You did a good job of discouraging me from ever going to Europe again by illuminating the mobs of tourists. Of course everywhere you went was a tourist heavy area; I assume there are still places to get away from all that, although the tradeoff is there isn't as much to see or do, and not as much tourist infrastructure to help you see and do it. The Amalfi coast once was paradise I presume, but once a place acquires that title.......
Most of my European travels were roughly 30 years ago and I can't recall any melanated skin anywhere. Certainly not in Italy where I have been half a dozen separate times about that long ago (military). Even 18 years ago in Greece (last time in Europe) I can't recall any, although I think Greece has somehow managed to resist the GR more than many of its fellow EU members have. It appears that some countries (or their governments, anyway) are more eager to bring in the wogs than others, and Italy is among them. Evidently the EU is unable to impose it on all members uniformly.
Yes, Hungary is doing a good job of resisting but they are a small country. Poland used to be a resistor but it's rapidly turning pozzed. Globohomo just tried to murder the Slovakia prime minister for resisting, I think. Germany, France and England are galloping toward total white erasure, and Italy is not too far behind...
This past July, we embarked on a similar journey around Italy, Southern France, and a bit of Barcelona, returning through Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. We arrived from Greece by ferry, with Naples as our first stop. Unfortunately, Naples was quite disappointing—dirty, chaotic, and exuding a strong negative vibe. In contrast, Sorrento was a refreshing change, bustling with American tourists. The Amalfi coast, while beautiful, was extremely busy, and the roads struggled to handle the heavy traffic, yet somehow they managed.
Rome was a pleasant surprise, possibly due to our stay in Prati, a charming area near the Vatican. Despite the presence of numerous Chinese vendors and massive tourist crowds, the city felt quieter and more relaxed compared to places like London, where the noise is constant. However, Rome faces a rubbish problem, lacking small trash bins due to city policy, presumably for safety reasons.
Small towns and villages, like Bolgheri in Tuscany, remain quintessentially Italian and utterly charming. Genoa, though full of immigrants, left an overall pleasant impression. The surrounding areas, such as Santa Margherita and Portofino, are stunning, although they, too, felt somewhat worn, like an old lady with too much makeup.
The French Riviera continues to amaze, with places like Eze, Antibes, Gordes, and Saint-Remy-de-Provence being must-visit destinations. However, Marseilles has deteriorated significantly. We visited during Bastille Day, and after the modest military and fire brigade parade, the festivities turned into a multicultural mix, with North African music blasting throughout the Vieux Port and Brazilian acrobats performing. An old French lady, hearing me whistle "La Marseillaise," approached me in tears, lamenting, "No, no, no, ce n'est pas la France!"
Barcelona was also disappointing—dirty, busy, and colorful, but it felt tired and nihilistic, though not as bad as Naples or Marseilles.
We spent one day in Grenoble as well. Despite being full of immigrants, it has a really positive vibe. The old town is buzzing with life, and many locals are socializing and having a great time. I don't know how long this peace and quiet will last, but it felt amazing.
Eastern Europe was a breath of fresh air. Rural Slovenia is lovely, though Ljubljana, unfortunately, seemed to have declined. The city was filled with non-local restaurants and graffiti, which I despise. If I had the power, I would impose severe penalties for graffiti. Zagreb was decent, although a local waiter complained about the Euro and the influx of Nepalese migrant workers willing to work for very low wages. At least they are willing to work.
The biggest surprise was Belgrade. The city felt vibrant, with a majority of the crowd being locals. The young Serbians are notably tall and handsome, and many of the girls look like models, with no tattoos. The Serbians I spoke to were friendly and eager to join the EU, not realizing that being outside of it could be their saving grace. I also heard about significant Chinese investment flooding in. Still, Belgrade rule! Visit before it's finished too!
I often think of the Naples Mafia and the sh*t they get up to:
‘The Camorra Mafia has caused a slew of problems in Naples, including careless garbage-collecting practices, extortion, harassment of garbage-collecting competitors, and even illegal dumping of toxic waste.
High levels of dioxins were found in buffalo milk used to make high-quality mozzarella in 25 dairies in 2008, which health authorities linked to illegal dumping.
