinaMarie The Netherlands can be expensive. We found a couple of "hacks" that made it much more accommodating. We were able to get a Dutch rail card that gave us free rail transit anywhere in the country for $100/month. We also found a houseboat right in front of the medieval city wall that was fabulous and made our accommodations much more manageable. We didn't need a car since we were within walking distance of everything and had the rail passes. We found a really great bar right across the canal from us that was as inexpensive as buying drinks at the grocery store and became one of our favorite hang outs.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks for sharing these tips! Did the houseboat feel cramped or claustrophobic? Since we typically stay in a place for a month, even a hotel room can feel cramped. But it might not matter if we stay only a week or two so we can visit someplace that might otherwise be out of limits. Did you book it from Airbnb or some other resource? -Judy

    • @welltravelledlife
      @welltravelledlife ปีที่แล้ว

      @@FindingGinaMarie It was an AirBnB and absolutely NOT cramped. I'm linking to the video we did of it because the boat really was a treasure - perhaps the best accommodation we've EVER had (though we have some cool ones coming up, so there may be some stiff competition!) th-cam.com/video/H6RceUwUGq0/w-d-xo.html

  • @claudiahansen4938
    @claudiahansen4938 ปีที่แล้ว

    Visible trash was actually one of the criteria in the rating system we penciled on a napkin while in Venezuela in 1993. I will see if I still have that spreadsheet where we both gave our weighted ratings for different countries. Biology had the strongest weight, i.e., did you come down with Montezuma's revenge!

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Interesting! We've taken note of it, but it seems some of Italy's garbage issues are tied to corruption. Fortunately, we did NOT have any stomach issues anyplace in Italy. I had a bit of Pharaoh's revenge in Cairo though! findingginamarie.com/judys-journal/pharoahs-revenge -Judy

  • @jrpacer6355
    @jrpacer6355 ปีที่แล้ว

    My Grandparents came from there

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      They are cool places. Thanks for watching! -Judy & Kevin

  • @jeffmill999
    @jeffmill999 ปีที่แล้ว

    Best to have a local connection and do your homework..
    I have lived in many cities around the World...
    Italy famous for pickpockets...half moved to Argentina...ja ja...
    My experience is go out before the sun goes down...and nothing good happens after midnight..
    In USA...I am a good guy with a gun...different World...
    Taxi..tuk tuk...set a price BEFORE you get in...

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      Sage advice, Jeff! We definitely have learned to set a price before getting into a taxi. Fortunately we haven't needed one since our arrival in Palermo. We also learned that taxi drivers enjoy their time off. We could not find one to take us back to the train station in Castellammare del Golfo to save our souls. Fortunately we are healthy and could walk because by the time we finally gave up, we had to make a mad dash to be able to make it! And the advice of "nothing good happens after midnight" is a lesson my parents taught me when I was young. True words, except when you are in Italy and the dinner hour is so late! -Judy

  • @sebhoeven2374
    @sebhoeven2374 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Curiosity: every year how many murders are there in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or other major American cities? Are all the streets of San Francisco or Los Angeles safe? Are they safe at night?

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      Hi Seb, There are a lot of murders throughout the United States. However, a lot of Americans still feel (mistakenly) that the US is safe. Sometimes it's mostly about the devil you know versus the devil you don't. There's a lot of mystery and TV hype about the Mafia, especially in Italy, and it unfortunately creates a shroud of mystery around Naples and Sicily. We've tried to dispel those concerns in this video. -Judy

  • @mr-vet
    @mr-vet 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Is pepper spray legal?

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I don't actually know, but you shouldn't need it. Naples and Palermo aren't any more dangerous than other major cities, including ones in the US. -Judy

  • @ConanNYC
    @ConanNYC 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I heard from another you tuber that Palermo was very dirty., the dirtiest city they've been to. Was that your take too?

