two places in Paris I enjoyed people watching - when you are looking at Notre Dame, there is a cafe to the left - we love sitting there and watching all of the people. We also love people watching in Monmartre, preferably near Sacre Couer

I have wonderful memories of people watching especially in three different piazzas.

On the piazza San Gennaro in Praiano, Italy, I sat by myself and watched the breathtaking sunset in the background and kids and moms enjoying their time in the foreground, mothers gossiping and yelling at the kids who were playing soccer ball. One time the ball hit my foot and sent my shoe flying and one of the mothers jumped up to bring it to me, then pretended to smack the ball kicker on the head in pure Italian style. Whenever I saw the kid again he would said hello to me and then run away.

In Taormina on piazza ix Aprile we watched the beautiful panorama on the belevedere of the sea and Mt. Etna while sipping prosecco. It was so nice to watch the families interact, oblivious to our tourist eyes.

In Taormina near the Piazza Santa Caterina, I remember watching a little boy who was having the time of his life sitting on his skateboard and riding it downhill. His proud nana was watching and praising him as we wove in and out between people's legs at breakneck speed!

Other times I can just sit and watch a mountain or the sea until you would have to hold a mirror under my nose to see if I am breathing!

Um, that should be HE wove in and out of people's legs, I didn't get THAT involved!

About twice a day, we'll stop at a sidewalk cafe and "people watch." I'll have a cold beer, Ms. Go will have a mineral water or small glass of wine, and little Allie will have an ice cream or soft drink.

This is often a good time for updating our daily notes for the eventual trip report, and for reviewing the map and fine-tuning the day's schedule.

Some of our favorite places for this sort of thing include Piazza Navonna in Rome, St. Germain/Left Bank area in Paris, the New Town section of Edinburgh, Plaza Santa Ana in Madrid, and many others.

SeaUrchin, I am really really glad you clarified that!!! I am not feeling like the "brightest lightbulb" today and thought "whaaaaaat?". Thanks for the good laugh, I needed that.

Yes to people watching!!!! Yes to all of the above spots and I will include the lake walk in Stresa too. Don't repeat this, but I love to watch people in the airports! I make up little vignettes of why they are there. But I do think Paris is the best though. Ann41, maybe they are working to keep all those lovely young things...well, just lovely! Ann41: the best men watching is in Italy ;-).

How funny, loveItaly, it would have given new depth to the term obnoxious tourist!

Knowing so many of you are watching, I may, in an effort to provide a stimulating topic of conversation, wear my tight yellow biker's pants much more often when strolling around in Europe.

It's amazing how thin nylon will expand in so many different directions, yet cling to every huge bulge and enormous protrusion, at the same time. Think hips and thunder thighs.

SeaUrchin, true, true! You are still giving me a good giggle. And I just noticed on another post I referred to Venice as Venica (guess a combination of Venice and Venezia?) Oh well, like I said, not the brightest lightbulb today. By the way, have sure enjoyed all your postings.

Oh, Degas, I can't wait to watch those thunder thighs stroll by!!

Thanx loveItaly, I am chuckling at the image too (of me, Degas).

La~ Degas, my imagination is running amok at the thought! I hope with the bikers shorts you will wear the skinny little biker top and some really cool sunglasses?
We found ourselves many afternoons, sitting on the sidewalk of the Cafe Deux Magots, resting our tired feet, having a cafe/glass of wine and just being entertained by the masses of people dashing by. Mothers with children, businessmen and young college students. Messengers, beggars, tourists and locals..all a colorful mix that is much the same in every country, with the change of language.
I love it! I like to see what the average Parisian/London housewife wears during the day, what fashions will find their way to NYC the following season, how fat/thin are the French really??
It is great fun and I do it here in the US too, but somehow, the language makes a huge difference.
Then after the drinks and sometimes snack, you are ready to get back on the street and join the parade or at least, be able to walk back to the hotel and gird yourself for the evenings meal and more walking!
degas, you are going to have such a good time...when? I forget the date?

After being through so many churches, historical sights, every "to do list" what I love best is to people watch.
Oh, to sit down anywhere in Italy, the major cities, the beach towns, the small hill villages, anywhere, order expresso or wine and just "watch". Too beautiful.
But, I have never had the joy of seeing Degas walk by in his wonderful biking outfit. This for sure is something to look forward to! LOL. Should I warn my Italian friends?

Naaa, let your friends be surprised LOL

Ok Scarlett, I will not even warn them
Have to write several of them tonight, but will tell them if they see "anyone" in yellow bike pants bulging out all over, blue sunglasses and perhaps a helmet (and maybe a helmet with antennas wrapped in tinfoil) that no,no, no, noone here in the USA has any idea who this person is.
Which country can we blame Degas to belong too?

As in "which country can we blame Degas to belonging too"? May help if I edit messages once in awhile.

Actually, I usually wear fire-engine red sunglasses, a lime green hat, purple muscle shirt, yellow biker's pants and super white tennis shoes. Of course, I never wear socks so my legendary calf muscles are always on visual display.

That "babe magnet" outfit never fails to draw a huge crowd of giggling french chickadees! In fact, my route has to be faxed ahead so proper crowd control and emergency service measures can be implemented.

degas, thank you for the laughs.

I imagine those refined French matrons swooning on the spot once they catch sight of you! And their little fluffy chiens run away in fear~

Degas, no, no, you must go to the area of Veneto, northeast Italy. The upright, properly dressed signoras (in their suits, pumps, matching purses etc.) have been longing for something to gaze at, giggle at and dream about for decades. Please do not deprive them of this joy. Trust me on this one, it will give them ten years of conversation. Honest!

Judy-excellent news! Good timing, as I'm off to Rome on Saturday.

Last time, we took a beer, some wine, and French snackie-things to Jardin de Luxembourg. We stopped at a bench by the playground.. it was very enjoyable to watch/hear the children playing and see families strolling by. A 'clutch' of policefolks walked by as well, and gave our sipping activities nary a glance.