There are three big differences we noticed between Italy today and Italy of eight years ago:
--Smoking. The war against smoking is proceeding amazingly well. I would not have believed how few Italians smoke (in public, at least) and how common no-smoking areas are.
--Public works and construction. There are far more cranes and cement mixers wandering around Italy than there were before.
--Security. Eight years ago, trios of police carrying submachine guns were a fact of life on nearly every major street corner. Now the armed security presence is much much less.
Posted by DeLong at July 30, 2004 10:34 PM | TrackBack | | Other weblogs commenting on this postDo the trains run on time?
Posted by: Dick Durata on July 31, 2004 12:13 AMWhen I first went to Italy 15 years gelato came in cones about the size of golf balls. Now it comes in about the size of tennis balls. And, not all of it is made on premises, and some is freezer burned, or chemical. Thank heaven the coffee hasn't changed.
Posted by: masaccio on July 31, 2004 06:26 AMDick
Yes, the trains run on time! I was used to them running late, so I ended up missing one or two last time I was there.
And the railway stations are better policed and less chaotic.
Brad:
You might have noticed the Euro too.
Posted by: otto on July 31, 2004 08:06 AMOops! Euro noted below.
Posted by: Otto on July 31, 2004 10:19 AMHaving just returned from three weeks in Italy (smaller towns) and Paris, I am ready to admit that the Italians and French have swapped places in the economic world from 20 years ago. Things (and people) work in Italy - not so in Paris - food is great almost everywhere in Italy - Paris, ugh - and people, well they were always nicer in Italia. I will grant that Italian gelato seems to have gone way downhill but the coffee is superb and the trains run on time. I am ready to learn Italian. This from a longtime and dyinghard Francophile.
Posted by: Martin on July 31, 2004 10:51 AMWhat are you talking about, Italy is buggered. Its growth has been lagging even germany for the last few years. Without Parmalat-style sleight of hand its budget deficit would be >5% of GDP. Its SME's are getting killed by the Chinese (textiles/white goods ooops). Once FIAT kicks the bucket that's it. Without the EU to keep their spreads down they would have gone the way of Argentina by now
Posted by: gbloco on July 31, 2004 12:07 PMits a shame about the no smoking thing.........for me, that was the best thing about europe when I visited. You see a no smoking area, then without thinking twice just light up anyway. And not a soul cares.
Posted by: harald b on July 31, 2004 02:20 PM