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Benthall Slow Travel's avatar

I came for the citizenship drama but stayed for Bacchus getting to second base.

This roundup has it all—international legal intrigue, stolen marble joyrides, and tourists behaving badly enough to make the gods weep (or laugh).

Also: “30 kilos of marble between his feet on a scooter” is the most Italian headline I’ve ever read that didn’t involve Berlusconi.

And if Bacchus isn’t offended, I’d like to believe he at least demanded a better wine pairing.

Grazie for the updates—can’t wait for part 4. I’ll be over here clutching my paperwork and trying not to lick any statues.

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Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

Haha, thank you for sticking around for Bacchus; he appreciates it! As for Berlusconi, he’d prob rather you keep your comments to yourself! :-)

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Tim's avatar

Wonders never cease

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Antonella's avatar

Mannaggia, I am like the May 2nd guy!

My quest: to pick figs in the yard of the abandoned house 2 houses away from ours.

The peril: scaling the metal gate and then hopping on the stone wall to reach the tree. But I fell onto the gate and it poked a hole in my thigh.

No stitches but I did get a Tetanus shot and a chance to experience an Italian Pronto Soccorso.

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Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

Oh no! Ouch! Hope the figs were worth it!

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Antonella's avatar

1. The figs were not ripe yet.

2. After the fact I was told the gate was not really locked. All that for nothing. Argh.

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Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

Oh man, that is really a bummer. Argh indeed!

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O.O's avatar

I don't mean to get all sanctimonious but sometimes it just seems that people don't care.

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Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

I don't think there's much doubt about that! We're living in the Age of Selfishness, unfortunately.

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John M's avatar

It sounds like the stories of Europeans and other fools coming to Yellowstone National Park. Beauty seems to attract idiots.

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Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

Why why why why why? [sobbing emoji]

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Stephan Giannini's avatar

One thing I wish. which seems doable,is that major busy museums would no longer allow photography. A place like the Uffizi could post downloadable images of their paintings on their website and tell people if they want images just to download them.

A €250 fine would go a long way towards needed upkeep, etc.

The last time I went to the Uffizi, I spent most of my time looking at the back of cell phones that were in front of the paintings I wanted to look at while people tried to take photos. Do you really look at these crappy photos when you get home?

And obviously, you wouldn't have incidents like people falling into paintings and damaging them.

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Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

You make a valid point; however, I hate not being able to take photos in museums; it's how I remember what was most important to me. I also photograph whatever info is there so I have it for reference; I often learn more later, when I have time to look at everything carefully. That said, I'd be game IF the museums did their part and made photos and info available for everything. You can view lots of the Uffizi's holdings online now, but I don't think they post everything. Unfortunately, I don't think consistency across museums and completeness would be a given. But it's clear something needs to be done.

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Stephan Giannini's avatar

It’s true. I use it the same way, to make notes for myself. It would be a shame. But for me it would be preferable.

That time at the Ufizzi was ridiculous. And it wasn’t even high season. I watched a northern European man push a teenage girls phone aside because she held it up right in front of his face while he was looking at a sculpture. I think it’s exacerbated because the Uffizi doesn’t have very large rooms.

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Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

At least people aren’t herded through en masse like at the Vatican. Long gone are the days when you could wander and pause there. If the Uffizi ever gets like that I’ll be majorly bummed.

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Nancy's avatar

Great post

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Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

Thanks, Nancy!

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Lisa Graziano's avatar

Incredibile! But true, I´m sure.

Too many peeps and they be dumber than ever, so it seems!

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JJC in VT's avatar

Thank you Cheryl for the excellent summary update on the minor issue. Not sure if there is more here but the same explanation with more background is provided by Italian attorney Marco Permunian in this video Minor Issue Update: Italian Supreme Court Steps In to Review Citizenship Eligibility

https://youtu.be/rglyqplzgiM?si=fr2NA82KKSQCS427

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Cheryl A. Ossola's avatar

Thanks! Yeah, there's a lot to unpack in this ever-changing landscape, but for now we're stuck with mostly speculation. My attorney is leading the charge and I'm riding the wave of his confidence (while trying not to get my hopes up too much). As I said, more on all this later!

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