Observations in Italy

• Apparently, construction codes are much different in Italy than in the US. We saw several construction workers in San Marino and Italy wearing a uniform of work boots, cut off jeans, tool belt and hard hat and nothing else. Some workers should consider a different profession as they really should not be in public with the described uniform.
  


• Mopeds and motorcycles are the transportation of choice here. It doesn’t matter if you are in casual clothes, a suit and tie or even a skirt, blouse and high heels. Any attire is the right attire for riding your motor scooter. Carrying a cooler while riding a motorcycle is perfectly acceptable as well, apparently. The TV show COPS would have a field day here. Never seen cops on Mopeds. “Hey mister, slow down so we can catch you”.
  


• The second transportation mode of choice is smart cars or even Cushman utility trucks, which have room in the cab for only one driver. How interesting it is to see these small trucks parked everywhere or cruising down the street.
  


• Everything must be paid for here, including the use of bathrooms and beaches. There is nothing free, and woe to he who has not 60 cents for a trip to the bano! That would explain the smell of pee in certain places we have visited. At one restroom we were actually handed an allotment of toilet paper; I guess they couldn’t spare a square. We actually found a bathroom at the Lucca train station (and one or two others) without an attendant.
  


• Speaking of toilets, we ran across a few very different ones. Here is a picture from on in San Siro Stadium in Milan. It was an interesting experience, but when you have to go, you have to go!
  


• Did we mention nothing here is free? We have not found wireless internet free at most of the hotels we have stayed at, but hotels in the states would make it part of staying at the hotel. Our hotel in Florence claimed free wireless service, but it wasn’t working while we were there and they would happily allow us the use of their internet point for a small fee, thus NOT FREE!
  


• There are no STARBUCKS! :( There are no to go cups unless you are a six year old drinking out of a Dixie cup, just ask Valley Ingman.
  


• Beer is whatever they choose to give you. No choices like the Masthead.
  
• Smoking at any age is acceptable, apparently, as we have seen what I am sure are 12 and 13 year olds smoking. And you can buy cigarettes from a vending machine. And everyone (I mean EVERYONE) here smokes. Obviously no Surgeons General here in Italy!
  


• Graffiti is everywhere! It is really sad to see so many things covered with spray paint. And it is not confined to the big cities either, it is everywhere we have seen when traveling by train.
  


• I am not sure if they know what hair dryers are. I have used a variety of electrical devices that blow air, but look more like vacuum cleaners than dryers. The one in our room in Monterosso looked like it was made from part of my mother’s old vacuum, or was a Flo-bee: I have never dried my hair with a crevice tool before.
  


• ATMs must be very serious security threats and therefore not accessible beyond the security check points. Apparently they are required to be well hidden so as not to be obvious for tourists to spot and actually use when needed…at least in the airports.