14 January 2013

Clown Grillo and his party

I never thought I will be opening TV during the lunch time watching news, following politics. But it has happened, and I must admit, italian politics is one of the most interesting. At least the last elections that were held in february. Through press all we know that won Grillo, one comic not politic. His strange actions were well known. He never presented himself in television, never has given any interviews. Talked, okay screamed, in squares, blogged. He won lots of votes, but not so much to govern alone. Noone did. But why did win Grillo....? Why did they vote for him? 
Not living here is hard to understand why one comic won. How it was possible. In my point of view it was because he told the words out loud, that most of the population were thinking. 
Italy is going through a crises worst than for example my country Estonia. Young people don't have work. Taxes are high. Oh! And more. Sometimes I think that people must pay even for breathing air. They have so many taxes, that they need one qualified person to understand it all, commercialista. Took me some time to understand 'commercialista' activity.  
First of all, I do not consider Grillo as the best solution for the country like Italy, but it is one step further. He managed to do something that left side parties were not capable doing for 20 years, take off Berlusconi. 
Italy has been going through economical crises for years, but Berlusconi's  simple words were believed by everybody. He asked ironically, that how can people talk about economical crises if the restaurants and bars are full of people... Logic, eh? If restaurants are full, does not stay crises. Simple. 
2011 things went worse. Berlusconi's government were replaced with Mario Monti's technical government. That changed the things even worse, they said. Monti put back the tax called IMU (Imposta Municipale Propria, tax for your property) for first house that you own. Berlusconi had it removed, IMU you had to pay for your second-third house. Taxes raised. Little companies started to close, licenced their workers. From news they told stories about entrepreneurs who suicided, because they couldn't pay the taxes, they failed, had to close their activity. All blamed Monti's government. People forgot the past immediately, it didn't matter anymore. Though one should learn from it's past, not forget it. Election days arriving, Grillo's voice raise. More listeners. Squares were full.
Who did go to vote for Grillo? Young, tired of corruption, people hoping for change, the ones who did it for protest. 
I read that for italians politician are considered to be "the others". The ones they go when they need, but is necessary to agree with them. With whom they need to live with. 
I could tell, that they can do as they wish, nobody does not care. As have done Berlusconi. He was business man in politics, who only did good for him and for those who were useful for him, another business man... or even criminals... He use his power as he wants. Always finishes clean. From 1996 he has been condemned for several crimes (simple example Ruby case recently). Nothing happens. He is too powerful. Italians leave, lacking of opportunities in their own country. 
Grillo tells it all. Italians think it. Now they had one that told it. They have somebody who understands. For politicians he was just one clown, somebody not to be afraid of... 
But instead, he managed to shake politicians a lot. 
 
 


 

09 January 2013

Relaxing place - Tropea




Perfect sea. Clean beach. Silence. Sun.
Tropea. It's like paradise on earth. Walking around there is fantastic all year around. During the winter the temperature is around 15-17 degrees, can arrive as well to 20, during the summer around 35. Tropea has one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, according to the Sunday times online edition (2007). Little city has only around 6000 habitants all year round, they can enjoy the beauty. 
First time that I went to Tropea during the winter, I went there during the summer when I had the possibility. The "calabresi" tell, that there is nothing to do in winter.


Church Madonna dell'Isola
All is close. What can you do there, nothing. They are all so abitude to see all this beauty around themselves, that, for my opinion, they do not appriciate all this. Could I if, I lived there?
I adore walking. Around the narrow streets, where there are no cars, that push you away. The silence on the streets, maybe you hear some granny to scream in dialect. But no chinese tourists around with big Luois Vuoitton shopping bags to push you away from their way. Holding big proffessional cameras in their hands to take photos.
 I am happy, that this part of Italy is yet empty of chinese tourists. 

Little cave where I sat
Arriving to Tropea the first persons I saw were two beautiful blond women, speaking in russian, taking the train direction Lamezia Terme, where there is a airport. Surprised. I went on. The train station is near to the city center., though the place is little I call it a city. I went to the balcony were you can enjoy fantastic view to the church of Madonna dell'isola and to the coast. During the summer there is open one bar, where you can eat and drink something while enjoying the view and listening the sea. I stood there. I watched the sea. Relaxed. I fell into emptyness. All what I saw stolen my thoughts, my head was empty. Moment of meditation. 

Perfect beach
I continued, went to the stairs that take you down to the sea. More windy down. But not at all cold. Temperature was near 20 degrees. "This type of winter I adore," I thought. 
I walked. Some people passed me by. They watched me. Smile. And we continued our walk. Everyone of us different direction. Usually calabresi are very interested to "analyse" you, but here they did not even care of my excistence. Taking me for an another tourist.

The port of Tropea. Every thursday at 18.00
you can go there to buy fresh fish
I sat in one cliff near to the sea. Near there were one cave. I entered. I found the stairs. Water entered. Went out. I sat and I watched. Listened it. Can I ever find one place so perfect?
I stayed alone. Like I wished. Perfect meditation. I felt my thoughts to fade. Only sea. Only the rumor of it. Perfect place to be.
Tropea is beautiful as well during the winter, for the person that seek a little bit loneliness. During the summer perfect place to go to the sea. Eat some ice cream. Walk around, though during the evening. Midday the heat of the sun kills you. During the day you can spend  your time on the beach, let the sun grill your skin.
Tropea is one of the pearls of less known Italy! 



05 December 2012

Lost paradise

Have you heard the song "In Italia" of Fabri Fibra's? Telling a true story of a Italian life, the part which is so well hidden from us. You visit it. You fall in love of an immagination. You come here. It is a paradise with a little bit of hell in it. You'll survive.
"Ci sono le cose che nessuno non ti dirà..." There are things no one tells you about. 
"Ci sono le cose che nessuno non ti darà..." There are things no one gives you.
"Sei nato e morto qua, nato nel paese di mezze verità..." You are born and dead here, in the country of half truths...
Like this he sings. So much are the things that no one are going to tell you. You're going to discover themselves, moving around here, listening, talking, working. You'll understand more and more what goes on behind the mask. Scenes that italians cut out from their plays. Preffering to leave you stunned by the beauty. 
What am I talking about? Come to work here and you will understand. Spend here some time is fantastic, you'll grow by learning. If you survive, you're stronger and maybe even better person in the end of your adventure.
In another song Fibra continues to tear off the mask of beauty from Italy, telling us:
".... vorrei chiedere dal presidente del consiglio, quando ha tempo e se ha voglia darmi un cosiglio, come fa una persona con questa busta paga a mantenerci una casa e un figlio...."
"... I would like to as from vice president, if he has time and will to give me some advice, how one person can have one house and one son with this salary..." 
In Italy young ones run to work in another country, Italy doesn't give them oportunity. Specially in south. Doing some seasonal work, maybe not even having a contract. Maybe even not having a salary. Being cheated by their own compatriots. Happens not only with foreigners, who come to work here. Blu eyed. Naive. But Italy will teach them to be strong. Here only strong ones will survive. Really. Weak ones, they'll run. 
If you come here with a wish to work, prepare yourself good. Learn about your possibilities good. 
Beauty, appearance is more than important here. "Bellissima presenza", beautiful appearence is written almost in every job announce. You must know to dress. Obligatory is to dress in some well known designer dress to get yourself notice better. To have "a higher score". Blond hair. Blue eyes. Body like barbie's. Not agreeing? Go to try! 
Too critical? Me? Realistic I would say.