Ask the typical American about Gypsies, and immediately a definite picture comes to his mind.

On a summer's night, in a wood by a gentle stream, a half dozen colorfully painted, horse drawn wagons are gathered around a bonfire.

Bottles of old wine are laughingly passed about. Three swarthy musicians with violins, dressed in gold and colorful rags, are turning out the full, symphonic orchestral version of the "Hungarian
Rhapsodies".

And swirling around in a frantic dance, their bare legs glistening in the firelight, their full bosoms straining at their low cut dresses, are a half dozen incredibly lovely girls. They swirl, smiling at you, glistening with gold and sweat!

You see it in your own mind and dreams, right?

Wrong.

You blew it again. Santa Clause comes much closer to reality.

In Reality, the men are dirty, pock marked, and radiate a feeling of pure evil. They stop you in the streets, crowd around you, and try to sell you what they claim is gold, or what they say are not illegal drugs, but will make you feel good anyway. You put your hand on your wallet, knowing that they will rob you if they have the chance.

The women --of all ages-- are the ugliest creatures I have ever encountered. It seems impossible to believe that a twelve year old girl could be ugly, but they manage it somehow.

And the old ones! Half of them are literally wider than they are tall. Many sport mustaches under their wart covered, hooked noses. Their eyes have an evil gleam, and they smell bad.

And this in "The City of Beautiful Women!"

Both sexes swagger everywhere, even in the police stations, and the locals swear that they have the police paid so well off that they can get away with anything and everything.

It's a sad thing to see in the otherwise beautiful and improving City of Tver.