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"When I moved to Rome from Washington, DC, one sight struck me more than any ancient column or grand basilica: people doing nothing."

Yes. It's like a big small town. It's quite refreshing - though it can be frustrating if you want to get something done.

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My friends who have visited or lived in Italy say the same thing. I kinda experience the same thing with Latin America.

It's relaxing to be in a place that isn't all about the rat race, but it can be irritating when you want to get up early and do stuff, or when you're dealing with the bureaucracy, or you're trying to plan anything. As with most things, it's a trade off.

I suspect it’s more about people doing nothing _outside_. In other cities and climates, there’s plenty of people doing nothing at home, in front of their TV or computer.

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