The article I read claims that a recent law has made it illegal to wade or bath in
any public founntain in Rome and so they are arresting him on that technicality. The
article further claims that he has been doing this for over 30 years and that he
takes in about $1000 per month, not the 12,000 Euros that somebody else mentioned.

"Mika" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
    > ntmarzolino schrieb:
    > >
    > > Old news really. It was in all the Italian papers last month. It just
made
    > > it to the papers in the US and Canada? The man is not homeless; he has
been
    > > collecting the coins for 30 years I think they said. The coins belong
to no
    > > one according to some judge or other therefore he could not be arrested
for
    > > stealing. He only collected them Monday to Friday. On the weekend, the
city
    > > of Rome collected the coins and they were then given over to charity.
The
    > > man in question said he could not find a job and that he would not stop unless
    > > someone got him a job. I don't know what happened after that.
    > Saw an interview with the guy (actually I think he wasn't the only one doing it) on
    > TV. The police did not cite him for taking the money, which is not illegal, but for
    > being inside the fountain in fishing boots, which apparently is. Quote: 'what did
    > they think I'd be using, fins?'. Actually, even with bare feet nobody's allowed in
    > there. Nobody told Anita E., apparently.
    > The city now collects the coins daily instead of just once per week. Guess he does
    > need a new job now.
    > Mika

On a serious note, the legal system in Italy rarely puts a non-violent criminal in jail, so you can offend again...and again...and again. Check out the jailed/per 100000 population figures (yeah, USA and Russia come top).

ntmarzolino wrote:
    > "Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > > Surely he couldn't have been the first person to get the idea? (Even here in the
    > > U.S., people seem impelled to throw money into fountains, and I gather it's an
    > > established tradition, for the fountains of Rome.)
    > Well, the tradition at the Fontana di Trevi started via an old American movie,
    > "Three Coins in the Fountain". The story is if you turn your back to the fountain,
    > hold a coin in your right hand and throw it into the fountain over your left
    > shoulder, then you will come back to Rome, if you do this with three coins,
    > according to the movie, you will find your true love in Rome, I don't know what
    > happens if you only use two coins.

I thought the novel "Three Coins in the Fountain" made use of an existing custom?
(Also, FYI, the "three coins" in the story were thrown by three individuals - the
plot involved the experiences of three (unrelated) American women in Rome. (A fairly
enjoyable book, as I recall it all these years later - I think it was originally
published back in the 1950's.)

Wolfgang Schwanke wrote:
    > "Evelyn Vogt Gamble (Divamanque)" <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:
    > >
    > >
    > > Destiny wrote:
    > >>
    > >> Hi all- I just read something about a homeless man that was arrested for taking
    > >> coins from the Trevi Fountain in Rome. They estimated that in the busy season he
    > >> got as much as 12,000 euro a month. Anyone else heard about this??
    > >
    > > Surely he couldn't have been the first person to get the idea?
    > I thought the city has done it all the time anyway. It surely is tempting for
    > ordinary people, but I guess embarassment prevents most. Imagine, you sit on the
    > edge of the fountain, put off your shoes and socks, and then walk about the
    > fountain grabbing for money, watched by several hundred tourists? I wouldn't do
    > that.
    > > (Even here in the U.S., people seem impelled to throw money into fountains, and I
    > > gather it's an established tradition, for the fountains of Rome.)
    > Wasn't it inspired by that movie "Three coins in the fountain"?

Actually, I think the movie (and the novel upon which it was
- loosely - based) were inspired by an existing custom. (At least that was the
novelist's premise.)

    > Regards
    > --
    > "Yamaha Mitsubishi Toyota Suzuki Sony Minolta Kawasaki Sanyo Casio Toshiba"
    > (Annette Humpe)

.
    > > I thought the novel "Three Coins in the Fountain" made use
    > of an existing custom? (Also, FYI, the "three coins" in the story were thrown by
    > three individuals - the plot involved the experiences of three (unrelated) American
    > women in Rome. (A fairly enjoyable book, as I recall it all these years later - I
    > think it was originally published back in the 1950's.)

