Travelers who visit the Balkans without losing a watch or wallet are regarded by Western Europeans as exceptions, by the Balkan peoples as geniuses. Balkan gentlemen even joke about the dexterity of their own restless fingers.
One of their stories recounts that during a diplomatic dinner in a Balkan capital the British Ambassador missed his watch and informed his host. Unembarrassed, the host announced: "During dinner someone took his neighbor's watch. I shall place a silver platter on the table, the lights will be turned out for a minute, and I expect the watch to be placed on the platter."...
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