Then there are the organized bands of Pakistani men who wander the sidewalks selling merchandise. They all have the exact same items to sell. During the day, it's battery-operated toy soldiers or colorful bandanas. In the evening, it's crazy, silly lighters of all sorts, most involving little figures in sexual positions with body parts that shoot flames. And when it rains, all of a sudden they have big bags of umbrellas.
Umbrellas make great tools for fighting off tourist crowds, even in good weather.
Finally, there are the animals. Everybody in Rome has a dog, and they all like to walk them frequently. There are also the huge herds of wild cats that roam the city, eating and sleeping where they will. It is illegal in the city to hurt or kill a cat, so they spread without restraint. It wasn't that hard to adjust to this new streetscape, but my big concern now is what is going to happen when I return to Ames.