The so-called “agri mafia” in the Mediterranean oil producing regions has moved in to fill the gaps in supply, developing its fake extra virgin olive oil operations.
Mixing consumer-grade olive oil with lower grade alternatives allowed the criminals to offer competitive prices while entering legal supply chains.’
Good points, Crumpet. Yes, there is something seriously and fundamentally wrong with Naples -- I've heard it's been like this for a long time, though, if not quite as extreme. With respect to olive oil, I've seen studies that show that California extra virgin olive oil is the least adulterated -- but it has to be both California grown *and* processed. The cost of providing unadulterated olive oil makes for a much more expensive product, of course...real olive oil has a noticeable pungent smell and if what one buys does not have it, odds are good it's been mixed with Canola oil...it is ironic that those who buy olive oil for its purported health benefits are mostly using partial Canola oil...
Extra virgin olive oil is kind of overrated to begin with, in the sense that it really only matters for salad oil. For cooking, most any old olive oil will do just as well. Separate question from mixing it with canola oil or whatever.
All oil in that guide (or the less precise, lower-standards, producer-friendly, Slow Food oil guide) is unadulterated, and goes from high to unthinkable quality (the quantity they make goes from tiny to... relatively small: because it's made only with olives only from their farmland).
"Italian" "oil", "cheese", "pasta" sold across the world at high prices and in huge quantities are... the business of shady economic operators (in Italy and abroad).
Within serious-guide oil brands and varieties, the difference between those selling for €12/L and €30-50/L is, like for wines, the depth and richness of nuance of their flavour.
A €30-50/L oil will come with a bouquet of tastes and aromas amalgamated together; more so in a good-harvest year.
Thanks for this. The wife and I are planning a trip to Italy and Constantinople, this helps a lot. Those crowds though... as a rural American I hate crowds.
Thanks Joseph. Yes, the crowds in the tourist areas were a bit overwhelming. I was told it’s gotten worse in the past 10-15 years; it was less well attended after the 2008 financial crisis and when the Euro/dollar was closer to 1.50 (versus less than 1.10 now). Still, there’s a lot of really great stuff to see - perhaps it would help to go off season, but then you’d be dealing with worse weather...
Thanks. Excellent as always. Travel is an endurance sport, for sure. Don't know how much of it I care to do in the coming years. Someone said not very long ago that societies were trending so strongly toward uniformity, becoming so globalized, that you can fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo, and find Tokyo looks just like LA.
Yes, it's a sad thing. Wherever you go you see the same big box stores, the same perfume and movie advertisements, the same music blaring. McDonalds culture has metastasized around the world and killed whatever is local/regional and unique.
An interesting read, as always. Just a couple of comments on your footnote #4:
CFR member Henry Stimson not only helped FDR provoke the Japanese into "firing the first shot", he was also in charge of the atomic bomb project: "As Secretary of War under Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, Henry L. Stimson oversaw the entire Manhattan Project, and was responsible for appointing key project leaders..." https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/profile/henry-stimson/
Justice Owen J. Roberts was evidently not a CFR member; there is only an Owen F. Roberts in the CFR member lists for that period. However, the "Roberts Commission" did include CFR members Adm. William H. Standley and Gen. Frank R. McCoy. They completed their "investigation" less than two months after the Pearl Harbor attack: http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/pha/roberts/roberts.html
Well done, I thoroughly enjoyed this piece!! I kept thinking of this great book I read some 15 years ago, Gomorrah by Saviano, I think they turned it into a movie or TV series too, but have yet to watch that. In any case, the writing (and not just graffiti) was on the wall already way back then, what with the Chinese sweatshops in Naples etc. So I guess Eastern Europe is the last refuge now, though that too may change in a hurry. Sad times.
Thanks for the feedback, Max. Gomorrah sounds interesting, thanks for recommending it. It looks like both the film and television series based on the book were critically acclaimed. I’m going to check it out…
You did a good job of discouraging me from ever going to Europe again by illuminating the mobs of tourists. Of course everywhere you went was a tourist heavy area; I assume there are still places to get away from all that, although the tradeoff is there isn't as much to see or do, and not as much tourist infrastructure to help you see and do it. The Amalfi coast once was paradise I presume, but once a place acquires that title.......
