In 'the boot,' cell phones have become a facial accessory. The constant ringing of cell phones quickly becomes background noise, like elevator muzak. Lunch and dinner both have an antipasti, sort of like hors-d'oeuvre, then a first course, usually a giant heap of pasta, and then a second course of meat or seafood. It defies every scientific law that Italians are so thin. Everyone drinks water, but it is never free.
Restaurants only serve water in bottles, and probably go through thousands daily.
The plethora of Italian shoe stores cater to tourists. Savvy shop owners know that no matter how good your shoes might be, you will hate them after long hours walking on Italy's narrow and uneven cobblestone streets. Feet don't even feel like feet anymore after padding through Rome. As for Italian washrooms, they were yet another eye-opener. I discovered that in restaurants there is usually one small unisex room that you have to walk up a couple of narrow steps to get into.