30 million Italians on vacation (est.)
6,300 flights over weekend
10 mile back-ups (average) on autostrade
6 cops sent from North to keep law in South
About half the country is on vacation the first two weeks in August, known as the ‘summer exodus.’ Most Italians spent the first hours of a much- awaited break in line on the autostrada — in some places like Barberino and Firenze sud up to 25 miles. Despite campaigns urging Italians to take vacations in alternate periods, both Premier Silvio Berlusconi and President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi are relaxing on the isle of Sardinia. Berlusconi is vacationing at his Costa Smeralda villa, with guests including British Prime Minister Tony Blair and family.
Those vacationing on the beautiful isle of Procida (near Naples) will have to mind their manners — the law will be enforced by a police force from Bergamo. The summer reinforcements raised more than a few eyebrows since the police come from a stronghold of secessionist party Lega Nord to keep law in the presumably laissez-faire South.
"We needed someone from outside to keep things above board," said mayor Luigi Muro. "We all know each other here and sometimes that isn’t a good thing." The regular police force, 13 strong, can’t keep up with the nearly tripled summer population.
Related resources:
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