Ever wondered what the world thinks about Italians? Some times its quite disconcerting to see how the world perceives us from the old boot, but still other times its quite funny… and sometimes also accurate.

Well, gone are the day of ancient Romans and the Roman Empire… now we are the land of odd gestures… Here are some fun examples…

The movie below is from Bruno Bozzetto and is good for foreigners to get an education on how Italy is different from the rest of Europe, specifically northern Europe.

As for this clip from the movie Eurotrip… its an absolute lie!!!

Russel Peters instead makes a great impression of Italians, accent and all…

As for those who wonder what all those gestures Italians do actually mean… see below.

What do you think?

“Il Messaggero,” a major Italian newspaper reports a few interesting facts:

1. In Bronzolo (Bolzano) somebody tried to go public with all the infidelities that are going on in the small town by posting a flier in the town hall that listed everybody. The Carabinieri are investigating…
2. In Canicatti‘ (Agrigento) somebody posted 20,000 fliers that point out a certain woman and say that she is “easy.” They also point to his husband, announcing he has been made a honored member of the “Canicatti’ men with horns club” for his enduring patience in tolerating his wife’s many infidelities with friends of his. The Carabinieri are waiting for somebody to press charges before they start investigating…
3. In Frosinone a 20 year old girl left his boyfriend to become a nun. The dude went up to the convent and laid out a banner that said “I Love You.” The Carabinieri give their support to the young boy in love.

“How fast was that dude on that motorcycle going?” That’s a question that happens often in Rome - where motorcycles are widespread and people generally drive like they have the the grim reaper trying to get them on his white horse… but what about bike racing in Rome?

Rome’s “grande raccordo anulare” is a circular freeway that encompasses the whole of Rome. Some Bikers use that to get their tires warm enough for the races they later on do in the streets. Keep in mind, some of these bikes can hit 300 kilometers per hour - most can hit 260… and a good number does 0 to 100 KMH in 4 seconds or less…

Nuts… right… but still they don’t do their races in the busy roman alleys (they would splatter against a wall at the first turn on the ancient and slippery cobblestones) but on the major roads that are considered Rome’s arteries. Still nuts…

Many bikers say that they do these races at night, when there are less cars around and the cops cant cover all areas.

One also says that “they risk their own lives, not the lives of others.”

Ok…so if a bike hits the side of my car at 250 kilometers per hour, what’s my chance of survival? If it’s anything under 100% I really don’t agree with that biker.

Personally I understand/prefer those who, when in Rome race at the Vallelunga track.

Do you bike? What do you have and what do you prefer?

I’m not a big fan of what below (viewer discretion is advised)…

I’m honestly not for speed, and enjoy a slow ride full of curves in the mountains… I much prefer this below…

Call me boring…

Find the original article (in Italian) here.

I thought I had seen it all when I met a dude in Sicily that used his trained falcon as an anti-theft system for his car (very effective unless the robber’s eyes had already been gouged out)… but here is some other crazy news from good old Italy.

63 year old Carmelo Schepis, who lives next to Messina in Sicily, used bow and arrow to defend himself from the court appointee who had been sent to notify him of his eviction.

Had he been playing serious amounts of  World of Warcraft? The only drops that poor officer left were probable in his pants.

But it gets better! The man is was arrested and the judge gave him house arrest! So now, by criminal code law, even if evicted, he can’t leave his home!!!

Oh whatever, then people make fun of our (the Italian) judiciary system in the rest of the world…

Original article is here (in Italian).

Find the WoW art here.

Well, if you live on the Westside, you can go to the Bay Cities Deli in Santa Monica - (if you live in other areas check out the links to various delis at the end of this post).

This place not only has some of the BEST Italian subs on the planet (as the uber line of people ever-present is witness too) but also a lot of fine Italian grocery brands imported from Europe.

I use this place any time I want to cook Italian and seek that original experience that reminds me of home…

Decide whatever you want in your sandwiches or buy deli cuts and other stuff to take home…

Then take a look at just some of the great Italian brands you can buy…

A massive selection of pastas… they also have fresh made pasta made daily…

Various “sottoli” and “sottaceti”

Just a small part of their oil and vinegar selection below…

Some of their sauces and rices…

There is sooo much more, cheeses, wines, grappa, anything from Italy you could think about!

All in all, I can say that the place is just awesome and I always find everything I need. Even the fresh mozzarella is (almost) like the Italian one… or at least as good as it gets here in the US.

With $57… here is what I bought:

• 2 cans of Cirio peeled tomatoes for sauce
• 2 fresh mozzarella
• 3 trays of fresh tagliatelle
• 2 boxes of savoiardi (cookies used to make tiramisu)
• 4 thick slices of original pancetta (soooo good)
• A vat of mascarpone (still for the tiramisu)
• A box of imported pasta
• 2 oil dispensers
• 1 jar of anchovies

1

That’s not bad… the fresh tagliatelle were a great deal… some $2.50 for each tray.

If you’re not in the Westside area of Los Angeles, you might want to check out the links below for some Italian grocery/deli experience.

• Domingo’s Italian Grocery in Encino
• Sorrento Italian Market in Culver City
• Claro Italian Market in La Habra
• Angelo’s in Seal Beach or Long Beach
• Foggia in Lakewood
• A1 Imported Groceries in San Pedro
• Cortina’s in Anaheim

Any other I should add to the list?

