Monday 4 July 2011

Curiosities of Italian Life

Formalities -- Italy used to be very formal in many ways. It still has the reputation of being rather formal. There would be tons of things I could say here and tell you, but for one, there are always table cloths on tables. And that is just one of the formalities in Italy (though a nice one, especially considering the delicious food and wine you can eat... more delicious formalities, not bad at all!)

Travel agencies-- They are suffering in Italy! With all the Internet connections for travel, you don't need one to go places. You just click on Italy and hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, farm houses, Italian property www.abodeitaly.com and you can find everything you want by yourself. Is tourism suffering in Umbria? Not really, for example, last week the mountain town Norcia was filled with tourists.

Boots or sandals?-- It's summertime, but that doesn't mean that girls and women don't wear boots! They do! Mostly the young girls, with shorts or skirts. But in this heat, who wants to wear boots when you can wear sandals? It's fashion and fashion means that even boots are in, so girls, take your pick, feel hot or cold. It's your choice!

Are Italians loud?-- Well as soon as you get to the airport, from any other country, you can always tell the Italians from the rest. They are usually loud, sort of make a scene in some way (in the way they dress, quite flamboyant at airports usually, with new tennis shoes, or a hat, or loud accessories). Hate to generalise (plus the fact that I'm Italian), but after my trip to London, I could easily spot the Italians in white framed eyeglasses, chunky jewelry, more make-up than the women in England. And yes, they do talk louder than the rest sorry, but true.


A clean purse -- Basically, inside my purse, there is a lot of confusion always. Papers, receipts, lipstick and carrying case (sometimes in it sometimes not), wallet, little objects, a little notebook...yes, my purse is not very neat. BUT I don't throw things onto the ground, ever! No papers, no plastic, no bottles or cans, chewing gum, nothing. And THIS is something, sorry to say, that my compatriots do quite a lot. Women's purses are neater, because the bits of papers, etc, are just sort of "tossed" out onto the streets if there are no bins around. Sad, but true.

Ice cream -- It is so so good in Italy! I just discovered a place yesterday in Perugia where the flavours and the pieces of fruit in the icecream are so so good!!
TV -- There are still those families that like to eat lunch (from 1pm or 1.30 or 2 -- for about half an hour or more) and watch tv at the same time. I personally don't like to do that at all! Actually I don't like tv, and don't watch it much.

Problems-- Even though there are zillions of problems in this country (political, economical, personal between different groups, races, religions, philosophies of life) I feel that Italy is a pretty wonderful country. This, because of the historical buildings and marvelous views, great food, and loads of culture everywhere you look, drive or walk. So, if you're dreaming of living la dolce vita, you want to move to Italy or just buy a home and make it your own, you can visit our website http://www.abode.it/

Shutters -- What is so interesting about this topic? LIGHT! We sleep in the dark and in the morning, the shutters get opened. When I'm in England I usually sleeps in rooms with much more light and in the morning I would often awaken with the light. Not here in Italy, dark dark dark until you decide you want the sun to come pouring in.

Mobile phones - - So so so many people have them here! And they like to get the latest models. All ages have them and I am pretty sure that we exceed the number of mobile phones, because sometimes in Italy, making an image statement is very important! (Not that I personally like it, but that is how it is here.

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