I try to vacation someplace new every year. Until recently though, my destinations were mostly in the continental US. There is alot to see in our own country and one could probably spend a lifetime exploring our own little corner of the world. About a year and a half ago though, I decided to broaden my horizons a bit. My Grandparents on my mothers side both came over from Italy when they were young and no one in my family had as yet taken a trip to see 'The Motherland". So off we went, me and my partner to Tuscany. To say that the food was amazing would be an understatement. Walk into any local restaurant and you would be foolish to order anything but their house wine, as this is usually one of the best locally grown and produced varieties you could ask for. Gelato to die for. But you knew all that probably, and I kinda knew it would be before I even went.

    What truly amazed me though was how young of a country we really are. Looking around at a countryside full of beautiful churches, shops and homes, some of which were built centuries before our country was even a thought... puts things in a very different perspective. Makes me wonder if we really are as smart as Americans as we think we are or, like any average teenager... do we just think we know more than the rest of the world around us. Let's take a look at just a couple of comparisons that demonstrate my point. Years ago, we as America thought we were just so clever when we sank billions of dollars into our highway infrastructure to move people and goods across the country in what we saw as a no-brainer future of eighteen wheelers and automobiles. Along with that, we put an airport in every little 'podunk' town on the map. Meanwhile, over in Europe they were sinking their money and future into expanding their countries' train systems. Now Americans are paying the Middle East outrageous amounts of money for barrels of oil while Europeans zip around relatively carefree on a train system that can take you pretty much anywhere you want to go. When they get to their destination they either walk (novel concept!) or bike (another great idea) for the most part to where they want to go. There is plenty of room on the beautiful stone streets in a great many of the towns for pedestrians, bikes and scooters because they are not clogged up with automobiles and trucks. They are much healthier for the activity as well. Meanwhile, back in 'we're smarter than everybody' America... fat, lazy, overweight Americans are stressed and broke from the gas prices, airline ticket prices and congestion on the highways and in the air. While we figure out what to do about our healthcare system in the sickest country in the world that pays more per person on Health Care than anywhere else on earth, the Italians and the rest of Europe are busy worrying about something equally important... should I have red or white wine with dinner?  My kinda folks those Italians...