As the Italy squad leaves tomorrow night for Brazil - where I understand a few footie matches are to be played over the next month - it is to be hoped that own goals will be avoided.
This, I'm afraid, was not the case in Taormina last weekend, when those who really want to destroy Sicily's tourism industry had a field day, leaving incredulous tourists gasping and swearing never to visit Sicily again. The cause? A new "rule" under which people wishing to visit the town's famous Greek theatre can only purchase entry tickets there if they happen to have the right money, namely eight euros. Change, explained a ticket clerk, curtly and in dialect, would not be given. When a Sicilian man in the queue protested, he was told that he could have a phone number which he could call to complain.
Come on, Taormina - end this farce now!
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| Greek theatre, Taormina |
7 comments:
I wonder what the big deal is about making change? If memory serves me correctly that was free 45+ years ago.
I totally agree with you Pat, what a farce and not going to do much for the Tourism on Taormina !!
Hi, Betty. Someone just likes rules, I would guess. Hi, Anne. Yes, it's mad!
How silly! It'll come back to bite them on the you-know-where!
Our Socceroos arrived in Brazil last weekend. They've had a couple of minor matches to make sure their legs and feet are still working after the long flight! :)
Yes, I'm sure it will, Lee. Glad your Socceroos are OK!
Hi Welshcakes! This post reminded me of something...it's taken me a few days to find it, but here you are.
This is an excerpt from a letter sent by a member of the Italian parliament, to the Minister for Public Works, in 1869:
"A [rail] traveller wanting to buy a ticket costing 15.75 Lire handed over 16 Lire in National Bank notes. The people at the office refused to accept them, saying that the 1.75 Lire should be in silver or copper coin and the rest in notes. Since the traveller didn't have 1.75 Lire in coins, he said it was fine if they kept the 25 cents change from the 16 Lire. He was told that the Company was not in need of charity and they wouldn't give him a ticket."
It seems that "plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose", or however you say that in Italian!
Hello, WY. Thanks for finding and posting the story here. It sounds typical! Thanks for the laugh!
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