C’est la Garish
Back in the good old days, before anyone had ever heard of the name Kardashian, the month of August signaled the smart set’s exodus from the French Riviera for cooler climes. The great unwashed, as they were then called, would arrive in droves, prepaid to do so by a socialist French government, hence the hasty departure of the rich and famous.
Actually, I’m exaggerating, as it wasn’t as blatant or as obvious as all that. But August was the month that saw the Riviera become overcrowded, and those of us who had boats rather than houses on the Côte d’Azur floated or drove toward Italy (Venice, to be more precise). I am talking about the late ’50s and the ’60s, just before mass tourism ruined the most beautiful country that ever was, Italy.
“Although I’m fully aware of the ghastly taste the newlyweds exhibited, bad taste is neither illegal nor a sin.”
I cannot describe how wonderful life in Italy used to be for those of us who went to Rome, Florence, Siena, or Venice simply to enjoy ourselves. The hotels were magnificent, the service impeccable, the food the best in the world, and the people among the nicest and friendliest ever. Italians had more style than anyone, and their music was the most romantic, just as their opera was perfect and their beautiful buildings to die for. “Dolce far niente” was the slogan, how sweet it is to do nothing. I remember competing in the Foro Italico, a Mussolini-inspired tennis stadium
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LewRockwell.com is a libertarian website that publishes articles, essays, and blog posts advocating for minimal government, free markets, and individual liberty. The site was founded by Lew Rockwell, an American libertarian political commentator, activist, and former congressional staffer. The website often features content that is critical of mainstream politics, state intervention, and foreign policy, among other topics. It is a platform frequently used to disseminate Austrian economics, a school of economic thought that is popular among some libertarians.
