The mafia left Naples in ruins. Can they do the same to Pompeii?

[dipsydoodle]

Having been buried under ash from Mount Vesuvius almost 2000 years ago, the Roman city of Pompeii managed to rise again – becoming one of the world’s most famous historic sites and tourist attractions.

But over the past decade – under the weight of 2.3 million trampling visitors’ feet every year – it has fallen into woeful neglect and is in urgent need of restoration.

This was amply demonstrated in 2010 with the collapse of the site’s House of the Gladiators.

“We’re stunned when walls fall down,” said Andrea Carandini, a world-renowned archaeologist, at the time. “But these are ruins not systematically maintained, so the miracle is that so few of them collapse.”

Yet in the fight to save Pompeii, another enemy has emerged in the guise of the Naples mafia, and now some observers fear it might take another miracle to protect Pompeii, ancient Rome’s version of Sin City, from the clutches of the mob.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/the-mafia-left-naples-in-ruins-can-they-do-the-same-to-pompeii-8581883.html

[Kolesar]

1. Skimming

God, I hate those people. They bought off the police chief and ran gambling and drug rackets in my home town.

[awoke_in_2003]

7. Steubenville?...

it was Vegas before Vegas existed. Oh, and not the family friendly Vegas we know today.

[Kolesar]

22. Niles

Most of the towns in the Mahoning Valley were corrupt. Mahoning County was run by "Boss Hanna".

[Laelth]

2. Interesting comments following article. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[MADem]

3. They built the shit out of Naples--and not in a good way. Ugly ass buildings.

Shoddy construction. Piss poor civic planning. They haven't fucked with the Lungomare, yet...but nothing would surprise me.

Pompeii is simply amazing. A real shame that the House of the Gladiators collapsed.

The camorra sucks, but they run that town. You run into them, one way or another, if you live there. Can't avoid them. About the only thing they do properly is shoot straight--they don't generally kill bystanders, it's a rather perverse point of pride with them.

[southernyankeebelle]

4. There was a saying many years ago "see Naples and die". I have to say my mother was from

Naples. I have so many wonderful memories growing up in Naples from time to time. I remember riding bikes in Luna Park. I remember going down to the docks buying fresh fish. I remember Dom Umberto's restaurant where my uncle and his band use to play music. I remember my aunt's little sewing shop down stairs from her home. I remember us kids and the neighborhood kids playing games and having fun. I never saw any mafia but then again it seems all Italians are painted with that brush. I know I would recognize the Naples I grew up with. So I will keep those wonderful memories. Oh I also remember when JFK drove by in a motorcade and thousands of people lined up on both sides of the street screaming with pride the american catholic president was coming by. I was so proud back then. So Naples has fallen to the mafia but lets face it folks we here have our own mafia in the form of Lobbyists. Then pimp everyday in congress and the senate.

[MADem]

5. The camorra was the guy who came by and everyone got real quiet,

and everyone was real polite to him...and they breathed a sigh of relief when he left. When I lived in Napoli, I had a camorra landlord--it was convenient in some ways, vexing in others.

[southernyankeebelle]

6. That is the crazy thing about it. The history of the mafia started out for a good cause.

It was to help the poor. Now they suck the blood of everyone. But I have to say I still loved it. The people have a zest for life. I still have relatives who live there.

[MADem]

12. Yep--they've lost their way. There are a few

"guys" who play the neighborhood padrone, still, but it's a meaner, nastier, scarier game now.

Italy was one of my favorite places to live, and Naples was one of my favorite cities despite all the crap. The people are grand--no two ways about it--grand!

I do understand the dangers, though--I once found myself in the midst of a shootout in a small town just south of Rome, I barely got out of there alive...it was mob business, and the carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza (who carry some very heavy firepower, surprisingly) were shooting it out with a bunch of heavily armed criminals late at night... and here I was, sitting at a traffic light, caught in the crossfire!

Fortunately I was in a car, so I floored it and got the eff outta there! Scared the living crap out of me--I've been in places where one could get killed by weaponry, but I sure didn't expect Italy to be one of 'em!

