....THE 2 FACES OF ITALY....

This picture ABOVE is one of my favorite photos, for it's artistic beauty (in my opinion) because it shows TWO of the contrasting "faces" of Italy. On the one hand, its GREAT BEAUTY (the sea, the flower-laden balconies, and my family being here with me, of course!) On the other hand, it also shows an ugliness which is SO prevalent all over Italy from the cities to the countryside. That is the enormous amount of GRAFFITI, which is literally EVERYWHERE! On statues, on the walls of buildings and even churches, on buses and trains (inside and out), to name a few. It's such a shame, and something that distressed Settimio in particular to see. This is something we don't see here in the U.S. in GOOD city neighborhoods OR out in the countryside, much less to this extent. It's a huge problem in Italy and caused (Italians say) by the huge influx of immigrants this past decade. But I question this assertion, because I remember that graffiti was all over the place even when I lived here, in the early 1970's. It's just that it has gotten so much worse now, along with other sad changes we noticed.

Those who live in Italy ALSO believe that much of these graffiti problems are caused by the Italian system of government, which is SO full of chaos with all the MANY different political parties, eagerly trying to influence public opinion, and frustrated in the process. In fact, the Italian government has "fallen" (temporarily) most years, for the past 30 that I remember, and I was told it is on the verge of collapsing yet again. I forgot to ask how many parties there are today, but there used to be at least 6 different political parties in Italy (Democratic, Socialist, Communist) etc. with the Communist party many years receiving nearly a majority of the votes). Italy has so many problems that the average tourist is unaware of, and angry demonstrations in the streets are commonplace, as are numerous workmen "scioperi" (strikes) of various services. In addition, Italy also has its own gang problems, instigated primarily by angry youth who feel a need for this particular "platform" for their various gripes about life in Italy, as they see it.

Then again, SOME THINGS HAVE IMPROVED too! (Like the toilet paper situation !!) LOL, (Just kidding! - Italians have made much more important advancements as well!) But when you 'gotta go, you gotta go', and on this trip we saw actual REAL toilet paper in all public bathrooms & homes--- no more of the rough "crepe paper"or towels!! In the past, bathroom tissue was missing altogether in many restaurants and snack bars, public parks, etc.. However, this improvement is offset by the fact that in Rome & Venice, for example, using a public washroom or bathroom seems to be NOT allowed UNLESS you buy something at the establishment. You also usually have to ask for the key to use it (like in most snack bars). Settimio was forever complaining about this system. He likes Convenience, with a Capital "C". Ask Sonia someday about her recent "challenging" experience in the "pay toilet" at the Subway station in Rome!! I could go into the gory details here, but that wouldn't be right and she wouldn't appreciate it!! LOL .......... Ahhh, but doesn't that picture below of the beautiful sea, marina, boats and flowers just make it all worthwhile??? :- )



........I SMELL SOMETHING FISHY! ......A beautiful picture of the MARINA at NETTUNO, taken from nearby in town, and a small meat shop that I stumbled upon also, where I had the nerve to take pictures of their FISH, (without buying any, LOL), including the ROMBO, (the lone flat brown, round-shaped fish in the second fish photo below.) which I ate in a seafood restaurant in Anzio, later on. It sure doesn't look too appetizing in the photo! But as I said in the Anzio segment of my Blog, it is a delicate fish like Sole. Don't ask me what kind of fish the others are. Those shown on the blue signs with prices of 8 and 18 Euros per Kilo, ($7 & $14 per pound) are unknown to me, but "Sciabola" means "sabre" if that gives you any clue!