>Are you sure you aren't extending the culture of northern Italy to all of Italy? Yes, I am pretty sure, as a matter of fact I am more familiar with non-Northe

>Are you sure you aren't extending the culture of northern Italy to all of Italy? Yes, I am pretty sure, as a matter of fact I am more familiar with non-Northern Italy habits, as I am Italian (from the center and living in the center) but I have lived years in the South and also some time in Rome and near Naples. Again I am not talking of people you know and are friend with, I am talking of: 1 - people that have just been introduced to you 2 - normal greetings between people that meet in commercial or professional environments The case of: >I could see it happening in a super small hole-in-the-wall mom and pop type restaurant though. can surely happen, but it is not common/everyday as the folklore might lead to believe.