20 Insights from Rome

Here is a list of things I did not expect to learn on my recent trip to Rome:

1. In Rome, you can order a Big Mac and Beer from the local McDonalds
2. Speed limits are not necessary
3. Actually, traffic laws in general are completely unnecessary
4. Toilet seats are a rare commodity
5. My family’s international diet pretty much matches our diet at home – pizza and ice cream
6. Italy is nowhere close to where I thought it was on the map
7. The USA apparently leads the international music scene
8. It is possible to survive without Walmart
9. Lady Gaga sounds the same live as she does on her CD
10. My wife is very similar in features to beautiful Italian women
11. Motor scooters are kind of cool
12. Americans know nothing about parallel parking
13. My daughters have the keen ability to find unique clothing boutiques anywhere they go
14. I have no sense of direction
15. My son has the best looking hair in all of Italy
16. I can wear sandals for a solid week, when in Rome
17. “Can you hear me now?” NO – Verizon is nonexistent in Italy
18. Train schedules are almost as reliable as a plan to win the lottery for retirement funding
19. When travelling to/from Italy, US Air finds it absolutely necessary to make an additional stop along the way. This stop could be anywhere from 4½ hours to overnight
20. It is possible for a town to support an ice cream shop every 100 yards as long as you call your ice cream “gelato”
21. My wife is generally right
22. About the time I start to believe my wife is right, she is wrong about something
23. I don’t keep count very well