Anny made us our first Italian meal for lunch: A delicious pasta dish with broccoli, pine nuts, and herbs. It was wonderful! After we ate, we decided to take a walk around Anny's neighborhood. I was anxious to get some exercise after sitting in a plane for 24 hours! Below is a picture of a bridge we crossed. Below the bridge is a small stream of water where Pam and I saw our first, and hopefully our last, large sewer rats. Pam didn't even know what it was. It was so funny. She asked Francesco, Anny's boyfriend, "What type of animal that was down there. It is so big, and has such a strange long skinny tail". When Francesco replied with some degree of embarrassment "That's a sewer rat" I just about burst out laughing.
Here is a picture of the outside of a business. Every single house or apartment building in Italy has shutters. No one has shades like we do in America to block out the light.
Here is a view of one of the streets we walked on. The sidewalks in Italy are so narrow, we had to walk single file. And the roads are so narrow too...yet somehow two cars still fit. Of course all the cars they have in Italy are so tiny compared to American cars.
Here is another view of a narrow street. Can you believe two cars fit on this narrow road? Plus, pedestrians and motor scooters! Of course, all their cars have dents and scratches on them from trying to squeeze in tight spaces all the time. Anny says no one cares about the way their car looks in Italy like we do in America. Its just a mode of transportation, not an item to take pride in. In fact, when an Italian does get a new car, they often give it a good kick themselves first, so they are the ones to put a new dent in, and not a stranger. Then they don't get so upset when it does actually happen. LOL!
Motorcycles and scooters are a popular way for Italians to get around in Italy. Except they don't follow the same motorcycle rules we do in America. They never stay in a lane, rather they weave in and out of the cars, often squeezing in between two cars to pass. Anny said there are many traffic deaths in Italy because of it.
Here is a large balcony that someone is using for some extra storage space too. Bicycles are also very popular in Italy as a mode of transportation, except their bikes aren't very nice looking. They are often rusted, dented and very old. People don't buy brand new bikes because they just get stolen anyway. Anny said she had two bikes stolen from her since living in Florence.
After our little walk we went home and had a delicious dinner of some type of orange lentil soup and a very hard, thick bread. Then Pam and I went to bed to get some much needed rest, while Anny and Francesco went off to Yoga class.
And that my friends, was our first day in Italy....uneventful, but fascinating at the same time.
Have a great day! Amy
Oh wow, what amazing scenery! I would love to visit there some day.
ReplyDeleteWOW WOW WOW Amy these pictures are awesome and such great scenery!!!!! You lucky Gal I would love to visit Italy one day!!
ReplyDeleteWoW! What an amazing day. And how nice to have your friend to share all the local customs and cuisine.
ReplyDeleteLove all your pics and stories of Italy. One of the places on my list to go to someday!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cool Amy! I feel like I'm right there with you! WOW how different from the good 'ole USA, huh!! What a wonderful experience! How great that you have a friend who could really "show you around" ... that just awesome!
ReplyDeleteYou are making me want to go back so bad...LOL! Hmmm, wonder if I could talk hubby into it?? LOL!
ReplyDeleteThe small spaces were the hardest for me...I couldn't believe how tiny and how crammed everything was together! I was amazed that I didn't see people getting ran over...although I had a very close experience! LOL! They don't stop like in America!
You probably thought I have forgotten about you. I really wanted to take the time to sit down and read about all your adventures in Italy before I responded but as soon as I would start, I would get interrupted. So, it may take a while, but off to read all about your trip...
ReplyDeleteItaly sounds like most places in Europe. It certainly is different than the US. It's terrific that you got to stay at someone's house and experience life as a native would rather than a modern hotel for tourists.