Saturday 9 January 2010

JUST A PICTURE



This picture was taken very late in the evening in one of the narrow "Bar" streets of Albufeira in the Algarve of Portugal.  The girl was about 7 or 8 years old and the baby was probably about 12 months.  The child's "mother" or "minder" was a few yards down the very narrow pedestrian road also begging.  She regularly collected money from the child and it amazed me how generous people were.  The male "pimp" was also hanging around and collected cash from the woman.  A sort of "family" business. 
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It makes  one wonder if Madeleine could end up in such a position if she has actually been abducted?
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1 comment:

Ironside said...

We used to have this here in Spain with the Spanish Gypsies. The children would be begging in the streets and the parents drinking in the Bar.

Now things have changed. The Gypsies now rob and burgle and it is the Romanians who make their children beg in the street. However, every now and then the Police 'raid ' these children and take the days takings. It seems harsh but the Police say there is no need for anyone to beg in Spain and the only way to put a stop to it.

The photograph you have here is very sad but a fact of life.