News & Impressions
from Italy

Friday afternoon, rush hour, on a bus in Rome. Absolutely packed, everybody in a hurry, some of which truly so, others just because it so nicely “adds to their importance”.
Now as a surprise this bus is deviated, for one of the too many and absolutely useless demonstrations Piazza Venezia, one of the most critical junctions in the city, had been closed for traffic. Of course this deviation has not been announced by any word, the bus driver does not offer any kind of explanation, we all travel in a completely wrong direction all of a sudden.
Angry mumbling an grumbling first, climaxing in loud and hectic atmosphere in just a few seconds. “I actually should have got out right here”, “I must pick up the kids from school and will miss them now”, “I’m going to miss a deal worth some millions”, “my wife will not believe a word if I’m late again” etc.
Thereafter people continue to be upset and frustrated, but the discussions go in two main directions: 1. What are all these damned demonstrations good for, we poor people see no benefit in them (supporters of Berlusconi and Prodi start fighting each other) , and 2. does a person with severe arthritis have a right for a seat in the bus in that circumstance, particularly in case of unexpected deviations (“I’m suffering from heavy arthritis, would you like to see my knees” an elderly fat lady is heard to say).
Coming back on the deviated tour to Piazza Venezia some 20 minutes later we detected the demonstration had ended long ago and the street would have been open for the bus. So, in the end, we did not have to inspect the overfed lady’s knees, and the man who might have lost a millions’ bargain got to his shop in time to bid for the weekend lottery.
And back home they all had something to tell the rest of their families...