Berlusconi E' Dimesso

Let's take the term "Arab Spring" and change it into "Mediterranean 2011".  Tunisia, Egypt, Libya all toppled dictatorial leaders....and now, 12 November 2011, Italy has managed to get Silvio Berlusconi (and you all know that I find him a great speaker) to peacefully resign.  And I was there.....kind of/almost.

My friend Lance and I were talking a tourist stroll through town.  Walking back from the Colosseum back to my apartment, takes one through Piazza Venezia and down Via Plebescito to Vittorio Emmanuele II.

And we come across this crowd of people

Since we're near Palazzo Chigi, where there are ALWAYS cameras outside of the front door, it HAD to do with Berlusconi.

And the police confirmed it for us.

I was THERE.

This entrance/exit to Palazzo Chigi (the residence of the Prime Minister of Italy) where the crowd, Lance and I watched for any activity.  Note there are NO plants by the doors, which become important later on.

This is looking east up towards the Quirnale, where earlier in the day the Italian parliament passed the financial austerity measures which was the lynchpin of Berlusconi's deal to resign.

Lots of black windowed BMW's entered, most of the time we in the crowd shouted "BUFFONI" or "A CASA"

Lot's of television cameras as well.  Lance and I were standing on some planters for 2 hours, between 1830 and 2030.

More police arriving....great anticipation.

Then, all of a sudden all the action moved over to another street and everyone moved.  Our "front row" seats became less important as it turns out there is a back entrance/exit to the Palazzo (of course) and the Carabinieri, police and crowd moved to a corner.

Lance and I stayed patient, hoping for action.

Every once in a while, a light would come on in the 1st floor windows or people would peek out....but at 2030, it was cold and we were hungry so we went to get some food promising ourselves we would return.

Alas, we didn't.  Got home, and saw THIS picture on the internet and were KICKING ourselves, because we were RIGHT there about 4 meters to the left of that black SUV.  But wait, what are those plants doing there?  There weren't plants next to the doors we were watching.  Phew, this was the back entrance, where no one was allowed to pass.  Lance and I didn't miss the big action.  But we didn't go back after dinner, so we missed out on the street celebration.  So, a little "lame" on our part.