Most of my European travels were roughly 30 years ago and I can't recall any melanated skin anywhere. Certainly not in Italy where I have been half a dozen separate times about that long ago (military). Even 18 years ago in Greece (last time in Europe) I can't recall any, although I think Greece has somehow managed to resist the GR more than many of its fellow EU members have. It appears that some countries (or their governments, anyway) are more eager to bring in the wogs than others, and Italy is among them. Evidently the EU is unable to impose it on all members uniformly.
Yes, Hungary is doing a good job of resisting but they are a small country. Poland used to be a resistor but it's rapidly turning pozzed. Globohomo just tried to murder the Slovakia prime minister for resisting, I think. Germany, France and England are galloping toward total white erasure, and Italy is not too far behind...
This past July, we embarked on a similar journey around Italy, Southern France, and a bit of Barcelona, returning through Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. We arrived from Greece by ferry, with Naples as our first stop. Unfortunately, Naples was quite disappointing—dirty, chaotic, and exuding a strong negative vibe. In contrast, Sorrento was a refreshing change, bustling with American tourists. The Amalfi coast, while beautiful, was extremely busy, and the roads struggled to handle the heavy traffic, yet somehow they managed.
Rome was a pleasant surprise, possibly due to our stay in Prati, a charming area near the Vatican. Despite the presence of numerous Chinese vendors and massive tourist crowds, the city felt quieter and more relaxed compared to places like London, where the noise is constant. However, Rome faces a rubbish problem, lacking small trash bins due to city policy, presumably for safety reasons.
Small towns and villages, like Bolgheri in Tuscany, remain quintessentially Italian and utterly charming. Genoa, though full of immigrants, left an overall pleasant impression. The surrounding areas, such as Santa Margherita and Portofino, are stunning, although they, too, felt somewhat worn, like an old lady with too much makeup.
The French Riviera continues to amaze, with places like Eze, Antibes, Gordes, and Saint-Remy-de-Provence being must-visit destinations. However, Marseilles has deteriorated significantly. We visited during Bastille Day, and after the modest military and fire brigade parade, the festivities turned into a multicultural mix, with North African music blasting throughout the Vieux Port and Brazilian acrobats performing. An old French lady, hearing me whistle "La Marseillaise," approached me in tears, lamenting, "No, no, no, ce n'est pas la France!"
Barcelona was also disappointing—dirty, busy, and colorful, but it felt tired and nihilistic, though not as bad as Naples or Marseilles.
We spent one day in Grenoble as well. Despite being full of immigrants, it has a really positive vibe. The old town is buzzing with life, and many locals are socializing and having a great time. I don't know how long this peace and quiet will last, but it felt amazing.
Eastern Europe was a breath of fresh air. Rural Slovenia is lovely, though Ljubljana, unfortunately, seemed to have declined. The city was filled with non-local restaurants and graffiti, which I despise. If I had the power, I would impose severe penalties for graffiti. Zagreb was decent, although a local waiter complained about the Euro and the influx of Nepalese migrant workers willing to work for very low wages. At least they are willing to work.
The biggest surprise was Belgrade. The city felt vibrant, with a majority of the crowd being locals. The young Serbians are notably tall and handsome, and many of the girls look like models, with no tattoos. The Serbians I spoke to were friendly and eager to join the EU, not realizing that being outside of it could be their saving grace. I also heard about significant Chinese investment flooding in. Still, Belgrade rule! Visit before it's finished too!
Beautiful photos.
The old world had pristine aesthetics. Funny how no one ever travels to tour modern buildings 😂
I often think of the Naples Mafia and the sh*t they get up to:
‘The Camorra Mafia has caused a slew of problems in Naples, including careless garbage-collecting practices, extortion, harassment of garbage-collecting competitors, and even illegal dumping of toxic waste.
High levels of dioxins were found in buffalo milk used to make high-quality mozzarella in 25 dairies in 2008, which health authorities linked to illegal dumping.
The so-called “agri mafia” in the Mediterranean oil producing regions has moved in to fill the gaps in supply, developing its fake extra virgin olive oil operations.
Mixing consumer-grade olive oil with lower grade alternatives allowed the criminals to offer competitive prices while entering legal supply chains.’
