"He still remembers you from the last time you were here".

My Dutch driving licence will expire soon and it is now time for an Italian one. It is not a very complicated affair to exchange a Dutch driving licence for an Italian one. Tons of paperwork, of course. Money to be paid, of course. But after even a short time in this country you learn that bureaucracy reigns, ok? Visit to the doctor included. So far so good. Two days later a telephone call from the ACI (Automobile Club of Italy): do I know I am going to get a BE licence allowing me to drive car/trailer combinations to a total weight of 10,000 kilos. No, I don't know that. Was only allowed 3500 kilos in Holland, but can't see a problem. Ah, then I should come back to their office and see the doctor again because a BE licence involves testing my reaction speed. O.K. Will do. At the appointed time I went to the ACI only to be told that the testing was no longer necessary as the doctor had remembered me from my recent visit to him.

Never a dull moment in this country.

Saw Le notti di Cabiria (1957) by Federico Fellini the other night. What a great film that is! There is a wonderful scene in which the the main character, Cabiria, has joined a pilgrimage to Our Lady Mary of Love in order to ask for a change in her life. Sceptical at first, she is completely bowled over by the intensity of the emotions of the people around her and, scepticism gone, wholeheartedly gives herself over to the veneration of Lady Mary. When the religious festivities are over, people sit down in the fields for a picnic. When Cabiria starts to realize that so far nothing has changed, she is infuriated by a small group of worshippers going past and rails at them. Great stuff!

There was this wonderful old square in Merano (It) called the 'Sandplatz''. There were trees, there was grass, a fountain, a statue and some benches. Very 19th century. Very beautiful. But it was decided that on that spot they wanted an underground parking. To that end a huge hole was dug where the park was. When the parking was ready, they put back another square with concrete walls, an ugly tap for a fountain, a tiled surface and granite benches. It looks disgraceful. The benches are dirty because people step on them in order to reach the other side of the square, at one end there are shrubs in ugly plastic containers, the statue can be reached by climbing some of the ugliest steps in the northern hemisphere. In short, it is a disgrace. The people who were responsible for giving the planning permission, deserve a good talking to and need to learn that tourists do not come to Merano to see the same things they can see at home.

Elk begin is er één. Vandaar. Ik wou ook wel eens weten hoe zoiets werkt.