1. Never pass up the opportunity to use a public toilet, regardless of its condition - you just don't know where the next one will be.
2. There is no such thing as a bad coffee - espresso, cappuccino, latte - all great, no matter where you go.
3. The train system is cheap and there are trains to almost everywhere, except when there are snap strikes, and then the system sucks.
4. Cakes and pastries of all shapes and sizes are great to eat, and very inexpensive. They are rarely plain, being usually filled with jam, chocolate, creamy custard, fruit or other nice things.
5. A lot of people smoke and the cigarette butts all end up on the streets.
6. There are lots of dogs, mostly small cute things that would make a good entree for a bull terrier, but there is hardly any evidence of dog poo - their owners are obviously very disciplined.
7. Fruit, vegetables, cheese and smallgoods are plentiful and much cheaper than in Melbourne, and the quality and freshness is outstanding.
8. It helps enormously to try and use the few words of Italian that you know. Local people really appreciate your effort, even if it's only per favore and grazie.
9. You can't walk down any street without being accosted by someone trying to beg some money from you, or sell you something you don't want - bunches of roses, packets of tissues and so on.
10. The sky seems to be always blue.
11. There are so many basilicas, duomos, cathedrals and churches, and after several weeks of looking, it's hard to remember one from another.
12. Men are much more sociable and not reluctant to show affection towards each other - they gather in groups everywhere, chatting, laughing and gesticulating.
13. People love to gesticulate.
D2
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