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      There was garbage around and it felt like garbage collection wasn’t the best, but we’ve seen worse. I think there is some corruption in the sanitation department in Sicily, which contributes to the problem, unfortunately. Here’s a link to our Palermo video where we spotlight some of it. -Judy
      Palermo: th-cam.com/video/WtNVUkTrH5c/w-d-xo.htmlsi=9Km9RMEFQWOHc_3c

  • @didihern
    @didihern 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Let's be real here.... If you have to tell people to "don't wear this or that, and don't walk here at night, etc.." means a city is unsafe.
    I've been in a few cities where you can walk anywhere with anything and no one bothers you.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Just because there are areas of a big city that require common-sense precautions, doesn’t mean a city is unsafe. I wouldn’t tell people not to visit London, Paris, New York, or San Francisco because of their dicey sections.
      But I’m interested in your list of safe cities. Which ones do you recommend?
      - Kevin

    • @didihern
      @didihern 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@FindingGinaMarie I wouldn't tell anyone not to visit those cities either, but that doesn't make them safe cities.
      Safe cities are ones you don't need to worry about taking cautions or constantly checking if your valuables are still there. And you can walk anywhere in the city at night alone as a woman and no one bothers you. That's a safe city..
      Examples where you don't need to worry... Iceland, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, Austria.. just to name a few. I left my laptop in a train station once in Austria... Came back half an hour later and it was still there. The town I lived in in Finland hadn't had any violent crime in over 50 years. Everyone walked alone at night without any worries. My friends walked all over Singapore alone with valuables, no worries at all.
      There are still safe places in this world but Naples isn't one of them. I love Naples and went alone, but I wouldn't dare say it wasn't uneasy feeling or that I wasn't heckled a couple times. There are places in Italy a lot safer. Naples is still worth a visit, but people should be realistic about it.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @didihern Thanks for sharing your perspective. -Judy

  • @giuseppe4909
    @giuseppe4909 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

    It’s called having situational awareness. You shouldn’t be outside anywhere if you are not going to be paying attention to your surroundings.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      We agree, Giuseppe. Any major city is going to have issues, you just need to keep your eyes open. And we felt very safe in a Napoli and Palermo. We are eager to revisit both! -Judy

    • @giuseppe4909
      @giuseppe4909 11 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@FindingGinaMarie One thing I kept interpreting from your comments - you mentioned feeling uneasy or unsafe on a few occasions but what you were experiencing was due to unfamiliarity - a “fear” of the unknown. Might I suggest a few things…. Always make a copy of your passport and keep it somewhere safe. Do more research on locations, i.e; I usually pack a map of my area and I highlight things like police stations, hospitals, embassy locations and the routes to get there. I do a little research ahead of time to understand the transportation systems and operating times. The more you know about a location, the less “fear” you will have….and yes, I have travelled extensively around the world over the last 30+ years.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Hi Giuseppe, I felt uneasy when we first arrived in Palermo in part because the area we arrived in late at night looked unkept and I was projecting a bit about what the Airbnb might be like. I don't always recommend arriving after dark because you get a flawed sense of a place. Although we'd traveled a lot, we'd never stayed in Airbnbs before our trip to Naples and Palermo. So it was our virgin trip as full-time travelers. Our unease was completely unwarranted, and we got the cool market experience on top of everything. Your suggestion to get a good lay of the land and familiarize yourself with key locations is a very smart idea. Thanks for the tip. Someone suggested also getting the emergency number (911 in the US) for the country you are in. WanderOnwards pulled together this comprehensive list for emergency/fire/police by country:
      Article: wanderonwards.co/how-to-call-911-in-europe/#:~:text=Unfortunately%2C%20911%20doesn%27t%20work,European%20countries%2C%20nothing%20will%20happen.

  • @dylanx9327
    @dylanx9327 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    12:20...paying protection money Italians learned from the times when Muslims conquered Sicily and imposed Jizya (obligatory protection tax up to 50% of your annual income) only on the local population with Dhimmi status... after Muslims were kicked out of Sicily, local Mafia mentality was born.. PS: Zakat - tax toward charity for Muslims is 2.5% of your loot...

