While spending almost a week in the internet-deprived yet still beautiful region of Tuscany, we sat in an outdoor wine bar/cafe in the main piazza in Siena. If you've never been, it's a huge square that transforms into a horserace twice a year. While there were no horses to watch, observing the locals was nearly as fun.
- We watched groups of older men, wearing Rat Pack hats, passionately talking about something. I'm not sure I see men huddled in Canada without drawing suspicion.
- Women appear to have skipped their 30's. Lots of pretty 20-somethings, then it appears that life and the sun have beaten them and their skin into their 50's. I haven't given the same scrutiny to men, but it's probably the same.
- Men walking arm-in-arm. It's actually quite touching and sad that such forms of male bonding would only garner stares in North America. I was one of the few staring in Italy.
- Shiny, puffy coats are in. I hope they remain a European phenomenon.
- My god, they smoke a lot. I haven't seen so many people rolling their own cigarettes since me and Mike got paid a nickel a cigarette in the 70's.
- Bleached blond italians can legally be used as a flotation device. Their botoxed lips alone have been known to save many a drowning man. Actually, we are physically startled each time we see such a creature.
- Pleasantries become arguments which become shouting matches which become warm embraces, and that's all in the time it takes to sample and reject the tasteless crusty bread.
- With more determination than I know, an old Italian man shuffles across the piazza one inch at a time.
- Three kids play with a soccer ball and frankly I'm not impressed with their ball control.
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