I like the idea of doing something different on holiday, and although I’ve never done it, I can think of nothing quite as appealing as the idea of floating silently over Tuscany in a balloon.

Unsurprisingly, I am not the first to have thought of this interesting way to see Italy, and on YouTube there are quite a few videos of balloons over Tuscany.

Here is one such ballooning over Tuscany trip video which I think captures the experience of floating over the glorious Tuscan landscape quite well.

Up, up, and away!

Ballooning Over Tuscany

Click here to view the embedded video.

In case you are curious, the lady in the balloon is Rome based South African artist Cheryl Lowery who was celebrating her birthday.

Fancy Ballooning over Tuscany Yourself?

For those of you who might like to try this out, here are links to the websites of three ballooning companies in Italy who can arrange for you to float over Tuscany:

• Ballooning in Tuscany

• Balloon in Tuscany

• Chianti Ballooning

I’m sure such a trip would make an excellent birthday present for someone.

PS If you take a camera, make sure you tether it to the side of the basket. I would.  Otherwise you might lose all your lovely pictures. Literally.

PPS Send me your ballooning trip photos, and I’ll publish them here, if you like.

At this time last year, Italy’s judiciary issued a warning.  The judges stated that there were signs that levels of corruption, a problem which has long dogged Italy, were once again upon the increase.

Sadly, this prediction, which I wrote about on Blog from Italy last year, has become reality.  In 2009, incidences of corruption in Italy rose by a staggering 229% over 2008 levels.

Mario Ristuccia, the General Prosecutor of Italy’s Corta dei Conti, or ‘State Auditors’ Department’, warned that such high levels of corruption might put off those considering investing in Italy.

A small gift

It’s a worrying situation, but it does appear as though corruption is pretty much endemic in Italy. Recently corruption scandals surrounding G8 construction works, and the ‘quake rebuilding works in Abruzzo have rocked Italy.  Fresh stories of skulduggery seem to reach the Italian press virtually daily.

As has been said before, Italy’s national sport is not football, but tax evasion, well it’s starting to look as though the beautiful game may be pushed into third place by another Italian ‘pastime’.

Here is a semi tongue in cheek look at why corruption levels are likely to remain high in Italy, and what might have started the ball rolling.  Downhill.

Ten Reasons Why Corruption Exists in Italy

1. It gets very hot. It’s true, in summer Italy becomes a sauna.  Nobody can be bothered to do much, especially not filling in forms or much that passes for work.  The country slows down.  How can one help things move forward once more?  Easy.  Globs of money can act as a suitable lubricant and can help speed things up.

The hotter it gets in Italy; read the further south you go; the higher the number of incidences of corruption tend to be.

2. Italy is horribly bureaucratic. Myriads of silly little rules and regulations can make the simplest of tasks take ages to get done here.  The heat does not help either.  All it takes is one swift payment to cut through years of red tape.

3. Italy is cliquey. Groups of businessmen band together and make it difficult for others to do anything without ‘approval’.  How can such approval be obtained?  Simple.  Hand over a few suitcase-loads of cash.  Thumbs up guaranteed.

4. Italians need help from their friends. It’s easy to see why.  Just read reasons 1 to 3 above.  Sons and daughters can be given a leg up by ‘friends’.  Assistance from such ‘friends’ becomes swift and much more generous upon the promise of a donations and gifts.  Degrees and jobs are often obtained in this way (Perhaps the Royal Family in Britain could possibly be accused of using its influence to lubricate access into top flight universities such as Oxford and Cambridge? – This is not an entirely Italian phenomenon.).

A big gift

5. It starts in the cradle. ‘Facciamo un patto’ – ‘Let’s make a deal’ – is not a phrase which comes from some bugged telephone converation which took place between two devious Italian businessmen.  No, it’s a phrase my Italian other half often uses to persuade our little son to do something.  For our son, the bribe is no more than some toy or gift, but one can see how such ‘toys’ and ‘gifts’ might become larger and larger until they become life-size.

Of course, this reason could have its origins in number 1.  Heat and motherhood do not good bedfellows make.

6. Nothing really changes.  Possibly related to the heat, and the complexity, is the fact that change in Italy is a slow process.  How do we accelerate matters?  Dangle a carrot.

7. Everybody is at it. Some businessmen may well argue, ‘Well, if I don’t, he will, and I will lose out’.  Preemptive bribe time.

8. Recipients encourage it. Pay levels in Italy can be a little on the low side, especially in the private sector.  Wife wants a fur coat, son wants an new car, daughter wants bigger boobs, and recipient does not have enough money to keep everybody satisfied.  Time for the classic words, ‘Well, perhaps we could come to some arrangement.’  The backhander ball starts rolling.