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I don't think this is actually true, Dylan. Historians generally believe that the Mafia actually originated in the 19th century, after the unification of Italy and the transition from feudalism to capitalism. -Judy

  • @SuperKanuuna
    @SuperKanuuna ปีที่แล้ว +2

    you cant be safe anywhere . stay home safe, stay safe

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I feel much safer in European cities than any in the United States. For me, life is about experiencing as much as I can. The idea of living life in a bubble to avoid getting hurt isn't living for me. - Kevin

    • @SuperKanuuna
      @SuperKanuuna ปีที่แล้ว

      @@FindingGinaMarie that might be true. For example in Finland, you can walk anytime anywhere and no one will come bother you

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SuperKanuuna Good to know! We haven’t had Finland on our radar, but we will take a look. So many places to visit and never enough time! -Judy

  • @dino8970
    @dino8970 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    That is ridiculous compared to the majority of American cities are way worse and scummy.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It’s a common misconception. We specifically say that we felt very comfortable in both cities, even though parts of it (like many major cities) have places that are rundown. We loved our time in these cities and we adore Italy. We think some people’s concerns about Naples and Palermo are overrated and we return to both places in a heartbeat.
      Here’s a link to our entire video series from our full-time travel in Italy. -Judy
      Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html

  • @Luke_Rowlands
    @Luke_Rowlands 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Palermo safer

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Hi Luke, Thanks for watching. We loved our time in both places and want to return to both because there is so much to explore that we missed. We might try Sicily during a warmer season when some of the beach towns are open. Do you have suggestions for anyplace we should visit or see in particular, or just more of Palermo (which I'm not opposed to at all!). We have an entire Italy series if you want to check it out. -Judy
      Italy video series: th-cam.com/play/PLNT98lWfwdF1Tj_VCjUNQTJBMtKpkz5Sk.html

  • @Isimud
    @Isimud ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Out of my experience: Palermo is safe, Naples not. You can walk dark streets in Palermo at night which is an absolute NoGo in Naples.

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for watching and sharing your experience! I guess for Naples it depends where you are located. For most situations, we felt safe, but we were not there for an extended period of time. -Judy

    • @josephaugello1527
      @josephaugello1527 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@FindingGinaMarie the scampia area and the Spanish quarter is rough in naples. In palermo the area known as the zen is not good. Many Americans are moving to italy southern Italy that is in recent years

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@josephaugello1527 We could see where parts of the Spanish Quarter is very poor, which sometimes can be a condition for more crime. The part where we stayed was actually quite nice. And we deliberately chose to record in the Zen area because it was touted as being not so safe. It could be relative to the time of year when there are fewer tourists. I’m sure if someone has a negative experience there or hears more about crime there, they’ll have a different experience than we did. -Judy

    • @josephaugello1527
      @josephaugello1527 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@FindingGinaMarie I am planning on going maybe for good we will see. I'm willing to say the zen in palermo with the Spanish quarter are safer than the majority of the us

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      @@josephaugello1527 We would love to hear what happens if you move full time. Please keep us posted! ♥️

  • @ptitpoisson1
    @ptitpoisson1 ปีที่แล้ว

    Mfia is USA !!!!!!!!😈😈😈😈

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว

      You are right. There’s definitely a presence in the US as well. Thanks for watching!

  • @valerianocuomo996
    @valerianocuomo996 6 ชั่วโมงที่ผ่านมา

    😅😅😅 too many Martin Scorsese films😅😅ridiculous

  • @dandegi2946
    @dandegi2946 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Among the 50 most dangerous cities in the world, there are 4 U.S.A. cities: St. Louis (Missouri) Baltimore (Maryland) New Orleans (Louisiana) and Detroit (Michigan).
    Naples and Palermo are not among the top 100, but there are other U.S.A. cities.
    I WONDER IF WHEN YOU TRAVEL TO THE U.S.A. ARE YOU AWARE OF THE CRIMINAL LEVEL, MUCH HIGHER THAN IN ITALY???

    • @FindingGinaMarie
      @FindingGinaMarie  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @dandegi2946 You are absolutely right. Some Americans think the US is safe but shootings are often normalized. There is so much less gun crime in most other countries. We were happy to feel completely safe in Naples and Palermo. -Judy

    • @dandegi2946
      @dandegi2946 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@FindingGinaMarie I am happy you are happy😁👍