That about wraps it up for this adventure. As many of you know, for some time I have been considering the idea of living outside of the United States. Spending more time in a country, as I did on this trip, brings home the fact that despite the beautiful foreign language and perhaps more delicious regional food offerings and more fashionable women everywhere, life is so similar no matter where you go. Love, fun, security, toys….these are the things that most human beings want in their lives. I definitely observed subtle and not-so-subtle differences in every day life, some of which were a little surprising.
Did you know that…..
Stop signs in France and Italy actually say “STOP”?
The most fashionable footwear in France, less so in Italy, are Converse all-star tennis shoes? I mean, 30% or so…
People do NOT walk around, even on the metro, with earbuds in their ears, hooked up to their tunes? I think I saw two people at the most in 3 1/2 weeks.
Only about one-quarter of people on the street are wearing sunglasses?
It’s so easy to get snobby and throw away baguettes each night when you know you can go get a fresh one in the morning?
Other than in major cities, traffic intersections are handled entirely by roundabouts? I mean almost every 1/2 mile you whirl through one.
French people really are not so snobby and arrogant as a lot of people make them out to be? Only the occasional poophead, and you can find that anywhere, really.
You can eat gelato, homemade pasta and baguettes every day and if you keep moving, you won’t gain any weight? Perhaps I should stay on vacation even longer!
Cars, bikes and pedestrians can move smoothly together through cobblestone streets that are only 15 feet wide and no one gets aggravated?
Local wine at $3 per bottle can be incredibly delicious?
Italy charges a $2 – $3 euro table fee to cover the bread and who knows what else? Even if you don’t want any bread?
Churches make incredible settings for concerts of all kinds? Particularly at night?
May add more as I think of them, but until then….Ciao!