Grocery shopping...an experience in itself

In Siena there are several small markets, wine shops, butchers and bakeries. There are also a few actual grocery stores but they are quite different than ones at home. You walk in and pick up a basket that you can either carry or wheel around with a long handle that extends from the basket. The store is quite small and is brokenup into sections...the fruits and vegetables, meats and cheese counter, wine, and two aisles of other food. I start with vegetables. You must first grab a plastic bag and then adorn your hands with lovely plastic gloves. After selecting what item you want, it is placed on the scale where you must enter the corresponding number and consequently a small sticks is printed out to be put on the bag so the cashier knows how much to charge you. After vegetables we move onto wine which ranges from high priced bottles to .89cent box wine that looks like an oversized juice box - aka juice boxes for adults. Next to the wine is the meat and cheese counter where you can order fresh cheeses and salami among other things. Turn around and we are at the first aisle. Pastas, sauces, rice, cookies an chocolate adorn this aisle. Once you reach the end you turn right for the frozen foods and toiletries aisle or turn left for drinks, water and of course - milk. The milk and eggs are not refrigerated and the mill comes in small cartons in about a million different varieties. I'm not sure how I managed to pick the one I did but it tastes fine so I'm sticking to it. People here get groceries every couple days because they eat fresh food and so you must eat it within a few days. There are no preservatives or costcos here..just fresh ingredients.
Finally I make it to checkout. People understand the concept of lines but the rules aren't followed. If you don't stand your ground some little old italian woman is sure to step in front of you and others will see fit to follow - believe me it happened. Ok so I make it to checkout and begin unloading my groceries. The policy is bag your own items and it costs extra for the bag so you better remember to bring your own. Exact change is encouraged and there is no shame in hunting your purse for coins. However I do get flustered when they begin ringing up the next person while you are still there trying to collect everything. By the time I finally leave I feel a sense of relief not having to cram down tiny aisles and count change at the counter. Whew...now to carry it all home.