Italians were very nice

We had that same thing in both London & Paris and you're right, it does made you feel old. But then again it's nice to sit too.

In Rome a few years ago, on my first trip to Italy, any time I would stop on a street and look at my map with a confused expression, someone ALWAYS came up and offered to help me - I didn't even have to ask!

I've seen people offer older people their seat on the Paris Metro dozens of times. I too think the Italians are wonderful... so warm and friendly.

It's a different experience if you're not elderly and white.
I asked a policeman standing by the train if this was the first class car. I said "Excuse me" first. I was polite. He just stared straight ahead puffing his cigarette. I asked a couple of times and he never even looked at me. Finally, a passerby answered my question.
In the Florence central market, one guy refused to sell me his prosciutto.
In Rome, we got coffee that was impossible to drink. It was so awful. I'm positive the barista did that on purpose. He refused to take our tip, even though we copied the behavior from the other Italians standing at the bar.
I'm not that eager to return to Italy. This is the country where people threw bananas at a black political candidate.
France is far more accepting of minorities. Everyone was friendly in France.

Chun, I believe you 100%... everything you described is disgusting to me. Reading about your experience in Italy gives me a whole different perspective.

We weren't impressed with people in Rome. Very unwilling to help or answer questions, but I heard that it's because we spoke English. The women especially were sullen and unresponsive.

The men... Younger were sweet, but older very sour. Never went back.

The French are wonderful!

Wow, that's too bad, and not our experience at all in Italy. We've found most of the locals to be very nice, and especially so if approached or thanked with a polite word in Italian. We only know a smattering of those but those few go a long way.

I don't think we've ever encounter an entire people we did not like! Have we met a few rude ones in several countries - yes. For the most part folks are happy to help and genuinely nice.

We were just in Italy. Like many countries in Europe, many people are biased against Chinese (think about lost jobs,) but as soon as they realize you are American, their attitude changes immediately. Just a personal perspective, not saying good or bad, blaming on globalization?

Hello Bob,
My wife and I had been to Italy twice, and we would certainly agree with you. Stayed in Florence a week the first time, enjoyed our stay there. In Florence, I was trying to figure out how to drive from Florence to Orvieto, opened our map on top of our rented car, then this middle age guy walked by and showed us on the map how to go about it, we didn't even asked him. In Abruzzo, we got lost in one town trying to head to the beach, and as we asked directions, a young man (20's) volunteered to have us followed him, as he was going in that direction. And other countless times, and we didn't even speak Italian other than buongiorno and grazie. Sometimes maybe our demeanor in these countries as visitors can make the difference.
As for Chun, being "older or white" has no bearing on the local reaction to your being there. Certainly, being in our 50's does not qualify me and my wife as "older", and certainly, being Asian does not qualify us as "white". So think about what you posted.