To avoid wasting time in lines, the Italians have cleverly engineered their own system. This state-of-the-art technique is aptly called, survival of the fastest.  Word to the wise: do not, I repeat, do not allow more than eight centimeters to come between yourself and the person in front of you at any given time when standing in line. And note, I use the term “line” very loosely. There are often groups of people seemingly organized in a linear fashion, all headed in the same direction, and appearing to have a common goal.  However, the fact that it mirrors what we, here in the States, refer to as “waiting your turn” is merely a coincidence. In addition to the aforementioned advice, one must refrain from people watching (outside of anyone not posing an immediate threat), shoe tying, sneezing and/or blinking. If you fail to heed this or my eight centimeter warning (and I have seen it happen with less), the opportunity to claim your spot will be seized. In such case, one must speak up and speak loudly, as you will quickly learn, it is a long and weary wait for the soft-spoken.

In summary, simply think of AAA.  If, to the best of your abilities, you always remain Agile, Alert, and Assertive, you too will be one step closer to SILA (Successful Italian Line Advancement).

Buona fortuna!