9. Italian banks won’t give anybody overdrafts or loans. Someone needs money, someone else wants something doing, and offers money to get it done.  Instant bank balance improvement, and no repayments!  Related to 8 above.

10.  Nobody pays up on time. Those 30, 60, and 90 day settlement periods all too often become 300, 600, and 900 days in Italy.  In the meantime one has got to live, pay for cosmetic surgery, and eat.  If someone comes along and makes you an offer you cannot refuse which will help you sort out your dreadful cashflow, you are unlikely to say no.

And so it goes on.  One big vicious circle.

Other suggestions, or denials, greatly welcomed.  And yes, I am aware that Italy is not the only corrupt place on the planet, just in case you were wondering.

For the record, someone once tried to offer me a bribe.  I told my boss.  Funny, I often wondered how he managed to afford that Ferrari…

Blog from Italy February 16 2009: Italian News Roundup

Reuters Italia February 17 2010: Corte Conti: corruzione in netto aumento nel 2009 State Auditors’ Department: net increase in corruption in 2009 – in Italian

Photograph: Knatterboot by Kolling http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Kolling

At this time last year, Italy’s judiciary issued a warning.  The judges stated that there were signs that levels of corruption, a problem which has long dogged Italy, were once again upon the increase.

Sadly, this prediction, which I wrote about on Blog from Italy last year, has become reality.  In 2009, incidences of corruption in Italy rose by a staggering 229% over 2008 levels.

Mario Ristuccia, the General Prosecutor of Italy’s Corta dei Conti, or ‘State Auditors’ Department’, warned that such high levels of corruption might put off those considering investing in Italy.

A small gift

It’s a worrying situation, but it does appear as though corruption is pretty much endemic in Italy. Recently corruption scandals surrounding G8 construction works, and the ‘quake rebuilding works in Abruzzo have rocked Italy.  Fresh stories of skulduggery seem to reach the Italian press virtually daily.

As has been said before, Italy’s national sport is not football, but tax evasion, well it’s starting to look as though the beautiful game may be pushed into third place by another Italian ‘pastime’.

Here is a semi tongue in cheek look at why corruption levels are likely to remain high in Italy, and what might have started the ball rolling.  Downhill.

Ten Reasons Why Corruption Exists in Italy

1. It gets very hot. It’s true, in summer Italy becomes a sauna.  Nobody can be bothered to do much, especially not filling in forms or much that passes for work.  The country slows down.  How can one help things move forward once more?  Easy.  Globs of money can act as a suitable lubricant and can help speed things up.

The hotter it gets in Italy; read the further south you go; the higher the number of incidences of corruption tend to be.

2. Italy is horribly bureaucratic. Myriads of silly little rules and regulations can make the simplest of tasks take ages to get done here.  The heat does not help either.  All it takes is one swift payment to cut through years of red tape.

3. Italy is cliquey. Groups of businessmen band together and make it difficult for others to do anything without ‘approval’.  How can such approval be obtained?  Simple.  Hand over a few suitcase-loads of cash.  Thumbs up guaranteed.

4. Italians need help from their friends. It’s easy to see why.  Just read reasons 1 to 3 above.  Sons and daughters can be given a leg up by ‘friends’.  Assistance from such ‘friends’ becomes swift and much more generous upon the promise of donations and gifts.  Degrees and jobs are often obtained in this way (Perhaps the Royal Family in Britain could possibly be accused of using its influence to lubricate access into top flight universities such as Oxford and Cambridge? – This is not an entirely Italian phenomenon.).

A big gift

5. It starts in the cradle. ‘Facciamo un patto’ – ‘Let’s make a deal’ – is not a phrase which comes from some bugged telephone converation which took place between two devious Italian businessmen.  No, it’s a phrase my Italian other half often uses to persuade our little son to do something.  For our son, the bribe is no more than some toy or gift, but one can see how such ‘toys’ and ‘gifts’ might become larger and larger until they become life-size.

Of course, this reason could have its origins in number 1.  Heat and motherhood do not good bedfellows make.

6. Nothing really changes.  Possibly related to the heat, and the complexity, is the fact that change in Italy is a slow process.  How do we accelerate matters?  Dangle a carrot.

7. Everybody is at it. Some businessmen may well argue, ‘Well, if I don’t, he will, and I will lose out’.  Preemptive bribe time.

8. Recipients encourage it. Pay levels in Italy can be a little on the low side, especially in the public sector.  Wife wants a fur coat, son wants an new car, daughter wants bigger boobs, and recipient does not have enough money to keep everybody satisfied.  Time for the classic words, ‘Well, perhaps we could come to some arrangement.’  The backhander ball starts rolling.

