I ITaly on our vacation last year, we used to get up pretty early and wander down to the lovely beach which had five rows of chairs with umbrellas. You have to pay to sit on the beach in Italy so to near the waters edge its mainly young couples who go down, buy the ticket and know they have a place for the day.

They patrol these seat vigourously as well to make sure you have paid.

This resort was full of Austrain / Germans and we were the only English people there.

After a couple of days my wife was complaining how ignorant the Italians were. When we went out later that day I spoke in Italian and explained although I have blonde hair and look German I am English. After a couple of days doing this we were treated like royalty for whole 3 weeks we were there.