I spent the majority of 2009 in Italy. Fabulous food, luscious landscapes, the magnificent Mediterrenean, and passionate people, who you want to befriend or strangle depending on the moment.
During my time in Italy, I realized there are a few things about Italians and their culture that are important to understand and embrace to travel sanely in Italy. Here are my top 6 tips for embracing Italians and their culture:
Cutting in front of line is a national sport in this country. Don’t take it personally when the line-cutting athlete races past you. It’s best to join in. It’s actually quite a good use of time management. Why wait for a group of children or tourists to sample each gelato flavor when you know exactly what you what. 2. When you see the streets deserted and stores closed, don’t worry the rapture hasn’t come. You haven’t been left behind. It’s 1pm and feeding, er I mean, lunch time, that’s all. It’s best to get yourself to a trattoria, too. Because if you think you’re eating when it’s convenient for you (say like 3pm), think again. Stores close, even grocery stores, from 1:00-3:00pm (some until 4:00pm) for lunch. 3. The most dangerous person in Italy is an Italian grandma (la nonna) with her rolling shopping cart. Yes, Italy has the mafia and Berlusconi, both quite scary, but NOTHING is scarier than when you get in the way of la nonna and her daily shopping. She’s had that rolling cart (her weapon of choice along with her elbow) a long time, and knows how to wield it wisely. 4. Crosswalks, stop signs, and red lights mean nothing to the Italian driver. And, the pedestrian that thinks they have the right away (which they legally do) is crazier than the guy who bludgeoned Berlusconi with a metal souvenir. However, the Italian driver will stop for someone, la nonna with her rolling shopping cart! If you fear for your life while trying to cross the street (and you should), follow la nonna. 5. Timeliness is NOT close to godliness. Complaining about the late is an even greater sin. Being on time is looked at as a character flaw. Actually, I’m not an on-time person (this might be the understatement of the decade). However, I am always on time for planes, trains, buses and boats. Even in these cases, in Italy it’s never correct to badmouth the late. Twice I complained about a friend being late (once we almost missed a train, the other a boat). Each time the Italian, to whom I complained, frowned and defended the tardy “Brava la tua amica.” (Well done, your friend) one said. 6. Gli anziani (the elderly) are always right, and you are maleducato (badly raised by your parents) to question them. The elderly man (or woman) has every right to yell at whomever he wants, even your young niece. If you step in to calm him, you become his new target. Suddenly I was maleducata and told Vai alla tua casa! (Go home!). Visitors aren’t the only ones susceptible to the wrath of the anziani. I’ve seen plenty of young Italians who got the same, or worse, treatment. It’s better to agree and smile. Best places for watching gli anziani at their best are buses, the metro, supermarkets and street markets. You'll have some laughs and great stories to tell. Make no mistake. I ADORE Italians and all their quirks. One thing I realized during my stay in Italy is that they lead with their hearts and not their heads. Sometimes this creates altercations, but most of the time they are endearing, especially gli anziani! Any other tips you can think of to add to the list?
1. You’re not invisible, you’re in Italy
If all else fails, sit at an outdoor cafe and have a drink. I've come up with a twist on the Spritz from Venice that you can easily make anywhere. Spritz is the happy hour drink of Venetians. They drink it before lunch, after work and before dinner, to start a party, to end a party, as they munch down cicheti, or sit along a canal and watch gondola after gondola glide by. It's one part bitter (Compari or Aperol), one part Prosecco (Italy's sparkling wine), and one part sparkling water. I've added my own twist to this and used Pomegranate juice instead of Campari or Aperol.
(serves 6) 2 cups Pomegranate juice 2 cups Prosecco 2 cups Sprakling water 6 orange slices Mix the pomegranate juice, Prosecco and water together. Pour into 6 glasses filled with a few cubes of ice. Add and orange slice into each drink. Enjoy! Pomegranate Spritz
Happy New Year's all and best wishes for 2010!


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