Going to a decent restaurant with families and kids. The kids get a bit out of control but none of the other guests even seem to notice. No scowls, no frowns, not even a look.

quote:

Originally posted by jhelm:
Going to a decent restaurant with families and kids. The kids get a bit out of control but none of the other guests even seem to notice. No scowls, no frowns, not even a look.

My Wife and I noticed this every time we went out. It was so nice to see the kids with their families and the extra chatter provided entertainment. Also, neat how they allow dogs in with their owners. I bet you don't see any Italians writing to Dear Abbey complaining on how the couple next to them had the nerve to bring their noisy out to eat dinner.

This should become the longest thread on the forum.

Things I Love:

-Have glass of prosecco at a bar in the morning
-watching gorgeous women on the corso
-sharing of home grown veg/fruit, wine, cheese amongst neighbors
-being the only visitor of a museum on the weekend
-friendly, helping nature of Italians (once you get their attention)
-Eating well (manga bene!)

Going out to decent restaurants with the kids, and once you've been going a while, getting special portion sizes, sauces, choice of pasta for said kids at a reduced price and then getting a loyalty discount as well!! I can just my local Pizza Express doing that - they think they are doing well when they give the kids crayons!!

P.S. Must love it here - first anniversary today and told my landlady we want to renew the lease in Feb!! Love or just crazy, not sure!

I love reading all this stuff. It's making me actually want to go to Italy again (a few days ago while I was reading the more negative threads, I had about given up on the idea). Please keep it coming; you are all so lucky so please keep sharing what you love about Italy because if you really hated it, we all know you wouldn't stay there!
(BTW, this my first post).

I hear you Parthenon. Can't let the negativity drag you down. This morning I hopped on my bike and rode a couple of hours in the mountains. Here's some pics of the place http://www.montanevie.it/index.php?id=17 . Don't want to come back down off this endorfin high.

I love having everyone say "giorno" with a big smile! I love having employees say "buon Natale!", and I love that the local grocery store gave out small presepi to their customers! Another thing--I gave small boxes of cookies to a few local shops (keep in mind our village has only about 700 people). We went for dinner that night and the owner refused to allow us to pay for our meal because I gave him a box of cookies! Gotta love it! Sz

This thread always makes me smile I hope to be able to add to this thread next year

quote:

(keep in mind our village has only about 700 people). We went for dinner that night and the owner refused to allow us to pay for our meal because I gave him a box of cookies! Gotta love it!

That's really sweet, and I will try not to dampen this thread full of happiness, but things are really quite different where I am. I put it down to city life though - nothing else.

Delina,

I find it strange that the places you do business with all of the time don't toss you a little gift every now & then. I say this because some of the places that I have visited while on vacation the past three or four years seem to remember me and do buy my wife & I a drink or give us a small gift of food, fruit, etc.

I mostly get calendars with teddy bears or kittens on them, but my hairdresser comes up with something clever and particular every year.

The unexpected thing I love about this corner of Italy is the absolute absence of parking meters, wardens, wheel clampers and tow-awayers.

I know they probably blight the larger cities, but they don't here and it's blissful.

quote:

Originally posted by Gil:
Delina,

I find it strange that the places you do business with all of the time don't toss you a little gift every now & then. I say this because some of the places that I have visited while on vacation the past three or four years seem to remember me and do buy my wife & I a drink or give us a small gift of food, fruit, etc.

What can I say, it must be me

I've had an occasional free aperitivo in restaurants when I've arrived too early, but that's about it.

Here in Rome when you become a regular you get a free amaro/limoncello/coffee at the end of your meal and/or a discount that's basically it. But to become a regular takes a while.

I've noticed in loads of places you get discounts and stuff when you become a regular, or even just when you make friends with the staff, course its easier in bars and restaurants but I got a discount on my glasses (Armani and a complex prescription too) because the bf was a regular customer that something that you would never find in Ireland! Its like the Italians like having an excuse to give a discount, at dinner on friday when we went to pay they had forgotten to add the coffees so when I said it he only charged us for one 'for the honesty'! Piccolo esempio but you get the point....

In Rome I've had a few discounts on things, but nothing major. Recently in a heath store where I spend a lot of money, the woman recently gave me a free pumpkin that had a part that was rotten! I guess she really likes me I could be wrong, but I think this way of life applies to smaller cities rather than big ones.

In Venice we get discounts from restaurants we frequent...it is nice and makes me feel like one of "gang" and that I belong....I also like it when I am recognized at the different shops and markets I frequent..it also makes me feel like I belong...but I most like it when I am attempting to speak Italian and they are patient and let me finish...then correct me instead of just jumping in with English....

How did I miss this thread?

• Caffee Correto, for 1.5eu.
  
• The beauty of the Umbrian hillside towns.
  
• The fact that 'family' is still so important.
  
• Agroturismo's
  
• The ethnic diversity, that is L'Universita di Perugia per Stranieri.
  
• Cheap flights on low-cost carriers to almost anywhere in Europe.
  
• The quality of produce at the local mercato.
  
• The laid back attitude of almost everyone!
  

I could go on forever!

People who understand that however cute their brat might be you don't want her or his sticky paws on your dry-clean only skirt.

In my local bar there is no such thing as half a pint of coffee.

Shops where you can ask for a white cashmere sweater and they go and find one for you.

My landlady threatening to shoot the blackbirds but not actually doing it.

Gina Lollobridiga hasn't gone out of fashion.

Knowing that giggling gangs of adolescents have been drinking three different kinds of water not three different kinds of vodka.

The way they usually keep McDonalds decently hushed up.

Switzerland was just across the border during the NHL lockout.

Maggie

With all the difficult things about living here, I wanted to share some fantastic things that would NEVER happen in the states!
I broke my tooth (bit of shell in the pasta...) and made an appointment with my local dentist, (in Asolo)-for that very morning. I go in, (prepared for the worst-it IS a dentist!)
and first-no paperwork, just a smile and a bit of a wait. Then? It's my turn...I explain, and the Dr. looks, and just gets going...novacaine first (which I HATE, but didn't even FEEL-as he said, his hand was better than his English)
and he yanks out the broken part, and then drills the area smooth, and then?
He shakes my hand and I was DONE! I stand expecting to pay the bill next, but the young women said there was no bill! UNBELIEVABLE!!
I mean, they knew my husband was a grad student, but...
If I can add one more great thing to come out of a dramatic week? Flat tire in the rain? Noone available or willing to look, so finally I go across to the race car accessories store to see if someone could help me (I did try to change the tire myself and failed first) The owner of said store just runs out and does it for me-and gives me a referral where another man at a tire store fixed the tire for 10euros.
Italy may have it's problems, but generousity and kindness is everywhere around as well! Just in time...I needed it!

That's awesome the dentist fixed your tooth for free!

Ah, yes, Italian dentists in my experience don't expect you suffer stoically

Maggie