The Wild Ones

Saw what divides Italy and Britain so vividly today.
Commuting in on the Tube, there was an announcement that the escalators at the Piccadilly Circus station were out, the station I use for work.
Ohmigod, chaos.
I thought of the two really long, steep escalators at the station there. And all the people, some of whom might not be able to walk up all those stairs, I worried.
And still in an Italy mind-set.
I even considered getting off at another station, but we were only a station away when I heard the announcement.
Got off at Piccadilly Circus.
Really orderly procession -- aided by London Transport staff positioned in key areas along the way -- through an alternate exit there. With not as many stairs.
Everyone behind each other, respecting their distances, moving slowly, but deliberately through the detour.
Until we get to a smaller escalator at the end.
It was full of people, laughing, talking loudly.
They weren't lined up on the right side of the escalator, letting those in a hurry walk up the stairs to the left -- like is customary on the Tube.
Then I heard the Italian voice, the teacher talking to the group of Italian teens crowded all over the stairs.
"Keep right," she said, loudly, to be heard over the din.
"Here, people stay to the right in a line and let others go up the left," she said, sorta laughing. "Move to the right."
Most of the kids moved to the right side.
But not all.
It was like taming a herd of wild animals.
You couldn't get them all.