On Wednesday I happened to read this article in the New York Times that warns tourists to not sit on the Spanish Steps in Rome (or wade in Trevi Fountain) unless they bring enough money to pay a fine. The former will cost 400 euros ($450); the latter 450 euros ($500). Those are only two of the new bans that are being enforced in Rome, which, the Times notes, are meant “to ‘guarantee decorum, security and legality’ by prohibiting actions that are ‘not compatible with the historic and artistic decorum’ of Rome’s center.” So I was amused by this story about Heidi Klum and her new husband, Tom Kaulitz, who ignored a no-swimming ban (for the second time!) in Capri’s Blue Grotto and are looking at a fine of 6,000 euros. Heidi and Tom just had a lavish second wedding in Capri last weekend.
Just days after their lavish second wedding, Heidi Klum and hubby Tom Kaulitz found themselves in some deep water during their honeymoon.
RadarOnline.com has learned the newlyweds are facing a stiff fine for swimming in the island of Capri’s famous Blue Grotto – a serious no-no according to Italian law. The couple allegedly dived into the waters from a yacht shortly before sunset on Monday, August 5. People can visit the grotto by boat, but swimming is strictly forbidden.
“Last night at 5:30 pm Heidi Klum and some friends, there were 20 people, drove to the Blue Grotto, where she took a bath,” a statement translated from Italian detailed. “As we know That [sic] this is forbidden, but this time the Italian police stopped them outside.”
Klum and Kaulitz now face a fine of 6,000 euros. That’s about $6,728 in U.S. dollars.
This is not the first time the couple have decided to take a dip in the forbidden waters. Exactly a year ago, Klum posted a video of her and Kaultiz swimming in the grotto, making out as an unseen singer serenaded the lovebirds.
Heidi Instagrammed that visit from last year:
What the h-ll? I don’t understand this. I didn’t assume that Heidi was this rich and privileged so as to not give a sh-t about violating a no-swimming ban somewhere and having to fork over 6,000 euros because of it. I’m sure she has the money, but seriously? There aren’t other nice places to swim in Capri? According to this website, it costs 14 euros (a bit less than $16) to take a rowboat into the grotto. The website notes that people wait until evening to go swimming, and it’s “illegal and dangerous, as the high waves can slam swimmers against the stone of the low cave mouth.” So, Heidi is also lucky she didn’t get injured. It’s not funny or cute to violate a no-swimming ban while you also get serenaded, and to do it a second time shows a whole new level of nerve and disrespect, even if there are other people who also do it. I am curious about the wording of the statement: This site is RadarOnline’s source for it. Heidi “took a bath”: Is this meant to point out that she was skinnydipping? At any rate, I have to imagine that there are so many better ways to spend nearly $7,000 in Italy, and that if you’re Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz, you can easily take advantage of them.
Photos credit: WENN and Avalon.red
Entitled is as entitled does…
Man, people don’t have enough fear of the ocean. It’s known in the area that that’s a dangerous place to swim – people do it anyway.
But I constantly also see photos of people at Peggy’s Cove lighthouse, WAY past the signs that are telling them “DANGER. Sudden high waves. Drowning Hazard. Keep Off Black Rocks” and there’s ALWAYS dozens of people on those rocks.
I don’t know if it’s because a lot of people are from land locked areas… or what. But there seems to be so few people who are aware / take heed of the danger involved with the ocean.
@erinn – totally. On the St-Lawrence River at the seaway locks there are signs telling people not to swim. Both the lake freighters and smaller pleasure boats use the locks, with the freighters going in first. Should be obvious, eh? Few years back a woman was waiting to go through on a little boat and jumped in to swim as a freighter was entering the locks. Freighters have to spin their propellers in reverse to slow down. You can imagine what happened to her – in front of her family. Safety signs are there for a reason.
Holy crap!!! I hadn’t heard of those accidents but…holy crap!! I always think of those people who ignore the warning signs at the Grand Canyon and waterfalls, then everyone’s shocked when they get swept over the falls.
People think rules don’t apply to them. I’ve also seen people at the Grand Canyon going well past the signs that tell them it’s dangerous to get closer to the rim. They do it anyway, and even bring their dogs! That really steams me. Risk you own life if you want, but leave your dog in the safe zone.
I don’t know if it has to do with not being raised by the sea. People do stupid dangerous things at all kinds of natural landmarks. I was just at the Cliffs of Moher a few days ago, where the edges are unstable/prone to landslides and where people regularly slip off and fall to their deaths (even one just this year). There are signs everywhere to stay on the trail and not go near the ledge but hundreds of people were doing just that. Some parents were letting their small kids run amok along the edge. I nearly had a heart attack and had to look away from some of the more risky venturers (I’ve already seen a man fall to his death and don’t need to relive that horror). I LOVE heights and always seek them out when I travel, but I don’t love unstable natural ledges.
