[Yes, this is not a question, but it IS an answer ;-) ]
I saw this in RS's "Daily European Headlines" today.
http://ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/english/2010/07/27/visualizza_new.html_1876075942.html
Maybe this will answer the next few questions on the subject...
And to Maria (woman in article) - "You go, Girl!!!"
Apparently, the Vatican feels that maintaining what it considers minimum standards of dress at its holiest church is worthy of their attention.
Yes, but elderly Maria was wearing what was described as a conservative dress (sounds conservative to me anyway) and was not going to St. Peters as a tourist (or even going to St. Peters at all). Unless I read the article wrong, she’s a local, and I’m sure she’s familiar with sensitivities to proper attire in the basilica. At any rate, it’s their prerogative to implement whatever dress code they wish in their own little nation, and the rest of us will have to comply if we wish to visit. No problem.
Funny…I was thinking that the Vatican probably had more pressing matters to deal with as I read through the article, then I’ll be darned if Maria didn’t point that out. Good for her!
I'm not challenging anyone carrying a pointy partisan. Ouch.
At least not until I am 70 years old...
The new areas of enforcement are perhaps due to the, umm, 'lax' clothing mores of many people - those tourists (AND residents) who believe they are on vacation and can wear whatever goes at their local lake. I'm no prude, but the short-shorts, skin-tight and spaghetti-strapped tank tops (with bra straps showing, of course), and $1.99 flip-flops that make up many vacation 'wardrobes' leave a bit to be desired in my opinion. Hey, wear those white tennis shoes and baseball caps - just look like you aren't running around in your pjs. Don't get me started on the flannel pj pants...LOL!
And just in general, when the guidebook spells out the dress code for St Peters, they're talking to YOU. Not the other guy, but YOUR bare shoulders and above-the-knees shorts, too. Don't act surprised LOL.
Their country, their rules. When in Rome... :-) After all, it's not as if the dress code enforcers are the same people who would otherwise be investigating the well-known scandals in the church.
As for Maria, I've learned from experience that you do NOT cross a 70 year old Italian woman.
I know that for me it's very important to be fully covered up when I look at paintings of naked people.
Good grief! What is this world coming to? This is nothing less than a denial of the fundamental American right to wear shorts anywhere! How are we ever going to stay #1 in the Worst Dressed in Europe standings?
I'd say shorts with 'paper tubes' taped to them to extend the legs down past the knee will keep us #1 in the standings.
Mary, yes! Everyone here should wear shorts to the Vatican, so we can all do the paper-tub-leggie thing and keep America on top.
There comes a time in everyone's life when you just gotta stand up for something...
I'll drink to that Mary! ;-)
During our last papal viewing a girl moved in front of us giving us a view of her bright red thong and half of her very large bottom. Unfortunately it drew more attention from the crowd than the pope did.
Well, I can understand going into the Basilica of St Peters to dress appropriately. But on the square, it is unusual to do this. But things change and evidently clothing issues have become an issue even outside the Basilica. Of course, if you see some of the people here in the US dress the way they do when they go to the Mall, then you can understand. As someone has said," When in Rome do as the Romans do." After all this is a holy place and a prime place for religious prilgrimage.
Oh, Michael in IA - you 'crack' me up! [I got it... ;-)] Maybe in addition to selling 'paper-tube-leggie things' they could sell 'crack covers' - kinda like the paper shawls for the shoulders.
Lori, I understand completely - recently, I stared at a woman's 'bustal area' for an entire TV interview because I just KNEW she was going to spill out of that top ANY SECOND...have no idea what the interview was about...(eew, I feel a little like Benny Hill...)
Clearly, they need to crack down on unauthorized underwear to avoid such fascination from the flock. Perhaps street vendors can even add granny underwear to their line up of goods to ensure better coverage for the faithful.
Really I do not see a huge issue for tourists, and even the article addresses it as mainly an irritation for locals.
Figure that most of the Vatican is off limits unless by appointment, the Basillica and the Museum already enforce a dress code, leaving only the public areas affected of the Post Office, Pharmacy, Gift Shop, and the Square. I think the Square would be difficult to enforce, not many tourists use the Pharmacy, and few go to the Vatican just to visit the Post Office and Gift shop and not enter the Museum or St. Peters.
