Zipping around the Eternal City, there appeared to be a deficiency of stop signs, driving lanes, pedestrian crossings and traffic cops, which helped to impart a sense of total chaos. Tiny cars that looked more like toys, and scooters, hundreds and hundreds of scooters, whizzed by like fleas, weaving their way past each other, virtually sideswiping pedestrians crossing the street. To my constant dismay, traversing a street was even more hazardous. At the faintly marked crossing zones, pedestrians cross their fingers, start walking and pray everyone will stop. Some might, but others, especially scooters, seem to take pleasure in sliding by mere inches from your nose.
Vehicles park in an assortment of directions on and off the curbs.
If you think cell phones are out of control in Toronto, think again about Italy. 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.