On a totally unrelated (and mean) note: if I were Heidi and could get me a hot younger, I’d be going for the actual hot youngers. That guy’s beady eyes are… not appealing. What is his appeal??? She has so traded down since Seal. 🙁
Blue holes in Bahamas that are calm and shallow looking. The current,however, can quickly suck you in and under. Folks don’t follow warnings until too late. Dumb and entitled.
On my trip to italy after graduation, in 1999, we went to the Island of Capri just to do the blue grotto, but the waves were too choppy and it was closed that day. That’s def something that I feel I missed out on. (Ugh, just getting to Capri was super choppy, people were puking everywhere….. super cute town though!)
We must have been there fairly close together – it was open when we went, but they said it had been closed just the day before.
I’ve been to the Blue Grotto. It’s a beautiful blue, but don’t worry, you didn’t miss out on a super amazing thing. It’s not very big, the boat goes in, people take pictures, and the boat goes out. There’s also a White Grotto. It’s fun to take that boat ride around the island.
I want Heidi’s life, except without the kids. I love her free spirit and how she doesn’t seem to care what others think.
If that’s what being entitled, dumb and arrogance mean, then yeah, go for it – #goals
There are lots of celebrities in Italy right now and I am enjoying their photos (except you, Heidi. I hope they dont allow you to return.)
My husband and I are celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary next year, my sister in law is watching our kids. Capri and/or Cinque Terre is on the top of my list!
What fun, congrats! Some friends & I went to Rome for ten days in 2008 & that is still one of the all-time greatest trips I’ve ever taken. I think about it a lot. We even took a day trip to Pompeii!
Capri is really beautiful but REALLY touristy. I recommend going to the upper part of the island where there are some nice places to eat and a lovely garden, among other things.
ha. I visited the Spanish Steps when I was in high school – sometime around 96 or 97, and there were a ton of people sitting on the Spanish Steps. I remember seeing old couples MAKING OUT. EW.
Ha. Pretty sure I’d be considered an old couple now and I would possibly lie, cheat and steal to have a romantic vacation in Rome with my husband. Apparently this is a super new law and I’ve missed my chance to sit and make out on the Spanish Steps!
Sitting on the Spanish steps is such a traditional thing. Amazing, people watching, chill thing to do. Sigh…
Well, that’s the thing. I bet sitting on the steps have been a thing for hundreds of year and now suddenly it doesn’t suit the history of the place? Makes no sense.
Eh. I went to Capri and did the Blue Grotto several years ago. Our boatsman told us that people swim in there all the time, even though it’s not technically allowed. He framed it as more of a naughty thing locals do, rather than an entitled thing. He didn’t seem too fussed about it. Perhaps Capri is cracking down on it harder now, or this story is much ado about next-to-nothing about people who got caught.
Yes, there is a lot of this around Italy! It seems to be something they are almost proud of, like a national personality trait there is to ignore rules. Still, the major cities are pushing back against tourists violating rules and other decorum norms (sitting wherever, like stairs or statues, is a big one). It’s easy money for Italy, so why not.
This doesn’t surprise me. I see tourists being disrespectful so often these days that it makes me wonder how they can be so self centered. I recall being in Greece where the monasteries are in the northern part. We were seated close to the border of where the village ended and the sacred monasteries began. And right below you could see two women topless bathing right below the cliff of the monasteries. And all I could think was: wow, a religious place of worship right above you. Men. Monks and you decide it’s ok to take off your tops this close to them???? So yeah, I can see Heidi doing something that dumb. I had a higher regard for her but she is clueless on how to behave apparently. When one travels one is respectful of the country and culture they are in. Number two rule after safety.
This is such a clear example of why fines, unless done proportionally to one’s income, just allow rich people to do things illegally with no fear of repercussion, as repeat offender Heidi clearly demonstrates. People who are most harmed by small finds, because of their lack of financial security follow the law, Heidi gets to swim in an international destination all alone because seh can bankroll it. Finland is very enlightened in this regard. #sharpentheguillotines
+1,000,000
Agree wholeheartedly that fines should be proportionate to wealth, I have never understood why the world’s “regular” people are okay with paying fines representing twice the punishment that a rich person would get. And like you say, just means that in effect, rich people can break the law. Stupid.
Not that new, I got into trouble 10 years ago with the police in Rome for dipping my feet in one of the fountains. I was mortified because they were genuinely angry at my lack of respect for their history and art. Also to those saying the Italians do it, yes, it’s their country, they can do as they please in their own home, we are guests and I certainly wouldn’t presume to do what I have been asked by my hosts to not do when I am standing in their home.
Heidi’s decade-long midlife crisis is getting old, no?
I generally like Heidi, but I give this marriage no more than 3 years MAX.
For her fourth, she’ll marry an old geezer who’s loaded.
So, at least in German, but possibly in Italian? “take a bath” means get into the water. My German friends say it all the time in English. It doesn’t imply skinny dipping, but it does imply going into the water (not just lounging on the beach). (Also, this disrespect is so rude, from whomever it is.)
I think it’s a mistranslation. “Bathing” is a common word for swimming in a lot of Europe. But in English it’s really only used for cleansing yourself in a bathtub or showering.