tome
New member
Just returned from a very pleasant visit, 2 days of brilliant sunshine and 2 days of torrential rain.
My word it's changed over the years. The Cinquecento has been replaced by the Smart car as the passionwagon of choice. Traffic obeys directions, the horn is barely used any more, and I didn't see a single car jump a red light - even at night. The long lunch break seems to have disappeared. It's no longer necessary or possible to haggle in markets. Some people even speak English. The litter has gone, and the whole place seems to have moved into 21st century Europe.
Some things haven't changed - the young pickpockets on the Metro are alive and practising their art. Managed to eject one young girl who had her hand in father-in-laws pocket with a firm twist of her ear. Meanwhile, carabinieri stood around smoking and disinterested.
Spent a very pleasant couple of hours sitting outside the Bar Brasile in Piazza Venezia where the beer costs a fortune, but it's worth every cent to sit there in the glorious sunshine watching the traffic police on their raised dais choreographing the traffic as immmortalised in the 'Just one Cornetto' ad. They give up for the day at about 1230, after which traffic flows much more smoothly. Sitting there watching all the Italians walk past with their 'bella figura' and the antics of the scooters trying to sneak behind the police (armed only with whistles) up the via del Corso.
It remains a wonderful city, highly recommended for a short break.
<hr width=100% size=1>
My word it's changed over the years. The Cinquecento has been replaced by the Smart car as the passionwagon of choice. Traffic obeys directions, the horn is barely used any more, and I didn't see a single car jump a red light - even at night. The long lunch break seems to have disappeared. It's no longer necessary or possible to haggle in markets. Some people even speak English. The litter has gone, and the whole place seems to have moved into 21st century Europe.
Some things haven't changed - the young pickpockets on the Metro are alive and practising their art. Managed to eject one young girl who had her hand in father-in-laws pocket with a firm twist of her ear. Meanwhile, carabinieri stood around smoking and disinterested.
Spent a very pleasant couple of hours sitting outside the Bar Brasile in Piazza Venezia where the beer costs a fortune, but it's worth every cent to sit there in the glorious sunshine watching the traffic police on their raised dais choreographing the traffic as immmortalised in the 'Just one Cornetto' ad. They give up for the day at about 1230, after which traffic flows much more smoothly. Sitting there watching all the Italians walk past with their 'bella figura' and the antics of the scooters trying to sneak behind the police (armed only with whistles) up the via del Corso.
It remains a wonderful city, highly recommended for a short break.
<hr width=100% size=1>
