Week in Italy. No fat people and no pickup trucks. Wow.

[cjcinin]

They all wear skinny jeans. Which I guess are just jeans there.
Not one obese person. Except for the couple from Texas at the train station.
Only pickup I saw was an old Toyota. The small one.
Great week though.

 

[Tim1911]

Great observation. What would you attribute it to if you had to try and pin it down? The lack of obesity, that is.

 

[cjcinin]

Lots of walking and fresh foods. Really no processed stuff. They pay extra to sit to eat. So lunch is probably had standing. Tipping isn't expected like here. So paying to sit is a thing.

 

[BobDaniels]

They all wear skinny jeans. Which I guess are just jeans there.
Not one obese person. Except for the couple from Texas at the train station.
Only pickup I saw was an old Toyota. The small one.
Great week though.

Spain is the same way. I tried to find pick-ups and could not.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Great observation. What would you attribute it to if you had to try and pin it down? The lack of obesity, that is.

Walking.

In America we build neighborhoods without sidewalks and drive everywhere (what is the thing that everyone whines about in gun show threads or the NRA Meetting? The parking). They walk.

 

[hoosierdoc]

The last one died I guess

 

[actaeon277]

Roads can get pretty narrow there. Full size pick-ups would be a nightmare.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Great observation. What would you attribute it to if you had to try and pin it down? The lack of obesity, that is.

Walking, as noted, and also smoking. Meat is also rather pricey, so seafood and veggie intake is higher for economic reasons. I didn't see much soda consumption, either. Table wine is probably healthier than soda pop.

 

[Brandon]

Spent a few months in Italy when my mom was stationed over there. We were about a half hour outside of Aviano AFB. Saw alot of people on bicycles, fresh foods; seemed like sea food was the most abundant and garden grown items, walking...
Loved going to the farmers markets every week in the different towns we traveled through.

I'd go back in a heart beat.

 

[UTL]

My observations from the Northern region
lack of tennis shoes
gas stations that only sell gas
zero fast food business
resetuarants are only open during their traditional feeding times, not 18 hours a day
People tend to work for a company for life and the company takes care of them for life
the average person lives in an apartment their whole life because a small house on land is too expensive.
The whole country basicly takes the whole month of Oct or November off for family time
The Northern region's diet is very Meat heavy. Very little pasta.
Its a great country to visit to get a new outlook on life. We as Americans have it made.
We are our own worse enemy.

 

[UTL]

Oh, and hookers. Illegal there too but everyone looks the other way. Most are young females from the Eastern Bloc Countries....and very good looking.

 

[dsol]

When I was over in Germany back in the late 80's and early 90's, I noticed they do tend to walk or bicycle a lot more. I took some time to get around a little and feel that Europe in general does. High fuel prices, small cars, narrow roads, and the "slower" life style gave me that impression. They just are not in as much of a hurry to get everything done as quick as possible so they can go home to sit on a couch and watch TV.

I know if I spent a little less time driving and more on a bike or walking to run errands, I would benefit greatly. I could stand to shed 20 to 30 lbs and probably could do it in no time if I put away the car keys after work. But then again, many Europeans are in closer knit communities where they do not live five or 10 miles from their bank or school or grocery store or restaurants.

 

[cjcinin]

Oh, and hookers. Illegal there too but everyone looks the other way. Most are young females from the Eastern Bloc Countries....and very good looking.

We took a tour through Cinque Terra. Our guide pointed out all the pick pockets. All eastern bloc girls no more then 14. Worked in groups dressed like western tourist.

 

[hoosierdoc]

We took a tour through Cinque Terra. Our guide pointed out all the pick pockets. All eastern bloc girls no more then 14. Worked in groups dressed like western tourist.

They are all over Europe in tourist areas. One distracts you with a stupid trick or dance while the others rob you blind, as you tip the one causing the distraction.

 

[cjcinin]

Yes. The train stations were a really bad area for them and all of Venice.

 

[danielocean03]

It almost sounds like another country or something.

 

[eldirector]

From my limited experience with Italy:
- the Mediterranean diet is actually pretty darned healthy
- tons of farm markets, even in the city. Lots of folks grab some fruit and cheese for lunch
- Walking and biking are how you get around, even in the countryside
- Not nearly the disposable income as most Americans, and stuff is terribly expensive by comparison.

 

[Dave A]

This is the closest thing to a truck that we saw.
View attachment 47497
The streets are narrow but a tour bus could make it. In some of the tight places the passengers would get quiet, attentive to the maneuvering by the driver and when the bus made it through everyone would give the driver a round of applause. I think the drivers like putting on a show.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

This is the closest thing to a truck that we saw.
View attachment 47497
The streets are narrow but a tour bus could make it. In some of the tight places the passengers would get quiet, attentive to the maneuvering by the driver and when the bus made it through everyone would give the driver a round of applause. I think the drivers like putting on a show.

Did you get to Naples?

 

[IndyDave1776]

Did you get to Naples?

They have pickup trucks in Naples?

Naples is in the south...do they also have cowboy hats?