Updated and reposted
I've been back from Italy for a few days and am still adjusting a bit to the time change. I wanted to share a few more of my learnings from the amazing country of Italy and it's people.
If you are born in Italy then you are born Catholic, according to our guide the majority do not practice. Huge shortage in Italy of Priest.
If you die at home your body is not removed. They do not embalm bodies but tend to them at home and normally have the funeral very soon after. Our guide said this can be really hard on the family as the body is still there.
Burial plots are for 30 years, they then open them, if your body has decomposed then your remains are gathered and given to your family, they then resell your plot. Most families then add your remains to a family vault type structure. If when they open your burial plot after 30 years and you are mummified they then will close it and not open it again.
They buy used cars as with the narrow streets and tight parking most get scratched or hit frequently. Car theft in Italy is high. Most of the cars are standards, not automatics.
Since Lamborghini's are made in Italy be ready to see them in random places. One of the ladies on my tour broke the golden rule that you never touch someone's car especially a Lamborghini, he told her off in at least 2 languages.
Train and ferry systems like in most European countries are very easy to use to get from town to town. With the traffic this sometimes becomes a better option.
I found the Italian people very open to Americans, I heard a lot of them discuss that the American's saved them during the war. Our guide said her grandparents always told her stories of the day the American's arrived.
They do not have zip lock bags or good chewing gum, these items from American are considered priceless. Items so common for us so when we found this out most of us shared with our guide.
They do not use the word sleeveless for clothing they call it the American sleeve.
Due to the constant change in Italy the Italians rarely plan ahead very far. Strikes and protest are a norm in their country. Their was a transportation strike the day before I arrived in Rome and a demonstration occurring the day I arrived which made getting to my hotel an adventure.
A lot of red tape to make changes per our guide so for example they rarely change providers regardless of discounts due to the red tape. She stated that she would not consider changing her electric company even though they are expensive due to the hassle it would take.
University in Rome is over crowed and most of the students set on the floors. Our guide said in all of her time there she rarely had a seat during her classes.
Italy is a must see country with amazing history, food and people!