The dream of Italy is over?
)
Apr 2nd, 2017, 12:00 PM
#24
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just remembered something about my first trip to Italy, probably in 1972 or 1973. Shopkeepers never had any change, so we always got candies or miniature pieces of cheese if we didn't have the correct change (which was always in currency - no debit cards or cc's then). It was whimsical, and I guess "genuine," but do I miss it? Not particularly.
Scrive bene in inglese, Eugenio, molto più bene che gli americani scrivono normalmente in italiano.
Scrive bene in inglese, Eugenio, molto più bene che gli americani scrivono normalmente in italiano.
Apr 2nd, 2017, 12:19 PM
#25
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,291
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
StCirq--That must be a worldwide phenomenon. We just had the exact same experience in Myanmar. The shopkeeper didn't have the small change we needed, so we were given a small pack of tissues instead.
Apr 2nd, 2017, 02:26 PM
#29
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,956
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well a lot of the people in the hospitality industry are not Italians. For instance, Americans opening B&B or agriturismi.
The whole slow food, quality ingredients which attract a lot of Americans is kind of a reboot of American notions of Italian cuisine.
In he middle of the 20th century, it was Chef Boy R Dee. Then spaghetti and meatballs and chicken parm from later gen Italian-Americans.
Slow food and extra virgin olive oil from the '90s were marketing successes.
The whole slow food, quality ingredients which attract a lot of Americans is kind of a reboot of American notions of Italian cuisine.
In he middle of the 20th century, it was Chef Boy R Dee. Then spaghetti and meatballs and chicken parm from later gen Italian-Americans.
Slow food and extra virgin olive oil from the '90s were marketing successes.
Apr 2nd, 2017, 07:06 PM
#30
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
People have idealized ideas of how others should live. And while tourism ruins some spots, it also creates job. It is an impossible balancing act for the people who live there and run any city or area with that problem.
When I see the word "quaint, real, or genuine" or the phrase "I want to live like a local" I shudder. It is someone's romanticized version of someone else'e life. When people say they want to like a NY local, I tell that should buy some toilet paper at Duane Reade and sweat your ass off at the Union Square station waiting for a subway in August.
When I see the word "quaint, real, or genuine" or the phrase "I want to live like a local" I shudder. It is someone's romanticized version of someone else'e life. When people say they want to like a NY local, I tell that should buy some toilet paper at Duane Reade and sweat your ass off at the Union Square station waiting for a subway in August.
Apr 2nd, 2017, 09:54 PM
#31
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 6,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Eugenio, I didn't understand what you were asking, but you would like to know as an Italian how other view your country?
I live in Belgium - and love visiting Italy. We have spend most of our holidays in France in the past, and are shifting towards Italy now. There are so many areas that we have not visited yet.
But I think many people (Americans?) have a view of Italy that is probably not realistic. There was a post here not so long ago from someone who hated Rome (too busy, too much traffic), and thought Tuscany was not as beautiful as the Napa Valley.
I live in Belgium - and love visiting Italy. We have spend most of our holidays in France in the past, and are shifting towards Italy now. There are so many areas that we have not visited yet.
But I think many people (Americans?) have a view of Italy that is probably not realistic. There was a post here not so long ago from someone who hated Rome (too busy, too much traffic), and thought Tuscany was not as beautiful as the Napa Valley.
Apr 2nd, 2017, 11:21 PM
#32
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Italy is my second favourite country. I love the historical aspects and the architecture, and these are things that don't change.
The whole world is changing, and what visiting Italy and the rest of Europe has done for me is that it makes me recognise that my own country of Australia is so young without much history. Not being an older country tends to give us freedom in the way of a person is not fighting hundred or thousands of years of tradition.
Maybe those established traditions are being ignored now, so you may feel the country is changing. As a tourist only perhaps we don't get to experience those changes.
The whole world is changing, and what visiting Italy and the rest of Europe has done for me is that it makes me recognise that my own country of Australia is so young without much history. Not being an older country tends to give us freedom in the way of a person is not fighting hundred or thousands of years of tradition.
Maybe those established traditions are being ignored now, so you may feel the country is changing. As a tourist only perhaps we don't get to experience those changes.
Apr 2nd, 2017, 11:56 PM
#33
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,302
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tulips, that poster was an oxymoron ;-) I'm sure he voted Donald...
I am dicovering the wines of Itlay recently.
As good as the french or portugese ones I am more used to.
And the Italians are still the smartest dressed guys of Europe. Ever looked at an italian's shoes ? I always feel cheap when I do. Theirs blink !
I am dicovering the wines of Itlay recently.
As good as the french or portugese ones I am more used to.
And the Italians are still the smartest dressed guys of Europe. Ever looked at an italian's shoes ? I always feel cheap when I do. Theirs blink !
Apr 3rd, 2017, 03:51 AM
#36
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Eugenio, WoinParis wasn't referring to you, but to the poster who hated Rome and thought the Napa Valley was nicer than Toscana.
Wo, my DH, who loves shoes, drooled his way through Italy looking at men's shoes.
Wo, my DH, who loves shoes, drooled his way through Italy looking at men's shoes.
Apr 3rd, 2017, 05:22 AM
#38
Though one thing that never seems to get any better is Italian white wine, yes, occasionally I find something that is drinkable, like St Gim Vermentino, or a sweety, or something that a farmer has been making in a field for years but never sold it to stores. Then all the rest have that kernal flavour that is so meh. Last year I found a Soave that wass drinkable but they had solved the usual problem by replacing all the indigenous grapes with Chardonnay (probably illegal) but while not great was at least drinkable.
Discuss....
Discuss....
