Observattions as we travel across Italy...

When backpacking across Europe, following the ’Rick Steves Travel Guide for packing’ (4 pair of shorts/capris - 1 pair of long pants - 1 jacket, 4 shirts, 1 pair of shoes) take clothing that you don’t like - because once you’ve worn the same sets over and over, you’ll never want to look at them again.

Italy has many gypsies - both adults and children. The trains, and train stations, are full of beggars. The “cute children” will divert your attention while the adults relieve you of your money and/or bags.

You should never say “Ciao” (Chow) to strangers - that greeting (means both hello or goodbye) is reserved for friends. I wonder how many Italians I offended before I leaned this!

Be prepared to experience many bathrooms (toilettes) - some with seats, some without, some that are free to use - most that aren’t, And a zillion different ways to flush.

Much of the countryside looks the same as ours - modern tractors pulling farm equipment, cows and horses grazing, bales of hay in the fields, fields of tobacco, wheat and corn, flowers just like ours - lantana, morning glory, crape myrtle. We are brought back to the reality of a foreign country when we spot castle ruins on a mountain top - stone houses with slate roofs - clothes drying from the windows of almost every house, from the windows of a train.

Some of the lemons grown in Italy are almost as large as grapefruit. Cantaloupe is served with ham, shaved paper thin, as an appetizer. Tomatoes and watermelons are both red and delicious.

The local trains are never air conditioned and are usually ‘standing room only’ - stopping at every small village.

Nothing in Italy was ever built on level ground - one must either climb a hill or climb steps to get anywhere.

Mixed salads are lettuce, tomatoes and corn niblets without salad dressing - unless you want to use olive oil.

They know we are American females by our feet (tennis shoes). We see them looking first, at our feet, then talking among themselves. These women have walked for ages on the cobblestone streets - so they’ve pretty much got it down to a science. We shake our heads and wonder how they keep from falling and breaking their neck!!