so smart

I think the vegetable guy likes me.

The last time I went to Conad to shop, he was very friendly (as usual), and was very excited that the baby was awake this time (she is always sleeping!)

But then...  he offered me a coffee!

Right in the middle of the fruit and vegetables.

There was a little silver carafe.

He poured me this tiny cup of black gold.

And it was fantastic.

I practically skipped through the store.

Seriously excellent way to drum up business... get everyone hyped up on coffee - maybe they will buy more...  or, in my case, just get their shopping done much faster...

Brilliant!

There are a few noteworthy things here...  such as the unexpected and unbelievably good coffee in strange locations...

Like the shopping carts, for example.

In order to use a cart, you have to insert a euro coin - generally a 50 cent, or 1, or 2 euro coin.

When you return the cart to its rightful place, you get the coin back.  Excellent.  Saves from carts being strewn every which direction.  So smart.

Probably wouldn't work in the states for a quarter.

And let's get real, who carries a dollar coin?

On first glance, the parking situation in our piazza would seem pretty dumb.

But having watched our parking "attendants" in action for a few weeks, their system works quite well...  Parking is several cars deep, they know who belongs to what car, they know if you live there, they help direct people around, and they make a few bucks along the way.

They can get your car un-buried in a matter of moments.

Curiously they are nowhere to be found when the carabinieri and tow trucks show up...

It's a good show from up above, where I sit with a cup of coffee, observing the drama of shaking fists, tears, and more hand signals than a fast moving baseball game.

I have come to really respect riposo.  It's the perfect time to go for a walk, or do some shopping when everyone else is...  um...   - well I haven't figured that out yet, but the stores are empty (or closed), and there is only a little traffic.  Sunday morning calm scheduled in the middle of daily chaos.  Just lovely.

It's a great opportunity to get out and about - where you could visit a park like this one...  and...  Well, if you can figure out what "is" allowed, you could do it!

Something else most Americans don't think of when community planning - building your houses so close together that in a pinch a guy could just hold them up himself.  This proximity also prevents most automobile traffic on your street...

Although the stylin motos can still get by...

You get extra points for packing your entire family of four or five on a two-wheeler.  

Don't forget to bring Fido.  

Wear flip flops.  

Leave the helmets at home.

While you are out and about you might also notice that using the bathroom is a bit of an adventure...  Many toilets don't have a seat at all...  and this would prevent almost anyone from trying to sit down (and who would do that in a public restoom anyhow?)  

In this case, however, there was a seat, and it went up and down automatically.  I want one of these for my house...  Just as soon as Smalls gets over thinking any toilet is her own private pool...

No need to worry about finding a place to kick back and relax though...

Since cars are everywhere, and here they are furniture.

It's totally acceptable to lean, sit, stand, or use any car available as a goal for your game of calcio (cal-cho) - soccer...

This guy is enjoying his sandwich leaning against our car.  

While we were sitting in it...

While on the subject of cars - what a fantastic idea to make use of space available and park on the sidewalk.  

Oh, and driving into oncoming traffic?  What an intelligent move to make your daily commute more adventurous.  No one was really using that lane anyway...

Throwing your hands out the window, honking and yelling really drives the point home...  on both ends...

Stop signs?  Really, what's the point.  In fact, much better to use your own judgement about when and where to go, and how fast to do it.

Ah Italy...  what a capricious little rebel you are...