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Popular Local Customs | Other Local Customs Tips | All Tips (405) We had seen Gelaterias before in other cities that we had visited in Italy; however, we were surprised at the size of the Gelaterias in Rome.
Besides being much larger, they offered so much more variety...much more than mere Gelato.
If you click the photograph, you will be better able to see all the choices!
It reminded me of many of the huge new gasoline stations in the USA that have a market. The Gelaterias offer candy, colas, chips, nuts, crackers, cookies, bottled waters, juices, sandwiches such as hamburgers and hot dogs as well as Italian Panini.
In addition, they present a variety of pasteries to rival any bakery. Oh, I almost forgot...they also offered alcoholic drinks and espresso!
Gelato, which is what we wanted, seemed to be an afterthought even though the huge sign on top declared GELATERIA.
Needless to say, we did not purchase any Gelato here. Instead, we went to a smaller, strictly pure gelato shoppe.
I hate to admit it, but I must be a Gelato Snob! Leave a Comment |
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Rome has great sights, great restaurants, and great outdoor markets. PIAZZA CAMPO DE' FIORI has a fantastic market every morning except Sunday and the fruits and vegetables are a sight to behold and also to buy. Nothing like a fresh fruit in the morning to awaken the palate to all the culinary delites that await you the rest of the day and night in romantic Roma. The market at the piazza is located between the Piazza Navona and Ponte Sisto, the bridge over to Trastevere. Leave a Comment |
It has been said on VT time and time again. Learn a few words. Although most people in Rome speak at least some english, it really doesn't take much effort to learn some italian and it's the polite thing to do. And you're more likely to get better service.
Thank You: Grazie
You're Welcome: Prego
Please: Per favore
Do you speak English?: Parla Inglese?
One, Two (as in one espresso or a table for two): Uno, Due
A table for two: Un tavalo per due
Do you have: Avete
This book was great. It was part of a language CD/Book combo. You can also get free podcasts of italian language lessons on iTunes. Another helpful website was http://babelfish.yahoo.com/. You type in the sentence in your language and it will translate to your language of choice. I used when I needed to email hotels with questions about rooms or cab fare. The only problem is it's a literal translation which doesn't always work well. I would send both the english and translated version. Leave a Comment |
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Romans drive like maniacs. And even if you are in the crosswalk, they will still try to mow you down. Some tips we picked up to help you survive: (1) Don't make eye contact! For some reason, if you look at the driver it's like challenging him or her. Just look straight ahead and walk with a purpose. (2) Try to stand next to a nun. Honestly. Cars will come to a screeching halt for a nun, so you're much safer in proximity. (3) Be really, really careful. Leave a Comment |
The most remarkable thing that happened that day in which I saw 3 of my students hand-in-hand with 11 Italian soldiers was not that I was able to chase the soldiers off so easily (I didn't understand the culture so well then), but actually happened several hours later that same day.
I was sitting in my office telling this story to Dina S-. Dina was the daughter of one of the owners of the building that UD was located in. Dina spoke far better Italian that I did, but with a very noticeable New Jersey accent.
While I was telling Dina this story, I was thumbing through the student IDs that had just come in for all the students on campus. I was just about to pull out the IDs of the three girls who had been the center of so much attention, when Dina stopped me, and said "Give them to me."
Surprised, I handed over the student IDs, little folded cardboard things with a photo inside. After a few seconds, DIna pulled out and handed me three cards. They were the cards of the three girls in question.
I was astonished, since I hadn't told Dina their names. How did she do it?
Dina explained that it was easy. Girls from rural areas of the U.S. - especially the South like Texas - have this easy, open expression, that makes them total suckers for men in urban environments. These girls all had big smiles for the student IDs, something that girls from urban environments don't do. Girls from U.S. rural environments don't know how to say "No" rudely, because they never really have to.
Please see the next Local Custom Tip - "Why Some People - Like Coeds - Can't Be Themselves." Leave a Comment |
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A recent forum discussion had several people debate on the use of "ciao".
First of all, "ciao" is a friendly way of saying both "hello" (when meeting) or "goodbye" (when departing). It's generally intended to be an informal way to greet. However, the formality matter is a subject of controversy even among Italian linguists.
Ciao in origin was not informal, as it comes from the Venetian "Sciao", which is their way of pronouncing the word "Schiavo", meaning slave. So it was actually very reverential. When the word got outside Veneto it became informal, although I don't agree with the interpretation and try to use the word as much as possible within the boundaries of rudeness.
As a middle-aged man (in Dante's terms, i.e. almost 35), I find that more and more people use formal greeting words with me. There comes another important rule: if you say ciao to someone you're entitled to address them with "tu", while if you say "buongiorno" or the likes you should also use "lei". This works more or less like in German or French, even though the French tend to use more "vous" than we use "lei".
In general, you'll be ok saying "ciao" to all people younger than you (though they're likely to answer formally if you're evidently older) or with anyone who's the same age as you provided you're not older than, say, 40. In that case the "ciao" can be used reciprocally.
In business meetings things can vary. Some companies make it a rule to say "ciao" to everyone, others are more conservative. In doubt, ask or go for the formal way and wait for others to tell you "diamoci del tu".
Kids can always be addressed with "ciao" and they're likely to do the same. Some places where informality is a must (i.e. in the restaurant Antica Birreria Peroni, see my tip) you'll be addressed with "ciao" (in the best case :o). Leave a Comment |
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I am sure you know that the Vatican is its own state and has its own post office. I think a neat thing to do is mail postcards from the Vatican post office to my friends back home. The ones who are catholic seem to appreciate it and it makes a nice souvenir. As you can see the stamps are very colorful and all are printed with "Vatican City" on them. Leave a Comment |
Would like to see mayor's happy face when signing the bill for the water supply in Rome, must be huge if so many fountains all over the city. Virtualy every square, even the smallest one, have its own fountain and each one is different in size, year of built and its beauty. You can't miss them when strolling around, you can't not to admire them but what I suggest you is to stop counting them. Leave a Comment |
Rome is one busy city! And the hordes of Vespas and other motor bikes make it a somewhat noisy city as well. Use of these vehicles makes a great deal of sense: they use a fraction of the fuel of an automobile and take far less room to park. I think a seasoned Roman rider can park one of these things in a 6 inch space! We were very cautious in crossing the streets of Rome as the traffic is never ending. One interesting thing about these two wheeled vehicles is that at home we tend to think of them as transport primarily for the young. While there were plenty of young people on them in Rome, there were also older women, men in business suits, men dressed like university professors, young women fashionably attired - you name it, everyone rides them. Leave a Comment |
Funny system in this country ...
Normally the power in a state is divided into 3 groups (executive, legislative and judicative) controlling each other so no other group would gain absolute power.
In Italy though, they go a step further. They have two sets of police forces. The ordinary police (la Polizia) as you know it in most western European countries and the other police force ( i Carabinieri).
I have been told that the carabinieri actually have their roots in the army forces.
But why have a competition between two "equal forces"? Do they control each other? Do they have to do so? Is it necessary?
Who do you call? Ghostbusters... Leave a Comment |
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