Italy: Why Immigrants Keep Coming

With all the recent headline news about Italy being a racist country and its mistreating immigrant workers, for some reason immigrants will still risk their lives to come here. Italian authorities at the port of Bari have just discovered an
Afghan boy hiding inside a suitcase in the trunk of a car. However bad the situation for immigrants might be in Italy, imagine what their lives must be like back home for them to take such measures to get into Italy.

Berlusconi: Drastic Times Call for Drastic Measures

One of the first things Silvio Berlusconi did as Italian Prime Minister was to pass a law granting the highest government offices (himself included) immunity against prosecution while in office.
Judges overturned this law last October and after Berlusconi was recently attacked by a figurine-wielding madman, apparently he is looking for protection elsewhere.

Berlusconi's latest idea is that Political blogging should be illegal, as it has led to a climate of hatred in Italy. This is not the first attempt at censuring the internet in Italy.

Vatican Museum hikes ticket prices (AGAIN)

Why is it that the Vatican can raise its Vatican museum ticket prices every year, and we have kept our Vatican Tour prices the same for four years now and still people whine?! Unfair. Someone had better get Pope B16 on the phone for me.

Isn't 15 Euro too much to pay just for entry to the museum, without any guided tour or information at all? Not to mention, the artwork inside is not even marked. Well, I guess SOMEONE has to pay for the Pope's fabulous wardrobe:

Spanish Supermarket Finds Surprise in Banana Box

I love shopping at LIDL in Rome. A stock employee at one of the LIDL supermarkets in Spain recently found 80 kg of cocaine stuffed into packets beneath a shipment of bananas. I have one word for those drug smugglers: DOH! Bet your bananas they'll be more careful next time!

Berlusconi attacked by figurine-wielding madman at Milan rally

Who knew I would one day feel sorry for Silvio. My friends, that day has come.



I wonder if his ex is laughing now. What a year for Silvio. More on the Italian Prime Minister's scandals here.

Papal Christmas Fashion

I wonder if B16 will wear this creepy hat at Christmas this year. Bets, anyone?

Scenes from an Italian Bathroom

When in Rome, squat as the Romans do.

Believe it or not, this is one of the nicer public bathrooms you will find in Rome. Here are the criteria I use to make that judgement:

1. toilet paper is supplied

2. Toilet brush is only slightly brown

3. There is a sink (not visible in photo) with running water and soap

Rome is not the city of plush public restrooms. Rather, it is the land of practicing the Crouching Tiger, hidden dragon pee. No toilet seat to be found. And don't be surprised if you get charged 30 or 50 cents to use one of these bathrooms either.