italiafile

Summer has arrived, and the people flock to the sea. I am fascinated as to when the youth of Naples actually go to school. Every time I go near the Villa Communale or the lungomare, the palce is packed with school children whose idea of attendance seems to be sitting round drinking beer at 11 in the morning. As the sea front is within sight of the nearest school you must assume that the teachers know and don't particularly care.

The latest wheeze from central governement, having had a disastrous election, is to strengthen the economy of the south. The current suggestion from Berlusconi's cronies is to sell the coastline of southern Italy on 100 year leases. Now, you can guess that the only people in favour of this particualar notion are some of the owners of the lidos which currently run on 10 and 20 year leases. Even some of these think the idea is completely mad. Bearing in mind that most of the south is run by what we can call 'interested parties' surely selling the beaches is just a gift to speculators and builders... or perhaps Berlusconi would buy a few hundred kilometres for himself to build villas on.