Well, I did a search about the coins and the fountain. There is no reference to an
existing custom nor to the book. They all say more or less the following:

Another photo of the Trevi Fountain. This fountain was usually deserted before the
movie Three Coins in the Fountain made it famous. Today the piazza and fountain area
are usually packed with tourists. See Neptunus Rex in the center of the picture,
standing on a shell chariot drawn by winged horses and led by a pair of tritons. The
two allegorical figures on either side represent good health and fertility.


And here are the words to the song from the movie:

<SPOKEN by 3 different female voices: "Make it mine! Make it mine! Please, make
it mine!">

Three coins in the fountain Each one seeking happiness (Thrown by three hopeful
lovers) (Which one will the fountain bless?)

Three hearts in the fountain Each heart longing for its home (There they lie in the
fountain) (Somewhere in the heart of Rome)

Which one will the fountain bless? Which one will the fountain bless?

Three coins in the fountain Through the ripples how they shine (Just one wish will be
granted) (One heart will wear a valentine)

Make it mine! Make it mine! Make it mine!

<instrumental break>

Which one will the fountain bless? Which one will the fountain bless?

Three coins in the fountain Through the ripples how they shine (Just one wish will be
granted) (One heart will wear a valentine)

Make it mine! Make it mine! Make it mine!


TRIVIA: The fountain referenced is the Fountain Of Trevi

Perhaps this was his wife)) www.geocities.com/stella_hakim/Rome.html scroll down to the Trevi Fountain
pic. Regards, Walter



..And Paradise Was Lost...like teardrops in the rain...

ntmarzolino wrote:
    > Well, I did a search about the coins and the fountain. There is no reference to an
    > existing custom nor to the book. They all say more or less the following:
    > Another photo of the Trevi Fountain. This fountain was usually deserted before the
    > movie Three Coins in the Fountain made it famous. Today the piazza and fountain
    > area are usually packed with tourists....

According to this website it was customary in the 1800's to drink from the fountain
and thus ensure a return to Rome, evolving by the latter part of that century to
include tossing in a coin: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~wnii/Articles/An_Overwhelmi-
ng_Attraction.htm

The site also states that the fountain didn't attract today's crowds until the
1950's movie.

Mark

ntmarzolino wrote:
    > >
    > >
    > .
    > > > I thought the novel "Three Coins in the Fountain" made use
    > > of an existing custom? (Also, FYI, the "three coins" in the story were thrown by
    > > three individuals - the plot involved the experiences of three (unrelated)
    > > American women in Rome. (A fairly enjoyable book, as I recall it all these years
    > > later - I think it was originally published back in the 1950's.)
    > Well, I did a search about the coins and the fountain. There is no reference to an
    > existing custom nor to the book. They all say more or less the following:
    > Another photo of the Trevi Fountain. This fountain was usually deserted before the
    > movie Three Coins in the Fountain made it famous. Today the piazza and fountain
    > area are usually packed with tourists. See Neptunus Rex in the center of the
    > picture, standing on a shell chariot drawn by winged horses and led by a pair of
    > tritons. The two allegorical figures on either side represent good health and
    > fertility.

Well, that makes sense, The novel didn't have to be specific about the locations,
so probably didn't even name the fountain. The movie had to film SOME fountain, and
the Trevi is apparently spectacular enough to appeal to the moviemakers. The
"custom" may have been in the author's imagination, but believe me, there WAS a book
upon which the movie was based! (Although on second thought, its title may have
simply been "Coins in the Fountain", and I can't verify that - it's many years since
I read it, and I tend to get rid of all but my most treasured books, every time I
have to move.)
    > And here are the words to the song from the movie:
    > <SPOKEN by 3 different female voices: "Make it mine! Make it mine! Please, make
    > it mine!">

Yes, I remember the song well, and I saw the movie. I also remember the book, which I
read a couple of years before Hollywood made the movie, and which was well written
and a much more absorbing and involved story than the simple-minded Hollywood
"adaptation".