There were two articles in Positano News today which made my hackles rise.
The first regards the state of the road that goes through the town of Positano.
Via Pasitea is the only road to wind its way down through the town and connects with the state road at both ends. It is a one way road.
Recently a water pipe was reported leaking half way down the hill, but attempts to repair it were only started yesterday. After the heavy rain during the night, the already soaked area under the road gave way and rocks and debris were washed in a land slide onto the connecting footpath and stairs which lead to Via Fornillo damaging the paths and the gardens below.
Now this shortcut between the road and Via Fornillo is my favourite path to take, as I prefer not to walk along the road laden with shopping bags. It was very lucky that no one was passing at that moment and that the ambulance normally parked in that spot, was elsewhere.
The Council has equally been ignoring our requests to repair and maintain the sewerage pipes alongside our house for years, doing only salutary patching which doesn't last the season. Puddles of dirty water have ruined retaining walls and killed centenary trees. Cracked brick work comes away from the garden and we need to plant canes to stop the soil from eroding completely. The house is sitting on a high land slide risk area of Positano. What will it take for them to react?
The second article was submitted by a local and deplored the state or rather non existence of postal delivery in Nocelle, Montepertuso and the top areas of Positano. The delegated postman has gone on holiday and no one thought to replace him. The new Director when confronted said that there was nothing he could do about it as it depended on the Maiori head office to send another ! Can you believe it?
The Positano News wondered how these things can happen in the Pearl of the Amalfi Coast. I think that that term Pearl needs to be rethought...
8 comments:
:( I can't believe they are so lax about the upkeep of this beautiful place! It's so sad and I bet maddening for you and the Positanese.
Hello Scintilla, Yes Obama!! Thing will change.
I am sorry to here about Positano.
I have a friend Lucia who own
a small food store near the florist and above the school. Do you know her? Thanks Chuck
Scintilla..seems the further south you go the worse it gets! I hope it all gets resolved soon. Good luck.
Lucia - VERY frustrating!
Chuck- It must be the owner of the Latteria at Punta Reginella that you are talking about. I know who she is, but don't know her personally. My father did all his shopping there when he was visiting as it's on the road level (I'm not afraid of the stairs yet). He said she's very chatty and pleasant and always tried to sell him something else. He came back with delicious mozzarellas !
Joe -Thanks ! It seems that in Positano they think that you can live off just the view.
YES, I can believe it!
We drive through a small underpass to get to our condo. There's no drains and each time it rains nearly a foot of water settles for days at the bottom. It's completely destroyed the pavement leaving a dozen or so potholes, deep enough to mangle the undercarriage of a car.
The Comune's solution is to close the street each time it rains, then periodically fill in the holes with loose gravel... which of course washes out within a month.
The idea of re-paving boggles their minds...
Oh yes, your post brought back all those memories of a slow bureaucracy we encountered when living in Italy. It is sooo frustrating. If the country weren't so beautiful, the inaction would drive away tourists. someday it might backfire on them.
Funny, I've been having my own rants over here near Caserta. It truly boggles the mind how such a blind eye can be turned to the trash, prostitutes, and the despicable conditions which the gypsys are living just outside of town. It is so heart breaking!! I wish I could do something, but I feel so helpless! I am esp disturbed by the small gypsy children and want so much to gather them all up and give them warm , clean clothes, a few toys, and a filling meal. I love Italy, but sometimes the reality of the place cannot be ignored. How can it go on like this?
Carrie- Thank you for commenting. Is it just us expats who don't think we should put up with this???
Linda- Thank you for stopping by!
I wish it would backfire and give them a good kick in the ...
Karen- Hear Hear! It must be overwhelming there...
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