Capo

The mention of the Bocca della Verita in conjunction with the recent "Sex in Italy" thread reminds me of this anecdote I read in a book (I think it might have been Paul Hofmann's <I>Roma</I while I was there this past spring. <BR> <BR>As the story goes, a man who suspected his wife of having an affair took her to the Bocca della Verita to have her place her hand inside the mouth while he asked her some questions. Well the woman somehow managed to get in touch with her lover and he was there when the couple arrived. As the woman approached the Bocca della Verita, she feigned fainting, and her lover, who was standing nearby, rushed to catch her. When she placed her hand in the mouth, and her husband asked her if she had any other lovers she replied something like: "The only arms that have held me have been yours and those of that man right there." <BR> <BR>I don't recall a mention of whether the Bocca della Verita saw through her little charade and chomped on her hand, or not. :~)

sylvia

If an unmarried woman touches Juliet's tomb in Verona, she will be married within the year. 'Course it isn't really Juliet's tomb but it is an old Roman tomb, so who's counting?

Patti

Hi, In Gubbio, in Italy, there is "La Fontana dei Matti," the Fountain of the Mad." The story is that if you circle the fountain three times you will go insane. Invariably there is always someone there trying it! <BR>(My apologies if I've mangled the Italian.) <BR> <BR>Patti

Linda

Actually, ger, depending on where you are from, there is a different myth about itching palms. This one says that if your left palm itches you will receive money, but if it's your right, you will pay it out. (Or do I have it backward? It's one or the other.)

Bert Parks

Myth America.

JOdy

Linda, <BR>I just sat down to write the very same thing, left-get, right- pay out! <BR> <BR>In St Peter's Bas. in Rome, you are supposed to rub the big toe of the statue of St Peter, don't remember what it is supposed to foretell, luck, love or health!

St. Peter

Jody, not many people know this, but all it means is that you won't get ingrown toenails.

ger

Thanks JOdy & Linda ... I guess that explains why my right hand is permanently itchy!

Book Chick

Ger, <BR>Yes! My dad always had an edict in our home about shoes on a table (even if they were brand-new & in the box from the store) or a hat on a bed! <BR> <BR>Also in my Irish family, a lot about not being photographed, as your soul would be stolen. <BR> <BR>At the University of Michigan campus, near my workplace, there's a museum of natural history and two lions adorn each side of the entrance. Legend has it that the lions will roar as soon as a virgin walks by. (They've been silent in the time I've spent in Ann Arbor!) <BR>BC

Rachel

What exactly is the Trevi fountain myth? I remember there being a proper way to throw the coin into the fountain?

Mariarosa

Hey Book Chick - your University of Michigan myth sounds very similar to a myth at Duke. There's a statue of Washington Duke sitting down at Duke's East Campus. Legend says that he will get up when a virgin walks in front of him. As far as I know, the statue is still sitting down.

Escritora

In Oaxaca City, street vendors sell a local delicacy about which it's also said that if you eat it you'll return to Oaxaca. The delicacy is deep fried, garlic encrusted red grasshoppers. As no one says you will NOT return if you DON'T eat them, I see very little incentive in this one...

Natalia

You are supposed to toss the coin over your left shoulder into the Trevi Fountain, but when I tossed one it head the head of the woman in back of me and
she wasn't overjoyed.

mdtravel

So Nancy, how often did you fall for that one and what ensued when you did?

Borealis

I always thought that if your right hand was itchy, you would soon greet someone - meaning that someone would be coming to visit you.
And if you have the hiccups, someone is thinking about you.

Two travel-related ones:
If you throw a coin into the Baltic Sea from the sandy beaches of northern Poland, you will return to that seacoast someday (when I threw my coin, a wave threw one back - and it was worth twice as much !!)
And if you make a wish while touching Zygmunt's Bell (in Krakow) with your left hand, your wish will come true!!

Calamari

Italian women belive that if you wash your hair during a certain time of the month that you will never be able to have children.

You are also never to bathe after eating because it will stop your digestion and you will die. Never short on drama!

Never stand in the wind or you will get an &quot;infrescata&quot; (a refreshment) and oh ya , you will die.

Certain foods at Christmas time are suppose to be good luck. Pollo in Galantina.

Never light your cigarette from a lit candle on the table because it is bad luck...old actors myth not Italian.

Clifton

Ireland seems full of these, but this one seemed too practical to not give it a go. As you pass (by boat) under a certain bridge moving up the Lakes of Killarney, if you take a bit of water from under the bridge and rub it on each side of your face, supposedly it prevents toothaches.

Personally I think the boat drivers just get a kick out of convincing a bunch of tourists to rub lake water on their faces.

ben_haines_london

I can tell a strong urban myth. If you take a sleeper on a night train in Europe thieves will come with sleeping gas, put it under your door, gas you, and come in and steal your goods. You wake in the morning with a fuzzy feeling, look for your wallet, and oh dear. Well, actually, not you, exactly: this attack happens to somebody your friend?s cousin once met.

[email protected]

nocinonut

According to ex-inlaws from Italy:

Never let your stomach get cold (from the outside) or you will.....die.

Never sit on a wet surface in the night air, you will get chilled on the inside and ......die.

Never drink cold liquids while outdoors on a cool day, you will get chilled on the inside and.....well you know what.

Thanks Calamari for reminding me about these. My mother in law spent most of her time wrapping up my son's stomach on a cool day.

WillTravel

nocinonut, I wonder what your in-laws would think of girls wearing halters and low-rise jeans on chilly days?!