The least successful traveller

The least successful traveller on record is an Italian, Mr Nicholas Scotti. In 1977, Mr Scotti set off from San Francisco to fly to Italy. On the way, his plane stopped at Kennedy Airport for an hour to refuel. Mr Scotti thought he was in Italy and got out. He then spent two days in New York, believing he was in Rome.

Scotti expected his friends to meet him at the airport, and when they didn't arrive, he tried to find his own way to their address. As he travelled round the city, he was surprised to see that many of Rome's historic monuments had disappeared, but decided it was due to modernization. He also noticed that many people spoke English with an American accent. It didn't worry him, because he assumed that Americans got everywhere. That also explained why there were so many English street signs.

Scotti had to ask a policeman the way to the bus depot, and of course, he asked in Italian. By chance, the policeman was a native of Naples, and he replied, of course, in fluent Italian.

He travelled around on a bus for twelve hours until the driver delivered him to a second policeman, and that was when the argument started. Mr Scotti was amazed that the Rome police force could employ someone who didn't speak a word of Italian. Even when everyone told him he was in New York, he refused to believe it. To get him back to San Francisco, the police drove him to the airport at top speed, with sirens screaming. 'You see,' said Scotti to his interpreter, 'I know I'm in Italy. That's how they drive here.'