After all people invest not only hard earned money but a years worth of dreams and expectations in a holiday, hence the worth of TA and other traveller forums. And I am all for different holiday experiences having travelled widely to areas as far flung as Iran and Egypt happy to take on board other cultures but finding out that our much awaited holiday after a particularly bad year to date was situated in a narrow alleyway frequented by prostitutes and pimps reduced myself to tears wishing only to fly straight back home and caused us to spend every night in our flat for fear of having to run the gauntlet in darkness, you can blame that on being reluctant to take on board other cultures if you like but I doubt that any Italian holidaymaker would relish a similar location in the UK, or respond to kindly to being told that it is part of UK culture.
But as I said before we are simply seeing this from different points on the compass, there is no right or wrong about it, you have your opinion and I have mine, that is the beauty of forums like this. I imagine the street view camera was being escorted because it was impossible to get through these tiny alleys otherwise! I noticed the same escort on views of other nearby streets. Gosh, I am amused to read this string. It all depends on where you are from, doesnt it?
I am visiting Genoa in December and I must admit I am a bit nervous about being muggled more than seeing the hookers on the streets. I read a TA post of a fellow being mugged for camera and wallet. I just warned a couple of my Italian friends to be careful around their hotel in Sydney - they booked a similar area - Kings Cross in Sydney. They just laughed at me and said, "Yasmine, we are from Catania and Taranto!
I have been to Genoa and I find it a vibrant city with culture and some great walking. Like many large cities anywhere it has its share of seedy characters prostitures, and addicts. I travel with my wife and we are senior citizens though maybe not the usual sort - we are accustomed to high rent as well as low rent places. If one were to come with me to New York City I could show you some of the finest neighborhoods in the world and some of the most despressed as well.
I am not sure of how the property in questioned was described and I sympathize with your situation but I just want people to know that Genoa as a city should not be ruled out as a great place to visit in Italy. We stayed in this street, perhaps the same apartment in and we absolutely loved it. The owner warned us of the ladies of the lane before we booked to ensure we were not taken by suprise, but if you read anything about Genoa you would realise that this is part of the life of the city and nothing to be worried about.
