Napoli

Hot day in Naples. So, while I could see Vesuvius, it was so hazy that a picture only looked like smudge. Oh well, will be back in Naples tomorrow night and Thursday so will try again.

Good day of meetings, but had to re-adjust to Napolitano time. E.g., for a 2pm meeting you sit in the office chain drinking espresso (I lost count after 5 as my brain can't concentrate on any numbers higher than 2 right now with all the caffeine), then at 2pm you decide it's time to leave for the 2pm meeting, then drive like total maniacs to try to make the 2pm meeting on time with the 2 million others trying to do the same thing. Think of NY taxis on too much caffeine where traffic signals are simply something to gesticulate about. The guys I'm with from Genoa refuse to drive here.

Anyway, since I failed on a picture of redeeming natural beauty, attached find something of infinitely more practical value. One of our owners is sufficiently cost conscious (I.e., "tight") that he likes to encourage people to use the stairs rather than pay for the electricity to run the elevator. So the enclosed picture is of the coin drop in the cab where you have to pay 10 cents to get the thing to move. But you also have to ensure that you poll everyone else onboard to make sure no one wants to get off on a lower floor first as you have to drop another 10c to get to the next floor. Luckily that's not usually a problem as the cab is only rated for 3 persons, so you only have to deal with 5 others onboard.

Have to say this is the only place on the planet I've seen this contraption.

Off to Rome.

TWG
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Via Blackberry

Originally sent September 29, 2009