9. Italian banks won’t give anybody overdrafts or loans. Someone needs money, someone else wants something doing, and offers money to get it done.  Instant bank balance improvement, and no repayments!  Related to 8 above.

10.  Nobody pays up on time. Those 30, 60, and 90 day settlement periods all too often become 300, 600, and 900 days in Italy.  In the meantime one has got to live, pay for cosmetic surgery, and eat.  If someone comes along and makes you an offer you cannot refuse which will help you sort out your dreadful cashflow, you are unlikely to say no.

And so it goes on.  One big vicious circle.

Other suggestions, or denials, greatly welcomed.  And yes, I am aware that Italy is not the only corrupt place on the planet, just in case you were wondering.

For the record, someone once tried to offer me a bribe.  I told my boss.  Funny, I often wondered how he managed to afford that Ferrari…

Blog from Italy February 16 2009: Italian News Roundup

Reuters Italia February 17 2010: Corte Conti: corruzione in netto aumento nel 2009 State Auditors’ Department: net increase in corruption in 2009 – in Italian

Photograph: Knatterboot by Kolling http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Kolling

In some areas of hilly and mountainous Italy, landslides are not uncommon.  Indeed yesterday in Maierato in the Calabrian province of Vibo Valentia the earth moved.

Someone was there to catch the event on film and a video of this landslide made it onto YouTube, and I’ve added it for you to see.  I found it frightening.

The causes are not yet known, but investigators are looking into whether human intervention may have played a part.

Here is the video.

Landslide in Maierato in the province of Vibo Valentia in Calabria, Italy

Click here to view the embedded video.

This is where the landslide occurred – use the “-” sign to zoom out so you can understand where this is in Italy:

Maierato Evacuated

All of Maierato’s 2300 or so inhabitants have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.  Many of those forced out by the landslide are staying with relatives, although some 300 people are staying in a local sports centre and police training centre.

A Reuter’s Italy press report states that poor weather conditions are forecast for the next 24 to 30 hours in the area.  This will increase the risk of further landslides.

Landslide is ‘frana’ in Italian.  If you are hunting for a house in Italy in an uphill area, ask a few questions about the area and find out if it is susceptible to landslides.   Be suspicious  if the price of your dream property appears to be very low.

Landslides can sweep houses away in the blink of an eye.

Facebook remains as popular as ever here in Italy, much to the chagrin of Italy’s powers that be. Hence indirect an attempt to steer Italians away from social networking sites, such as Facebook.

Whereas here in Italy friendly editors, chat show hosts, and the odd newscaster or two can be persuaded to cast certain things in a specific light, it is darn difficult to control what goes on within the virtual corridors of Facebook.  This, for some, is a huge problem.

Many, many, Italians use Facebook, as has been noted elsewhere on BlogfromItaly, and now, Italy’s younger generations seem to be taking to it in droves.  Whilst buzzing around Milan on the bus, I often overhear groups of Italian teenagers chatting away, and you can bet your bottom dollar that Facebook will be mentioned sooner or later.

This new found communicative freedom in Italy’s young has not escaped the notice of Italy’s masters.  Oh no.  Hence a clever, and rather farsighted, swipe at everybody’s favourite social network.

Facebook is Paedophile Paradise

A recent item on the evening news in Italy; I forget which channel, but most probably either RAI 1 or RAI 2; insinuated that social networks are veritably infested with paedophiles.  Facebook was not mentioned by name, but an image of a page from a sexual predator infested social networking site had clearly been taken from Facebook.

Targeting Future Generations

Having failed to steer today’s generations away from Facebook and the like, those in ivory towers seem to be aiming at future generations.  With a little luck, the scare mongering may even convince a few parents with teenage children to tell their kids to cancel their Facebook profiles -just in case.

Paedophile Facts

I had a look at a report by Meter, an Italian association which monitors paedophile activity online.  The figures do not really indicate that Social Networks are ‘infested’.

In 2009, there were 7,240 indications from the public around the world of possible paedophile activity on the world wide web.  851 of these indications came via people registered with social networks.  Fifty one of these came from Italians registered with social networks.  Now, this is not 51 in 2009, but 51 between 2003 and 2009.  Infestation?

Or the use of rather common ploy in Italy.

A Traditional Italian Mud Slinging Tactic

Indirect, but devious, attempts to discredit people are not infrequent in Italy.  The mafia, as Roberto Saviano, knows very well, is expert at blackening names.  As with certain other powerful figures in Italy, the mafia also calls upon the services of friendly, or intimidated, local media to get its messages across.

In one fell swoop, a person of good character can be rendered a womanizing pervert or worse.  The victims of such attacks are often discredited to the extent that whatever they say cannot damage anyone any more.  It’s a devious, insidious form of attack, which some might say is a little cowardly.  Regardless of the morality, such attacks can be highly effective.

