ITALY IN CRISIS
It gives me no pleasure to write the following, but I find it necessary to keep travelers informed and prepared prior to arriving in Italy.
I watch Italian TV news and read Italian newspapers and magazines regularly. Why you may ask? Because if I claim to be an "Italian specialist" I must be aware not just of what is happening in the tourism sector, but also what is going on socially in the country.
The US media has largely ignored the news, possibly thinking it is a local event not worthy of coverage. Here it is: Italy is being inundated by illegal immigrants coming mostly across the waters from Libya in rafts, boats, and any vessel which will float long enough to enter Italian waters. They are then rescued by the Italian Coast Guard, Italian Red Cross and other humanitarian groups. There are thousands of these people arriving DAILY, who allegedly ( by European community agreements) just want to pass through and be welcomed in France, Germany, Britain etc. The reality is that those aforementioned countries, part of the European Community, are refusing entrance to these illegal immigrants once they see they have no documents or any way of identifying themselves. A bottleneck is therefore created ; these people are dumped at major train stations where they sleep, relieve themselves, block passages and essentially create a nuisance.
They have also been loaded on buses and simply dumped in the center of towns, villages, cities without forewarning the local authorities and most importantly the citizenry. No place to sleep, no food, no facilities...and you can just imagine the ensuing chaos. The majority of the illegals are claiming they must leave their countries of origin because of ongoing civil wars. Although this may be partly true, the danger is that hidden amongst the elderly, the women, the children, are physically fit young males who could also be terrorists eager to infiltrate the now borderless European community. Political correctness is such, that very few politicians in Italy are willing to do much to stop the influx, rather they are very willing to pocket the millions of euros Brussels sends to care for the emergency needs of this human avalanche. A huge political scandal has erupted in Rome recently with allegations that politicians of the highest levels have enriched themselves personally, while ignoring the chaos being created in their localities.
Just this week the Tiburtina station in Rome and the Central Station in Milano resemble more encampments one would normally see in third world war torn countries, than a civilized Western metropolitan area.
All this could be elaborated at length but my reason for publishing this is mostly for my clients who entrust me to create their trips.
If you should decide to book your own trips via the internet,you will NOT be made aware of areas you should avoid while traveling. You will NOT have prior warnings about civil unrest which could ruin your vacation. You may end up choosing a hotel or an apartment in an undesirable part of town, you may unknowingly travel on a certain train line notorious for petty theft and other criminality.
My role is to be aware of all current events and to prepare, forewarn and protect the travelers who entrust me with their trip planning.
Italy is a WONDERFUL country, it can be very safe for adults and children alike, it is obviously filled with ancient as well as contemporary culture one can find in no other country in the world. With some suggestions and guidance from an expert, you can be helped in navigating the many restaurants and food venues safely, avoiding the ones that could disappoint and take advantage of your lack of knowledge. I may suggest you NOT rent a car in certain regions, while in others I would encourage it. I can explain why a private tour, vs a group one. My expertise is far ranging.
I have letter after letter from clients thanking me for the suggestions, the planning, the hotels chosen, the transportation arranged, and the fair pricing commensurate with the services provided.
The expertise of a good travel agent can be invaluable, the reliance on the anonymous web could be disastrous.....choose wisely!!
It gives me no pleasure to write the following, but I find it necessary to keep travelers informed and prepared prior to arriving in Italy.
I watch Italian TV news and read Italian newspapers and magazines regularly. Why you may ask? Because if I claim to be an "Italian specialist" I must be aware not just of what is happening in the tourism sector, but also what is going on socially in the country.
The US media has largely ignored the news, possibly thinking it is a local event not worthy of coverage. Here it is: Italy is being inundated by illegal immigrants coming mostly across the waters from Libya in rafts, boats, and any vessel which will float long enough to enter Italian waters. They are then rescued by the Italian Coast Guard, Italian Red Cross and other humanitarian groups. There are thousands of these people arriving DAILY, who allegedly ( by European community agreements) just want to pass through and be welcomed in France, Germany, Britain etc. The reality is that those aforementioned countries, part of the European Community, are refusing entrance to these illegal immigrants once they see they have no documents or any way of identifying themselves. A bottleneck is therefore created ; these people are dumped at major train stations where they sleep, relieve themselves, block passages and essentially create a nuisance.
They have also been loaded on buses and simply dumped in the center of towns, villages, cities without forewarning the local authorities and most importantly the citizenry. No place to sleep, no food, no facilities...and you can just imagine the ensuing chaos. The majority of the illegals are claiming they must leave their countries of origin because of ongoing civil wars. Although this may be partly true, the danger is that hidden amongst the elderly, the women, the children, are physically fit young males who could also be terrorists eager to infiltrate the now borderless European community. Political correctness is such, that very few politicians in Italy are willing to do much to stop the influx, rather they are very willing to pocket the millions of euros Brussels sends to care for the emergency needs of this human avalanche. A huge political scandal has erupted in Rome recently with allegations that politicians of the highest levels have enriched themselves personally, while ignoring the chaos being created in their localities.
Just this week the Tiburtina station in Rome and the Central Station in Milano resemble more encampments one would normally see in third world war torn countries, than a civilized Western metropolitan area.
All this could be elaborated at length but my reason for publishing this is mostly for my clients who entrust me to create their trips.
If you should decide to book your own trips via the internet,you will NOT be made aware of areas you should avoid while traveling. You will NOT have prior warnings about civil unrest which could ruin your vacation. You may end up choosing a hotel or an apartment in an undesirable part of town, you may unknowingly travel on a certain train line notorious for petty theft and other criminality.
My role is to be aware of all current events and to prepare, forewarn and protect the travelers who entrust me with their trip planning.
Italy is a WONDERFUL country, it can be very safe for adults and children alike, it is obviously filled with ancient as well as contemporary culture one can find in no other country in the world. With some suggestions and guidance from an expert, you can be helped in navigating the many restaurants and food venues safely, avoiding the ones that could disappoint and take advantage of your lack of knowledge. I may suggest you NOT rent a car in certain regions, while in others I would encourage it. I can explain why a private tour, vs a group one. My expertise is far ranging.
I have letter after letter from clients thanking me for the suggestions, the planning, the hotels chosen, the transportation arranged, and the fair pricing commensurate with the services provided.
The expertise of a good travel agent can be invaluable, the reliance on the anonymous web could be disastrous.....choose wisely!!
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