Silvio Berlusconi Declares Naples Street Rubbish Dumps 'Military No-Go Zones'

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 5-21-2008 | Malcolm Moore

[thulldud]

Naples prepared for Mr Berlusconi's arrival with a campaign to remove any trace of the rubbish that had been lying on the streets. However, it later emerged that the rubbish had been shifted only a few blocks away to streets that his cavalcade would not pass through.

Was ex-Mayor Dinkins hiding in there?

[Reaganesque]

After outlining his uncompromising new stance, Mr Berlusconi retired to the Hotel Vesuvius, where he stayed in a 3,500 sq ft "imperial" suite.

Hmmm, he promises all of these drastic measures and then retires to a hotel named after a volcano that is famous for obliterating two towns. For any of you who aren't sure of what irony is, here you go.

[whitedog57]

Naples is a beautiful city, in parts. It also has some horrendous areas. Lots of crime, disreputable cab drivers (although telling the cab that he gets only x Euros and nothing more seems to work).

Classic socialism degeneration.

[P8riot]

Every time I go to Naples, I get on the train and go somewhere else. Naples is a hole.

[Lx]

I was in Naples in October last year. To be charitable, it is not a very nice place and the airport seems to be in the middle of a neighborhood. The taxi driver who took us there didn’t have nice things to say about Naples either.

It still won’t stop me from going back to Ravello or the Amalfi coast.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I can never say I was “in” Naples.

I can always say we “sped” through Naples.

[montomike]

We neeed the picture of Mussolini shooting the choo-choo driver!

[12Gauge687]

May I recommend Siena’s Centro Storico (Historic Center) except during Palio season. When the vintage cars of the Mille Miglia come through in May, it’s quite fun.

[Mountain Troll]

Are you sure that was irony? Maybe he was sending a deliberate message.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

We're going to Italy on a Globus trip in September and will be visiting Naples....These pictures on Yahoo from Naples on May 17 are bad...I thought the situation had improved.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

"A woman walks past piles of trash piled on a sidewalk in Naples May 17, 2008."

[Clemenza]

Naples has always been filled with trash. They’re called “Napolitani.” ;-)

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Naples May 16, 2008...

[Clemenza]

What the hell is my grandmother doing walking about in Naples? That lady looks just like my Nonna.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Naples May 16

[redstateconfidential]

[TalonDJ]

Is this recent or is this a WWII 60 years later realtime thread?

[jonno]

Until now, Naples had been unable to use many of its dumps because local residents have mounted protests.

Why are residents preventing the use of dumps?

[P8riot]

Never been there in May, every time I've been there I have been struck by the trash in the streets, the abject poverty of a lot of folks, beggars, crime, prostitution, just the refuse of humanity. Buildings are constantly in disrepair, and traffic is so bad that once I had to walk across the hoods of cars to get across the street. No one could do anything about it either, because the cars were so close together no one could get out.

The best thing I've found in Naples is the train station. I take the CircumVesuviana (I think it's Line 1) to Sorrento and it is absolutely wonderful. The people are friendly, hotels are nice, the food and the service in the restaurants are good, and you can breathe without inhaling automobile exhaust. It doesn't cost much either.