We are back from Italy. It was a trip I did not want to do and it was something Rose always talked about, so, I did it while I was still working and could afford it. I was wrong. It was the best vacation I ever had.
The Italians have resisted the "buy everything from China" habit and they have some remaining capability for manufacturing. They show a strong preference for buying things they make. Some of the smaller machine tools look good. One of my projects is to look there, as well as for one made here, for a small vertical mill.