Pigeons in Italy...
I first learned the Italian word "piccione" (or pigeon) reading a restaurant menu that had English translations. (Stuffed pigeon didn't seem very appetizing at the time.) Italy is filled with pigeons. If you look at the base of windows and ledges on buildings, many times you will see very thin wires sticking up to keep pigeons from landing there and leaving a mess (pun intended).On several occasions, pigeons flew in open windows (since window screens are not very common) where we were staying. Once inside, a single pigeon can mess up a room in nothing flat! Seeing pigeons flying and scurrying around to get food from tourists is one thing but cleaning up after them is another. (I'm sure the costs are astronomical.) I wonder if pigeon cleanup is itemized on the Italian national budget.
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