We made "real" milkshakes too

Maryrrf, what you describe, we in Oz would call a 'thick shake'. I remember the first time I ordered a 'shake' in Macdonalds, expecting it to be like our milkshakes - a drink with milk, syrup and just a scoop of icecream - and found it so stiff I had to slurp and spoon it rather than drink it. So you can get these, but you have to ask for a thick shake. I actually prefer our version of a milkshake - more drinkable and more thirst-quenching.

I don't think I've had the real Italian ices. I was thinking of gelato but I don't think it's the same thing. Snow cones we've had for quite a while. They are still quite common. I had a nice one at St Albans folk festival just over a week ago. I think they gave them some other name, but I don't remember what it was. The syrup was better than average too.