Oddities and Observations

I wrote last year about the eager-to-please Irish and the eye-rolling French.  My take on Italians is that, when it comes to tourists, they have settled into a state of good-natured resignation. If you’re a fumbling tourist, an Italian will quickly deduce what you’re trying to do and do it for you. As you’re trying to formulate the right Italian words, for example, a server will just ask cappuccino and brioche?    

More than once I’ve had a cashier scan my items at the self-check-out, or take my credit card from me and wave it over the card reader in just the right way. They have a knack for doing such things so as to impart an air of efficiency rather than impatience, although I suspect impatience is what they truly feel. This veneer of civility peels away when it comes to traffic situations – stay out of the way! 

Fun sightings:

 

 

Lots of cute critters