Cleaning up Italy

By Tammy H. – Guest Blogger from Florence / Venice
1. Tourists Rejoice!
Since winning his election last April, 72-year-old Premier Berlusconi has focused on his two most urgent campaign pledges: Getting rid of rotting garbage on Naples' streets and getting tough on crime.
The Premier kept his promises. In July he launched a plan to remove 50,000 tons of trash that was all over Naples' streets. In early August, he sent in 3,000 soldiers on a 6-month tour to patrol major Italian cities. The mere presence of the grim-looking, khaki-clad soldiers has helped tourists and local folks feel a lot safer, especially in areas around train stations and famous piazzas (town squares).
2. Tourists Beware!
The Italian Premier has set a great example for many Italian city mayors, sending Italy to a new "prohibition era". A wave of new municipal laws and regulations has washed over the country. In Florence, you might be fined from 25 to 500 euro if you do the following, for example:
a. Leave bottles or pour their contents in streets and piazzas.
b. Litter, including dropping cigarette butts.
c. Bathe in public fountains. (It's been hot and dry here!)
d. Urinate in public. (Young tourists drink too much late at night at bars and there are few public toilets.)
e. Let dogs poop without scooping up.
f. Walk dogs without leashes.
g. Play loud music or make loud noises late at night.
h. Decorate city walls, poles, fences and monuments with graffiti.
i. Climb over bridges or onto bridge platform.
j. Hang laundry out to dry.
k. Shake tablecloths out of windows.
So it seems if it's fun, it's forbidden and don't say I haven't warned you.