Forming a disorderly queue

If there’s one unspoken public action that defines a nation, it’s how people wait in line. Where as the British, Americans and Japanese are generally experts in the fine art of queuing etiquette, the Italians take a much more anarchic approach. Certainly fare la coda (standing in line) is understood as a concept, where it’s only fair the person waiting longest, gets served first. But in practice, waiting in line can be anything but fair, as quiet, orderly single lines of people become braying scrums clustered around a service point.

Italians like to display their cunning and intelligence, by working the system and finding ways to jump the line unnoticed, or unchallenged, or if there is no real line, make sure they are front of the scrum. It can be infuriating if you’re waiting in line. But plenty of fun to witness if you’re not, just watch your toes in the chaos.