Sad but the truth: garbage is coming back again along the streets of Naples and, even more, in the surrounding area.
It will become worst than in the last winter because the hot summer will provoke problems for the health fo the people.

Vincenzo

Thanks Vicenz for the warning.

Quick question: Why is Berlosconi on a winning streak in Italy? How does the population really feel about him?

Thanks for the warning Vicenzo. I'm visiting Naples and the Amalfi Coast in June. I'm very excited about going to Naples. I hope this issue gets solved ASAP.

Vincenzo-
I'm thinking of visiting my wife's relatives in Napoli this spring. How is the garbage situation on Corso Arnaldo Lucci and Piazza Medaglia D'Oro in Vomero? Those are the two areas in which I'm interested.

I am sorry, Waldo, I cannot reply street by street.
Anyway, you know, Corso Arnaldo Lucci is a peripheral zone and Piazza Medaglie d'Oro is the hearth of Vomero, in other words the hearth of one of the most elegant zones of Naples; so . . . . . you can make your forecast.
I was born exactly in Piazza Medaglie d'oro many and many years ago when the garbage was absolutely absent from every street of a town, my beloved Naples, that disappeared 28 years ago and never it will appear again as it was.
Naples is going to die, that is the truth !

Vincenzo

Vincenzo, It would interest me to know why you date the disappearance of the Naples you loved to exactly 28 years ago. What happened in 1980?

Zerlina,
in the year 1980 a strong earthquake (maybe I wrote in a wrong way, sorry)happened in Naples, it was the day November 23, and I will never forget as I lived there and I remember everything.
There was a wonderful wave of helps coming from every part of Italy and also from many other Countries and USA, of course, one of the main among these.
The helps were great, big and welcome.
And, of course, also the Italian State had to plan helps to enable the town and the region to restart and, I remember, 63 billions euro arrived (I commute from lire to euro, now).
Well.
Only a little part of that money really helped the normal people damaged from the earthquake to solve part of the problems of their day-by-day life.
The most part of the money was managed by Camorra and that's why from that year, yes, the things began to change.
The heart of Naples changed, Zerlina.
We were able to help each other in every moment; we were happy and we lived our life knowing to be lucky to live in a very wonderful town.
I remember when I could leave open my car and be sure nobody could be robber in it.
I remember when there was no garbage.
I remember when our University was one of the best in Europe for Philosophy.
I remember when the tourists, less and less than now, received the best hospitality in a sincere smile.
That's why.

Vincenzo

Dear Vincenzo,

I am very sorry to hear about the changes you see in your beloved city. When I visited in 2005, I only had 1 night and day to visit, but I really liked the city and her people. Everyone I encountered was very friendly and helpful to me, as a solo woman traveler.

I hope that things will improve for the city so more visitors will be encouraged to go!

Oh yes, it was stupid of me to forget the earthquake.

This is probably too broad a question to answer, but why doesn’t there seem to be much progress made in fighting the Camorra in Campania? In recent months and years, there have been a number of arrests of major Mafia figures in Sicily, and there is an “anti-pizzo” movement there that seems to enjoy some popular support. One doesn’t hear much about similar initiatives against the Camorra.

And just today La Repubblica has an article about the father of a “pentito” of the Casalesi clan being gunned down.

It *is* a crying shame that such a beautiful city should suffer such misfortune.

Vincenzo, I feel so sorry for your loss of beloved Naples as it used to be. We were there briefly and the buildings were grand but in great disrepair...so sad. I do wish some gov'r would see the value of keeping their treasures in good shape!

Vincenzo

You do have a good hospital and i was in the ER after falling down on my nose and bleeding all over

No long wait - stitched me up - took X-rays of my head (found 'nothing' they said) and consulted with two doctors - very efficient and seemingly very competent

and no charge at all - i appreciate especially the effort of one orderly who spoke English and shepherded me thru the process from the ambulance on arrival to the taxi on exit

He said he as a young lad of 17 used to escort American GIs on shore leave after they had come back from Nam - showed them the sights so to speak - the clubs, the hookers, buying stuff for them, etc. and he called that the most exciting time of his life.

From the help of people on the street after i fell to the folks on the ambulance and hospital i left Naples with a good taste in my mouth and appreciation for the good folks i met there.

Ciao Vincenzo,
Just wanted to mention that Roberto Saviano is here in NYC making some apperances related to his book. He is traveling with guards provided by the US govt.

Last night he gave a presentation and discussion at a Writer's conference about "Gomorrah" and there was a huge crowd there, overflowing out to the street. To my astonshment, almost everyone in the audience had read this book!

The garbage situation in Naples was discussed and the reasons behind it. I can assure you that there is a great deal of concern and love for Napoli at least here in NY!

Sure, Bellastar, I know how much NYC people love Naples and care about it.
Saviano knows very well, better than me obviously, which is the true and deep start-point of the garbage situation and he wrote about it on his interesting book "Gomorra".


Vincenzo

Still to the outsider the garbage situation seems something that would not be tolerated in a civilized country

I'd get the army out and move it all out - where i don't know but out of the city as it must be a health hazzard that is hard to fathom being allowed to continue

maybe it could be spread along the Amalfi Coast?

Or trucked up to Mt Vesuvius and poured down it?

Imagine how sad it is for me to update you again about the same big trouble of garbage in Naples.
Actually the situation is very bad and garbage is in the center of Naples, also.
A good website to feel updated in a true way is this: http://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/
actually the main article talks about garbage and the photogallery shows how very terific the status is.
And summer will help ZERO Naples and Neapolitans.
Will God help them ?

Vincenzo

Vincenzo - You must be deeply saddened by this ongoing crisis.

I really hoped this would have been resolved by now. With summer approaching, this could surely become a major health hazzard.

I'm sorry to say, but I shall avoid Naples like the plague this summer.

Steve

P.S. 'Will God help Neapolitans?' About as likely as Berlusconi, I fear ...

I hope I'm wrong.

I was in Naples during the first week of the month. We saw piles of uncollected garbage on roads outside the city center. But within the areas we visited in the center city (Spaccanapoli, Spanish Quarter, Chiaia, Vomero, waterfront) I saw only one overflowing bin and that was in the Piazza Bellini. There was nothing that would have discouoraged me to stay away from NAples, or that adversely affected my own stay.

On the Via Chiaia, where we walked quite a bit, I noticed that they picked up garbage at least twice a day. If you plan to visit this fascinating city and are concerned about this issue, you might consider staying in or around Chiaia.

I am always impressed by how clean Italian retailers keep their shops and the sidewalks outside..every morning shopkeepers are dusting their shelves, cleaning the glass, and sweeping the outside sidewalk area.

Of course, none of this is any comfort to people living in the areas where there are piles of rotting garbage..
very sad. I wonder how many other cities will have some kind of problem like this in the future with all the consumer junk we are accumulating.

I hope this horrible garbage crisis becomes a sort of "tipping point" for Italy to finally break the mafia's stranglehold on Naples and the Campania.