[a freedom-loving italian]

But Italy is still not is as bad a shape as Germany

Well that's true, after all Italy has a 7,8% unemployment rate versus 12% in Germany. But the sad true is that Italian middle class is getting poorer and poorer: thanx to the Euro, prices have risen up to the level of Germany while wages HAVE NOT.

[YOUGOTIT]

I am well aware!

Io visito Italia ogni anno e dei miei parentadi ancora vivono là.

Please excuse my grammar.

That is south not north.