There are rules, and then there are "rules"

That's this week's lesson from Italy.

One example: no swimming in the fountain. But the "rule" is that you can do it after 6, if there are no important guests around, and you don't drip chlorinated water on the grass when you're drying off.

Another one at the Academy: there's a rule that, in order to use the computer room, you have to put down a 26 Euro deposit. But Gianpaolo, the administrative assistant, will give out the computer password to anyone who asks.

Then yesterday, when we went to Ostia, we asked in advance to get into one of the warehouses. Now, the sopretendenza said that it absolutely was not possible - they store stuff in there, and absolutely don't want tourists poking around. Then, while we were at the site, Eve asked the guard who opened up one place for us, and she said something to the effect of "Oh, sure! I know the person who works over there - I'll call him and tell him you're coming!" So we got in. Another house worked exactly the same way.

So it all goes to show that, especially in Italy, it doesn't hurt to keep asking, push the limits, and generally see what you can get away with.