While staying in Verona, Italy, we had to park our car and walk into the historic district.  Our hotel suggested I go down the street and park my car in a garage with a big "P".  I went a block, saw a big "P", a car coming out of a garage and I drove in and parked.  My wife and I walk into the historic district, and had a delightful day seeing the "Romeo & Juliet" balcony, ate great food, a bought more than we should. 

Arriving back at the big"P', we discovered there was no way to get into this garage and we could not get our car.  Our hotel manager returned with me to the big"P" and said"You parked in the wrong "P", this is a private residence, not a garage.   He expained to a very anrgy building manager what I had done and could I get my car out.

My Italian is very weak but I/m sure the Bldg Mgr said, "How could he have been so stupid?' The Hotel Mgr. said"Americans!". " I still can't believe it," said the Bldg Mgr, "where in America is he from?"  "Washington, DC", said my Mgr.  "Now, I understand," said the Bldg. Mgr.  As we drove away, I realized, even in Europe, many feel people in WDC can't tell one "P" from the other.