Good points, Crumpet. Yes, there is something seriously and fundamentally wrong with Naples -- I've heard it's been like this for a long time, though, if not quite as extreme. With respect to olive oil, I've seen studies that show that California extra virgin olive oil is the least adulterated -- but it has to be both California grown *and* processed. The cost of providing unadulterated olive oil makes for a much more expensive product, of course...real olive oil has a noticeable pungent smell and if what one buys does not have it, odds are good it's been mixed with Canola oil...it is ironic that those who buy olive oil for its purported health benefits are mostly using partial Canola oil...
I've never heard that before - thank you! Perhaps the one thing Cali is leading the world in.
Extra virgin olive oil is kind of overrated to begin with, in the sense that it really only matters for salad oil. For cooking, most any old olive oil will do just as well. Separate question from mixing it with canola oil or whatever.
Good point.
https://shop.merum.info/it/882-guide
All oil in that guide (or the less precise, lower-standards, producer-friendly, Slow Food oil guide) is unadulterated, and goes from high to unthinkable quality (the quantity they make goes from tiny to... relatively small: because it's made only with olives only from their farmland).
"Italian" "oil", "cheese", "pasta" sold across the world at high prices and in huge quantities are... the business of shady economic operators (in Italy and abroad).
Within serious-guide oil brands and varieties, the difference between those selling for €12/L and €30-50/L is, like for wines, the depth and richness of nuance of their flavour.
A €30-50/L oil will come with a bouquet of tastes and aromas amalgamated together; more so in a good-harvest year.
Thanks for this. The wife and I are planning a trip to Italy and Constantinople, this helps a lot. Those crowds though... as a rural American I hate crowds.
Thanks Joseph. Yes, the crowds in the tourist areas were a bit overwhelming. I was told it’s gotten worse in the past 10-15 years; it was less well attended after the 2008 financial crisis and when the Euro/dollar was closer to 1.50 (versus less than 1.10 now). Still, there’s a lot of really great stuff to see - perhaps it would help to go off season, but then you’d be dealing with worse weather...
Thanks. Excellent as always. Travel is an endurance sport, for sure. Don't know how much of it I care to do in the coming years. Someone said not very long ago that societies were trending so strongly toward uniformity, becoming so globalized, that you can fly from Los Angeles to Tokyo, and find Tokyo looks just like LA.
Yes, it's a sad thing. Wherever you go you see the same big box stores, the same perfume and movie advertisements, the same music blaring. McDonalds culture has metastasized around the world and killed whatever is local/regional and unique.
An interesting read, as always. Just a couple of comments on your footnote #4:
CFR member Henry Stimson not only helped FDR provoke the Japanese into "firing the first shot", he was also in charge of the atomic bomb project: "As Secretary of War under Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, Henry L. Stimson oversaw the entire Manhattan Project, and was responsible for appointing key project leaders..." https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/profile/henry-stimson/
Justice Owen J. Roberts was evidently not a CFR member; there is only an Owen F. Roberts in the CFR member lists for that period. However, the "Roberts Commission" did include CFR members Adm. William H. Standley and Gen. Frank R. McCoy. They completed their "investigation" less than two months after the Pearl Harbor attack: http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/pha/roberts/roberts.html
LOL at the Negro Amoro box wine, (bottom right of photo). Very interesting post. Thanks.
Well done, I thoroughly enjoyed this piece!! I kept thinking of this great book I read some 15 years ago, Gomorrah by Saviano, I think they turned it into a movie or TV series too, but have yet to watch that. In any case, the writing (and not just graffiti) was on the wall already way back then, what with the Chinese sweatshops in Naples etc. So I guess Eastern Europe is the last refuge now, though that too may change in a hurry. Sad times.
Thanks for the feedback, Max. Gomorrah sounds interesting, thanks for recommending it. It looks like both the film and television series based on the book were critically acclaimed. I’m going to check it out…
I would love to see Italy, though I am not a fan of crowds. I wonder if that would be less a problem in Dec or Jan?
Glad you had the opportunity to go.
Neo-Feudal Travel Guides - a new niche publishing market! Well done.
Thanks Big Mike.
💙Fantastic overview!
Thanks Michi!
Ice cream is there for tourists. It has become a meme for Anglos so, it sells.