Autogrill on the Autostrada

As previously mentioned, the autostrada is in superfine shape and allows our Fiat to to cruise alongside the arborrio rice fields.

A quick stop at the service area where in the US you would find a gas station and a Burger King, you find the service station with an Auto Grill instead.

Auto Grill provided us with delicious cappucino, espresso, and macchiato in real coffee cups with saucers.  The coffee bar also offered an incredible array of panini and pastries.

The shop part of the Autogrill sold a wide selection of cheese, wine, chocolate, prosciutto, bresaola, etc.

Zooming past the rice fields, it occurs to me that style comes naturally to Italians.

It also makes me wonder how Italy can produce these local economies that enable production of local products unlike the US.  Somehow local and regional economies survive while at the same time the country is heavily involved in the global economy.
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