[southernyankeebelle]

14. Love Naples. Have you been to Luna Park? Across from there is a big Catheral. Its very

pretty. My parents married there. Years later my brothers and sisters and I went to the church and got to meet the priest that married them. It was really nice. Naples also has the best pizzas. Times really changed. However, I remember being there in the middle 50s never seeing drugs on the street. Unlike when I went back in 1980 we went by train from Germany to Parma to visit my uncle. We got there very late. That was the first time I ever saw drug abusers. Scary needless to say.

[MADem]

16. I am trying to place where that might be...

I suspect I was there later than you. I lived in the country for about seven years, with frequent side trips elsewhere.

There was an amusement park in Napoli on Viale Kennedy that I used to drive by all the time, but I never went in there, it was called Edenlandia, I think--the kids liked it. And of course, there was the USN-run Carney Park that was sited in a volcano--swimming, golf, baseball, that sort of thing.

[southernyankeebelle]

17. The amusement park that we called it was Luna Park. Along side was the big busy street.

It so happened back in 60 or 61 President Kennedy came there and rode down that road. I remember thousands of people lining the street cheering our catholic president. It sounds like they changed the name of the street to Kennedy. Luna park was right in the middle and it also had tables and chairs you could sit at and watch the people go by. I also remember my aunt's friend taking us on the hugh fair wheel. I was scared to death. I am afraid of heights. I was only about 8 yrs old. I remember also taking a bus driven by Italian drivers taking us american kids to school. I also use to go to the american beach and I think the Navy ran it. It was really neat because when you walked up and down the beach you could hear different languages from all over the world. It was fun picking up star fish and holding them in your hand. Carney Park if I remember was also a campsite. Right up by the valcano. Great times my family had. I also remember going up there years later with my cousins up by the volcano to an outdoor like club. People would go and listen and dance to music. Good clean fun was had by all of us.

[MADem]

18. If it was an amusement park, I think it just might be Edenlandia.

I read that Edenlandia has gone bankrupt recently, which is a shame--where to take the kiddies? Disney Paris is a LOOOOOOONG way away!

[southernyankeebelle]

19. I don't remember being that big. It was like a park and it was free to walk around.

They had little bikes you could rent. I just remember the big wheel to ride on. Maybe a couple of booths (but not sure). There were benches and little cafe' with tables and chairs. Nothing big. Of course I am talking about the mid 50s early 60s. I went back a couple more times but didn't go to the park. Kinda like central park but not as big. Across the street was the big cathedral. I wish I could remember the name of the places. Of course I spoke the dialect of Naples. In my mother's family music was big. He daddy was a conductor/musician who use to play with his own orchestra on the radio until WWII and he was taken off because he wouldn't belong to the Fascist party. He would give private lessons. After the war he and my uncle had a band and they would play in this restaurant that was very popular. You know I use to get upset because here I had a wonderful grandfather and a couple of uncles that were very musical yet my mother never bothered to see if us kids wanted to pursue it. My grandmother taught sewing to young girls. You would have thought my mother would have passed it down to us girls in the family. My mother could sew pretty good. I think the biggest thing that really bothers me is they never really taught us to speak the language. Us kids picked it up when we were living in Naples. It's pretty easy to pick up. It would have been nice to speak well. My cousin and I would sit together and talk for hours and both of us could speak a little of each others language. Sometimes we would have to use our hands to explain what we are saying and even sounds. LOL we had so much fun. Now we are all grown up and all are grandparents ourselves. All of our parents have died off. But my sister still keeps up with phone calls. I really love all my cousins. Even my male chauvinist cousin.

[MADem]

20. What's not to love--cousins in Napoli? Sounds like heaven to me!

You should try to get over there again for a visit if you can--just be a bit cautious, don't carry anything more valuable in your pocketbook than tissue packets (for the public facilities--you really need to bring your own), some bottled water, and maybe some hard candy. That way, if you get "purse snatched" that's all they'll get. That is unfortunately terribly common now, and they can spot a tourist or visitor at a thousand paces. Keep your passport/money in one of those hidden things you strap on under your trousers or (well hidden) around your neck or snapped in your er, intimate garments!

