Hillary Clinton Plays Hooky; Italians Scramble for Jog Togs

The Neapolitans call it “dolce far niente” --sweet indolence. It is the Mediterranean talent for leaving stress behind, and sitting back to enjoy.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is taking in the sights and the culture while President Clinton attends summit meetings, has already adopted the local custom.

“I feel so happy and relaxed here,” she said during an impromptu interview at the Villa Pignatelli art gallery.

Friday, turning her back on an official spouse dinner and night at the ballet, Mrs. Clinton took a tour on the famed Amalfi coast, culminating in a concert in Ravello.

The Italian press didn’t appreciate Mrs. Clinton playing hooky. The newspaper Il Mattino criticized her for not going to the ballet and dinner hosted by Veronica Lario Berlusconi, wife of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

If she felt slighted, Mrs. Berlusconi didn’t show it as she posed with Mrs. Clinton Saturday. The two shared a laugh as they in unison took off their sunglasses for photographers at the Sant’Elmo fortress and then immediately put them back on.

President Clinton also discomfited his hosts a bit.

The Italian police apparently didn’t realize until the last minute that they would have to accompany Clinton on his morning run along the Naples seafront Saturday.

They had to haul a sportswear store owner out of bed at 4 a.m. to get their outfits, three sets of shorts, T-shirts, jogging shoes and sweatbands.

The cost came to $570. “They told me to send the bill to the (Italian) prime minister’s office,” store owner Giovanna Maurelli said.

The rejection of Clinton’s trade plan wasn’t the only setback for the White House.

The White House put out a T-shirt with caricatures of the summit leaders, which is a popular souvenir. Just one problem: It has the wrong Japanese prime minister on it.