An Opposition Leader

Antonio di Pietro - An Italian Politician

Recent examples of covert mud slinging in Italy are an attempt to blacken the name of Italian Values party leader Antonio Di Pietro through claims that a Christmas dinner he attended at a police station was really a cover up.

Any mud which landed on Di Pietro washed quickly off – this time.  However seeds of doubt will have been planted.

The Wrong Socks

Another example, which was so blatant it looked farcical, and blew back on those behind the scheme, was an attempt to discredit a judge who presided over one of Silvio Berlusconi’s not uncommon legal wrangles.  About the only mud which could be slung at this innocent judge was the fact that he wore blue socks.

Still, there will now be a few people in Italy who will now be very suspicious of judges who wear blue socks, thanks to this albeit bungled attempt to make someone look bad.

However, as a result of this sock slinging, we have Blue Socks Against Berlusconi! In my day it was ‘better red than dead’, in contemporary Italy, it’s ‘better blue, than you know who’.

Now though, it’s Facebook’s turn.  There seems to be no great justification behind the claim that social networks in Italy are infested with people who can harm children, but justification is not required.  All you need is seed.

Plant Seeds of Doubt

Plant seeds of doubt, water them from time to time, and let them grow.  They will bear fruit eventually.

Ah, Machiavelli.

Actually, perhaps one should mention Caesar, who said ‘divide and conquer’.  Certain elements of Italian society continue to do their best to ensure that Italy remains as divided as possible, or so it would appear.

Article in Italian on Facebook: La paedofilia online viaggia su Facebook – Paedophilia Travels via Facebook – (Not true, if you take into account that only 20 cases were investigated – 39 on YouTube – see the report referenced below).

Social Networks and Kids

Note though, that paedofiles do haunt social networking sites, or any other place where children can be found online.  This is nothing new, but parents do need to be kept aware.  It is also very easy for people on the www to pretend to be something they are not.

Ensure your child tells you about anyone who says he or she wants to meet them during any online encounter.

Children often have more sense than parents want give them credit for -and they will listen to advice from people they respect, well, I did, and my son does too.

Reference:

Corriere della Sera 2 February 2010à: Di Pietro, Contrada e la cena del 1992 – Di Pietro, Contrada and the Dinner of 1992 – in Italian.

Download 803 kb - RAPPORTO ANNUALE 2009 – 2009 Report on Paedophilia & Paedo-pornography .pdf – in Italian

Browse below our collection of photos of beautiful Italian women. We have photos of gorgeous Italian women at the beach, in the street, at soccer games, and more. Italian women and some of the most beautiful women in the world and this photo gallery has lots of photos of beautiful amateur and celebrity Italian women.

If you would like to view more fan pictures of Italy, or would like to post some pictures of your own, make sure to visit our Italy Photo Gallery.

The vast majority of our photos come from fan submissions, so if you have photos you would like to share, please let us know by sending us a message using our Contact Us page. We always appreciate receiving new images from Italy fans like yourself.

Azzurri fever _ Little Italy Soccer

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Guess where this place is in Italy -both the name and the location – and get an Amazon Gift Voucher or an upgrade to a Yahoo Flickr Pro account.

Yes, the first person to place the correct answer in a comment, will receive a €25 giveaway (c. $34 USD and just shy of £22 UKP, as at today’s exchange rates) Amazon Gift Voucher, a one year subscription to Flickr Pro or can ask for the money to be donated to a favourite charity.

Last week’s photograph was of Vernazza, which is one of the delightful Cinque Terre in Liguria, as correctly guessed by Candi.  Well done Candi!

OK, onto this week’s photograph. No Italians please (Niente Italiani per favore – è troppo facile per voi!).

Ready, steady, click!

Guess the Name of the Building and Say Where it can be found in Italy.

A Valentine’s day clue:  The place in the photo can be found in a northern region of Italy. The ‘foot mount’ region.

Where is this in Italy?

This Guess Where in Italy seems to have flummoxed everybody, so, here is a bigger image to help you a little more:

Guess Where this is in Italy - Clue: It is in Piedmont

Conditions

The first correct answer via a comment will receive the giveaway. (Please note that comments made by newcomers to Blog from Italy are checked before they become published.)  It is possible that the first correct answer which is visible may not be the real first correct answer – which might have gone into the comment checking system.

Do not leave very short answers, as they may go into the junk mail bin, and might never be found again.

Once someone has been identified as having left the correct answer, they can select the item they would prefer.  The item, or its details, will then be forwarded, if necessary, via email – so a valid email address is needed too (Email addresses will not be sold or passed on to third parties).

My decision is final – Alex Roe.

Good luck!