sognatrice, I don't have a problem with 11th - 13th century France. It's 21st century France that is pissing me off.

Troubadour, I fully agree with #2,3,4,6,7 you are sooooo right. And mind you, I live in Venice and have to cope with all these people during my everyday-life; there is nothing left to me but trying to take things a little easy.....btw I prefer American drivers, they drive me less nuts!

#15- Ouzo and Grappa. 2 spirits guaranteed to make some ask for whatever the gentleman on the floor is having
#16 Amen Brutha
#20 Vaseline is another 6.00 Euro
#23- 160 kh/h in a Focus? You're a braver man than I...not necessarily smarter, but braver.
#26- Great, another thing to be on the lookout for during uniform checks.

#15. Haven't tried Grappa, but I will... As for the mention of Ouzo, I tried that this last Christmas holiday season. Was out on the town with family, but kind of tired. My brother said you need a little Ouzo. I had never heard of it. I was instantly perked right up and having a good time! We all agreed there is something strange about how it affects you.

Grappa-Now that I am aware of the intensity of that stuff in the little bottle shaped like an elephant that someone gave us for Christmas, maybe I will wait for an Italian guest to try it out on?
Troubadour, I think I would hate anyone that made me drive a Ford Focus:)
Re: David: a friend of mine has just recently returned from a few months in Europe. Not only did she get to spend a little time alone with David(if you don't count the guard) but she was allowed to take a few photos and allowed to have another tourist take one of her with David. Go figure~
You make me want to go to Italy:D

<<24) Since when did Pinocchio become the Italian national mascot?>>

The author of Pinocchio, Carlo Collodi (real name: Carlo Lorenzini) was born in Collodi, a little town near Lucca. So that's why Pinocchio is all over the place in Tuscany, especially in the Lucca area. I didn't notice it that much in other parts of Italy that I've visited in recent years, although I did see some Pinocchio puppets in Sicily. But puppetry is a big thing in Sicily (not Pinocchio puppets, but the traditional puppet shows with stories about the Sicilian Vespers, etc.).

I'm just back from Italy, too, and LOVE YOUR LIST - hilarious and non-PC - I'm looking forward to your trip report!

sognatrice.. Oh Please. Get off your throne. Most of us do not wear scarves around our necks and knock 'tourists', which You are. I too am an artist, who has lived and worked in Europe as a Tourist. And I see nothing wrong with people wanting to photograph a famous statue. Nobody likes a snob.

I like to see people pausing to photograph the Empire State Building or a statue (of course, not David) here in NYC.
Art is for everyone, and why should we not be free to take our own photos to keep to remember our trips ? I could go buy postcards of the Great Wall of China, but I would not have that memory of being there, I will wait until I am there and take the photo myself.

The Roberto Begnini movie of Pinocchio last year set off a craze in Italy.

Troubador, you gave me a chuckle or two. Thanks!

This David-picture taking debate is funny. I swear, I didn't see a no-photo sign when took a couple of nonflash pictures. I guess those "picture nazis" aren't consistent. The security guard really didn't care what I was doing, which now upon reading some of these posts, I'm thankful for.

sognatrice = Lisa Simpson

To art is for everyone" Scarlett- in NYC City,this May 30 - June 12- the aforementioned "hated" Alitalia is spnsoring a great festival of new Italian films from May 30-June 12. On June 5, we have a chance to see a film by Alberto Sordi, who passed away last year.Might be enjoyble. And for free, you can walk by the gardens I take care of in the park-if the weather is nice, you can see some the beutiful flowers I planted there for everyone to enjoy.
Hope I don't sound too much like a snob, (wemr) at least, in my own defense, when not traveling or working, I donate my time every day to try to improve the quality of life here. Now that I said this, I am going to take a long vacation from this forum, so if any of you want to keep throwing darts, don't waste your time, I won't be here to read them. Too much of the word "hate". And my own fault for trying to give my opinion. Buon viaggio to everyone.
ciao sognatrice .

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