Tonight is our last night in Italy. I'm sitting in the laundry room with Chris while our clothes are drying, and we are playing with our computers. Anyway, we noticed some things:
1. People here do not eat regularly. It's true. They eat a tiny coffee and extremely sweet pastry for breakfast, a tiny lunch or no lunch at all, and a large dinner. At restaurants, this means three courses. This includes an appetizer, a primi(pasta), a contorni (meat), and sometimes dessert. We usually get a salad and two dishes to share, because we actually do eat lunch. Ha ha. And all restaurants are closed between 3 and 8 pm. Its hard to eat that late!
2. People do not drink tap water. They look at you like you're nuts. The mineral water (no bubbles!) is good though.
3. Everyone smokes. I don't care if it's a beautiful young woman, an older man, or a nonna- they smoke. I suppose that is how they keep from eating all day.
4. They like things super sweet. When we ordered hot chocolates with our breakfast in Sicily, it came like molten chocolate. Then, the nice man behind the counter noticed we weren't using the sugar packets he provided us, and proceeded to dump some in for us. Thanks ;) my teeth weren't aching enough!
5. Italians like Americans. If you are not in a touristy area, they really do like us. Of course saying things in Italian, and using per favore and Grazie liberally sure do help. They are happy to show you what they feel is the best food, or the best sites.
6. Ialians are very fashionable, and black leggings and boots are totally in.
7. They think 70 degrees is cold. Seriously. They all have winter parkas on with scarves. I am not making this up. You would think we were in Moscow. They look at our short sleeve shirts with disdain.
8. Their cars are tiny. Like fiats and smart cars. Except in Palermo. Cars were veeeery nice there.
9. Rome has more graffiti than Oakland after a Raiders game. For real. It's freakin' everywhere. The neighborhoods are very safe though, with groups of nonna's and ladies with strollers out late at night. I'm not sure how down Rome is...
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