I’ve been reading lots of guidebooks recently, and almost all of them advise young women traveling alone in Southern countries to dress "conservatively", but I for one have no idea what that means. In the summer here (Vancouver, Canada) I wear short skirts, t-shirts or tank-tops and sandals, and I guess that’s not really conservative, but I don’t think it’s particularly risquee either. I don’t walk around with my breasts or my bum hanging out, and am not planning to in Europe, but the thought of covering up every inch of flesh in order to not attract attention seems silly. What do they mean by conservative? Is the attention really as much of a big deal as they make it out to be? I’m used to getting catcalls and stupid things like that here, and they never phase me, is the harassment of a different sort in the south of Europe?