If you're not the sort to insist upon summer weather you can get good deals in the "low" season before April--to me, any time is a good time to be in Italy, for the food alone, along with the friends!

I learned Italian and Napolitan by listening and being laughed at, myself (in a kind way; I had neighbors who couldn't speak anything but, so I had to adapt--we ate many meals together so I had huge opportunity) --I knew Spanish and French already, which helped!

[southernyankeebelle]

21. Italian, French and Spanish are romantic languages. Your right about the food.

I remember where my aunt's family (big family) lived in their own Villa. They had a couple of apartment buildings they owned. Nonna lived on the first floor. On the other 3 floors lived her kids. Each home was an apartment size home. It was really nice. Nonna was old and very old fashioned. Even though she wasn't my Nonna I called her that. I was around 16 and I would go visit her because honestly I really like her and before I left she open a drawer and pulled out a gift and would give it to me. I mean it was wrapped with pretty paper and ribbon. I'd thanked her and then go home. It was so cute because it was a giant candy bar, lol. But usually it was stale. I would always thank her never letting her know that. It was the thought of it. They also grew fields of carnation flowers and when they were ready we'd take them to market. Then they had field of the italian tomatoes. At the end of the summer we pulled the tomatoes to make home made sauce. What a job. What fun we had. They had one of these large drum barrels. Then they put the tomatoes him the barrels and let them cook then put the threw a strainer and then put the sauce in wine bottles and stored. At the end of the evening my uncle would bring his friends who played in his band and everyone would sit around the fire singing and dancing around. Oh I better stop I am boring you and it is making me sad to think of all my wonderful relative who have passed on. The people are really fun to be with. Love the hand waving and laughs

[MADem]

23. I've participated in canning tomatoes, making sauce, making wine,

and making limoncella, as well as making pizza for the whole street (I lived on a gated street on a hill above Bagnoli with just a few families in maybe ten residences), so you aren't boring me at all.

Don't be sad, though--enjoy the memories!

[southernyankeebelle]

24. What bought you there?

[MADem]

26. Work!

It's what's brought me a lot of places down the years....but that was one of the nicest locales I had the pleasure of inhabiting.

I also lived just south of Rome for a while--I enjoyed that, too. Very different environment, but interesting. Good food, too, but different as one gets closer to what I liked to call the "red sauce line."

Go north, and you find more cream sauce!

[southernyankeebelle]

27. My mother was from Naples. When we go we would visit and stay with them. We'd go

over to the Navy base sometimes. Basically we lived in the villa. You know how they are enclosed with a lock hugh doors. My cousins were so much fun as we grew up. Of course we also would play on the big balconies. I wish I could remember the names. I have to ask my twin. She went over many times. At the summer home Ericalana (it sounds like) we would go swimming and we would bring spear guns. We had this private area and when we would go walking into the water you wore tennis shoes because there were clams and you had to walk out so far then go in the water. There was also a hugh rock and we would swim out to it and stay there for a while jumping off the Rock of Frances. We had so much fun there with my cousins and their friends. Then some of the cousins would go spear fishing. We would bring it home and have what was caught for dinner. The southern part of Italy is so very different from the rest that is for sure. Honestly they just know how to have fun. But the Italy I grew up with is so different from today. I wasn't crazy for Rome but I am not crazy for any tourist places. One thing I learned from my husband was never go where the tourist go. You go off the beaten paths and you can find great meals and great prices. My husband was in the army and we travelled all over. He was right about that. But don't go alone.

[MADem]

28. Ercolano!!!!!!! They discovered a mini-Pompeii there, you know...

It is WONDROUS--I've never seen anything quite like it.

