Vanity

While in general I love Europe, I must occasionally remind myself to enjoy it and not freak because they don't have irons, the lighting is too dim, blow dryers blow luke warm air & curling irons collect the faintest of heat.

My other gripe which makes me sound like an American douchebag, is the lack of convenience stores. "Enjoy Europe and shut up you spoiled brat!" you say? Well try walking around with a severe hangover and NOT having a bodega/rite aid/walgreens ANYWHERE on the continent. Instead, you must search for a pharmacy (open 9-5, mon-fri). And ask a man behind the counter for tylenol. For voltage adaptors one must go to a hardware store, and curling irons- an ELECTRONICS store-and it costs $70!!. Grocery stores sell food. The end. (note: I found London slightly more convenient (though not as convenient as the United States). OH! and no dogs are neutered. Not a one.

But they do feed their homeless. The man pictured below was clearly homeless. He wandered up and asked restaurant patrons for money. The restauranteur came out and asked him not to beg & disappeared inside. The homeless man sat down & listened to his shoddy little radio. The restauranteur then reappeared with a plate full of pasta & said "al dente," as if to say, "al dente, just the way you like it." It melted my heart. I love Italy.