Funny Italian stuff. 

A huge percentage of Italians work for the government.  The farther south you go, the higher the percentage.  Once down in the deep no-man's land, everyone has a cousin or a friend of a friend who finds them a position with the local government.  They "work" with public maintenance, city or federal offices, local police, etc.  These are not real jobs.  In the south the mob families rule.  These jobs are pay-offs for votes, favors for friends, and a way of keeping the unemployment down and the satisfaction high.  There are more forest rangers in  the region of Calabria than there are in Canada.  Look up Calabria.  It's less than 6,000 square miles in area.  That's a fifth of the size of Maine and there are not many forests.  I recently heard of a veterinarian, I think it was, that worked for the government and had a contract to work 1 hour a week but was paid a full salary.  Another reason Italy is broke.

Torino, as I have mentioned, has become quite a tourist attraction since the winter Olympics some years ago.  The city has cleaned up, renovated and up-graded immensely since I lived here 20 years ago.  But try as they might, somethings just haven't changed.  Mainly the mindset of the workers.  The symbol of Torino is the Mole Antonelliana.  The "Mole" is a landmark building constructed in the late 1800's and was originally planned as a synagogue.  It now houses the National Cinema Museum, the tallest museum in the world.  It's a big, ornate building topped by a dome and a huge spire.  No new building in Torino can rise above it.  Obviously, it's a big tourist spot both for the museum, which is great, and for the view from the top that looks out over all the city, the surrounding countryside and the Alps.  To accommodate the tourist trade, the city has decided to keep museums open until 8 p.m during holiday weeks such as this past one.  Unfortunately, they can't find anyone willing to work past 7 and employment laws say no one can be forced to work before and after certain hours, or more than so many hours etc.  The other day friends of mine wanted to go up in the Mole to see the evening view.  They arrived at half past 7 and as the museum is open until 8, were convinced there wouldn't be a problem.  Alas, not so.  The ticket desk closed at 7 and without a ticket there was no going up.  So, though technically the museum was open, it was impossible to reach.  Welcome to Italy.

On the other hand, we just had a lovely dinner with fab wine and it's a gorgeous balmy evening.  Off to Milan tomorrow on the early train.  xxoo me