Some pics from a visitor to give you an idea:

http://timothyadams_1.tripod.com/campagnia/ercolano/ercolano.htm

History:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herculaneum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ercolano.JPG

[southernyankeebelle]

29. Yes, yes that's it, that's it. Thank you I knew you would probably know it.

My Aunt came from there. Her family still lives there. She has a summer home there. Really and truly god shines on them. I also remember getting a round watermelon there. It was the best I ever tasted. Mt Vesuvius isn't to far and we use to go up there and explore the area. There was a lovely outdoor restaurant where we would order those meter pizzas. To die for pizza. The vegetables are so good in that area. God we would go out in the morning to do the days food shopping. Remember when the bread man would come by yelling fresh bread, fresh bread and you would put your basket out your second story window with money and he would put the kind of bread you wanted in the basket. LOL. Funny what you remember. Her husband who was my mother's brother was my favorite uncle. They lived in Parma. He worked for the city. He was like 3rd in line and everyone knew him. Of course he is dead now. I sure miss him so much along with my other uncle and aunt. You know I remember my father when we were station in Frankfurt, Germany back in the 50s. We would drive our car (back then there weren't many cars on the roads). People could tell we were americans and people would come over and look inside our car and were so impressed back then. But we would drive through the Brenner pass. I was always was scared because we were in the Alps and am afraid of heights. Anyway once we passed into Italy we would stop at the Italian restaurant and my Uncle and his family would meet us there. We always had Veal Cutlets (to die for). We would be so excited as kids. then when it was time to go back we would cry.

[MADem]

30. You should go for a visit--you'd probably find an affordable pensione

in the off season. Christmas in Italy is a lot of fun, IMO. I particularly enjoyed the sette pesce on Christmas eve, but I am a fan of fish. Those meals were like Roman "gorge-ies!"

[southernyankeebelle]

31. You know my husband and I could go on space available at a very cheap price. But you

know my travelling days are over for me now. I never liked travelling the road, planes or buses. I'm older now and on lots of medications. It is a long drive to visit my sister in Ga. (6 hrs). I have to stop often because I have bathroom issues and can't sit for long periods of time. So this is my travelling time on the net. I get to meet interesting people like you and many others. I love to hear about your travels and I like to tell you about mine. That is lots of fun. I don't know if you ever been to Germany but if you ever want to go I would suggest christmas time. OMG it's the best place to be in the world. I too like fish. You know in Naples my uncle would go down to the dock and buy fresh fish. He would buy those fish the size of a sardine but they weren't sardines. He would buy maybe 5 pounds. My whole family loved them. When we would arrive at Nonna's house there would be a long table set for dinner. It was big enough for about 25 people. We start with the different fish and pasta, veggies and salads. OMG fish is really good there.

[MADem]

32. I've been to Germany as well--again, WORK.

Didn't sightsee much (no time, really--full days), but ate too much rich food!

[southernyankeebelle]

33. I lived there with my Dad back in the mid 50s til early 60s. Then when I married a

military man we were there again a couple of times. Loved living there. Food was great. I tell you when you go to a restuarant and eat they really pile on the food. We lived on Heildberg Army base. I worked at the american army hospital. I worked in the civilian hiring office in the hospital. That was so much fun. I got to work mainly with germans who spoke english very well. They dealth with hiring foreign nationals. Got to meet people from all over the world. But I tell you the best times in Germany was christmas time. Love putting the shoes outside the door and Santa would fill the shoes with switchs if you were bad or candy if you were good.

[awoke_in_2003]

8. Lobbyists are worse than the mafia. nt

[southernyankeebelle]

9. This sure are in the running for the least liked.

[awoke_in_2003]

10. and the reason I say lobbyists are worse...

is because they represent people who couldn't care less whether they kill children or not, it is profit above all. The Mafia at least has a few things they will not do.

[southernyankeebelle]

11. totally agree with you. honestly I don't know how these politicians and lobbyists can sleep at night

[awoke_in_2003]

13. They sleep...

on mattresses stuffed with $100 bills.

[southernyankeebelle]

15. LOL, I wouldn't be surprised.

[JustAnotherGen]

25. +1