Here are some thoughts while tooling south through Tuscany on the A1 Autostrada at 80 mph, listening to Vivaldi and Corelli on the final leg of nearly two weeks of driving in Italy's cities and countryside.
* Italian drivers are aggressive, but they're not crazy. They let you know exactly what they want and when they want it. The guy (or gal) behind you in the passing lane flashes his lights; you get out of the way. Simple as that.
* Italian drivers are aggressive, but they're competent. They respect the lanes and other drivers, even if they're passing you at 120 mph.
* Italian drivers are aggressive, but they're polite. Not once have I been flipped the bird or some other obscene gesture. Nor have I been subjected to a shaking fist. And I've made plenty of mistakes.
* Italian drivers respect pedestrians. In the cities, we were able to cross the streets without fear for our lives. By and large, patience prevails.
* Massachusetts drivers in general, and Boston drivers in particular, are still the most aggressively rude and aggressively incompetent I've encountered anywhere. And I've lived there all my life.
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