A little cultural comparison.
Gravity: After traveling to Italy, I realize how serious the French can be as they walk quickly in the streets and avoid eye contact, etc. Not so in Italy! Perhaps it was due to the carnival, but the Italian parents also seemed to be much more in-touch with their inner children, fully entering into their children's imaginary worlds, even in public! Does this mean the Italians are happier? Of course not, but it does reveal two different sets of values: maturity vs. imagination, for instance.
Children: Are there way more children in Italy?!? I may have noticed this simply because children are often discouraged from entering public areas in France for fear that they will misbehave. French children are expected to be "sage" (wise, well-mannered, quiet), while the Italian children are much more free to act as they wish.
Dogs: Dogs are everywhere in both countries, but the Italians seem to prefer larger dogs. On the other hand, the French can take their small dogs in department stores and restaurants, while this seems to be much less commonplace for the Italians.
Graffiti: Much more graffiti in Italy, but it's also prettier than that of France. hmm...
Pigeons: Everywhere in both countries. :/
Conversations: These are so much faster and LOUDER in Italy. There also seems to be a tint of anger in even the most benign Italian conversations. To me, saying "hi, how are you?" sounded more like they were working out a fender bender.
Trash: There seems to be more litter in Italy, but more crottin in France (look it up).
Ambulances: If the French ambulance was a mourning dove, the Italian ambulance would be a peacock.
Were there pigeons everyone around the Duomo in Milan?
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