1) Almost all the autos there are tiny hatchbacks. Most of the rest are small hatchbacks.
2) The cities, towns, and villages are old, and have narrow streets, with few traffic lights.
3) If you want to drink anything with a meal, including water, you will pay for it.
4) Water comes to the table in a cool, but not cold, liter bottle. The glasses are cocktail sized, not tumblers.
5) Even the cheap wine is good.
6) Tipping the waiter is not common practice.
7) The average driver there is more alert, observant, and adroit than the average driver in the US.
8 )Because of 7), they can push more traffic thru their highway system than you can imagine.
9) Pizza actually IS very popular with the locals. It is not sold in variety of sizes. One size, to feed a moderately hungry adult. The varieties are named, and these names seem to be common across several disparate ristorantes. There is no concept of “choose 3 toppings from the list”. Btw, the “Americano” is offered with French Fries as a topping. I defecate thee not.
10) about ALL property is “developed”. Lots of farms are cultivated right up to the front door. There are pastures, vineyards, and row crops on mountainsides that defy belief.
11) All the foregoing gives the impression that the people are not impoverished, but highly resource constrained.
12) Breakfast there is very scanty. Coffee is served very, VERY strong, in very VERY small cups.
Helluva trip.