I remember the US tourists who had the misfortune of being in Ireland during Winter 2010 and not being able to understand how:
a) the government ran out of salt and grit for the
country
b) Grafton Street wasn't even being cleared in the lead-up to
Christmas week, so it was like a skating rink
c) shops could only make sure their doorway was safe because the street was Council property and could only be done by them (and see
b for what was happening there)
d) no snow plows (in fairness, the last time we needed them was the 1980s, or something. But still, would've been handy)
e) there was some law failure madness where if you cleared your sidewalk incorrectly and someone fell, you could be sued, so no one really wanted to do any sidewalks as a result
f) just general incompetency everywhere
I think the general population agreeing with the tourists made it worse.
I always remember we served an elderly gentlemen with a purple bump the size of a goose egg on his forehead, after he'd slipped on a bridge in the city centre. Couldn't be convinced to go to hospital to be checked out-- had food, and new books, and planned to stay inside until it thawed. I always hoped he was okay.