Diggit (if you liked it ^_^)

As an Italian myself, I think Russel is 100% correct ^_^

Anybody been there and agree or disagree? :)

Any good stories?

A recent article in the “Il Messaggero,” talks about common strategies thieves could use the rob you of your belongings in Rome (I’ve talked about security while traveling to Italy before and about the security tips the US embassy gives tourists). So let’s have a look at some of these odd thieving strategies that are reported by the Roman Police…

• fake floods: the thieves flood the apartment from the outside (front door) using a small tube. Once the victim opens the door to see what’s going on, she is immobilized and the house is robbed.
• cat strategy: the thieves tell the victim (normally a woman) that she hit a cat with her car. When the victim goes to check out what’s going on, the thieves steal her purse from the car.
• fake delivery: the thief shows up and says he is delivering a PC, DVD player, etc that the son of the victim (normally an elder citizen) has ordered. He then requests to be paid the final fees and rest of payment for the goods.
• spiked pastries: the thieves, in this case typically women, show up to the door of elder citizens who have daughters saying that they are there to visit her for a surprise mini-party. They obviously know the daughter is not around so they offer the pastries they have brought with them to the victim, who dozes off ass soon as she eats them. Then, the thieves rob the house.
• pharmacy discounts: the victim receives a fake call from the local pharmacy stating there are discounts, but only for today. The victim leaves to check it out, finds out its not true, then returns to find her house emptied.
• cut tires: this targets people who are going to ATMs. The thieves knife the tires of the victim . Then, once the victim is back from the ATM and rides off, the thieves ride their moped to his window and let him know he has a low tire. Once the victims stops to change the tire…

Any odd thieving strategies in your area?

Find the original article (in Italian) here.

A few days ago I talked about traveling to Italy and I explained the need to pay attention to yourself and your belongings. Well the US Embassy in Italy regularly issues Security Notices, giving out some security tips.. lets have a look…

While Walking:

• Be alert to your surroundings and the people around you. (Ok)
• Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in any situation, leave. (This might sound cheesy but I think its good advice)
• Stay in well-lit areas. (Ok)
• Walk confidently, with your head up, at a steady pace on the side of the street facing traffic. (Uh, OK, the last bit is reasonable if you are not walking on the sidewalk)
• Avoid doorways, bushes, and alleys. (Uh… bushes?)
• When going to your car walk with your keys in your hand. (Ok this is getting to paranoid unless its late and dark)
• Don’t walk alone at night and always avoid areas where there are few people. (Depends on where, but OK)
• If you are wearing an IPOD make sure that the volume is low enough to hear everything around you. This is especially important during the hours of darkness. Never take away one of your possible ways of being warned that there is going to trouble. (Actually good advice, more cause the Ipod is a very sought after item by petty thieves)
• Be extra careful when people stop you for directions or ask for the time. Always reply from a distance, and never get too close to the car or person. (TRUE!!!)

While Driving:

• Keep you car in good working order and the gas tank at least half full. (Whatever…)
• Park in well-lit areas and lock the doors, even if you’ll only be gone a short time. (Always lock the doors, on parking… it Italy you just park where you manage to find a spot, if you get picky you’ll grow old while searching)
• When you return to your car, have the key ready and check the front and rear seats and floor before getting in. (This sounds like Bourne Identity kind of talk)
• Once in your car go. Do not sit and balance a check book, count money, or organize your belongings. (Money in Italy is something you pull out with a good dose of attention)
• Drive with all of your doors locked. (Always)
• If you have a flat tire, drive on it until you reach a safe, well-lit and well traveled area. (YES)

Ok, so more or less that stuff seemed to make sense… now let’s look at the rest of the list… What do you think about it? It’s a bit overkill for me…

Look:

• Cultivate a ’sixth sense’ about your neighborhood; know what is normal;
• Anytime you leave your home or office, look up and down the street for any suspicious cars, vans, or utility vehicles;
• Note people near your home who appear to be repairmen, utility crew teams, peddlers;
• Remain alert while driving;
• Know your “choke points” on your routes – those bottleneck spots you must traverse. Heighten your awareness of other vehicles, vans, motorcycles as you enter such choke points;
• Determine if a pattern is developing with specific cars/motorcycles behind or near you.

Be suspicious of:

• People watching for extended periods of time from street level, buildings, or cars;
• Broken down vehicles - watch the person’s actions;
• Work crews - do they belong there?
• Individuals taking notes or photos;
• People who leave the area when you do;
• Cars parked in the same place for extended periods of time with occupants in the front seat;
• Cars or motorcycles that suddenly pull out of parking places or side streets when you pass them;
• Vehicles driving too fast or too slow, making erratic moves or abrupt stops;
• Vehicles that stop or start as you do.

Be unpredictable:

• Determine all routes available to and from work;
• Vary your route;
• Change departure times frequently (at least one- hour window);
• If possible, frequently change vehicles ;
• Stagger professional and social activities (don’t play tennis every Wednesday at 3).

Other helpful security recommendations:

• Search the exterior and interior of your vehicle.
• Look around and under the car for obvious devices, packages, bits of tape, wire, string, safety pins, clumps of dirt, footprints and other indications of tampering;
• Look inside the vehicle through the windows;
• Look for signs of forced entry around the doors, hood, windows and trunk ( a dirty car reveals fingerprints);
• Look inside the exhaust pipe – invest in a blocking pin;
• Check the gas cap for signs of tampering – look inside the neck of the gas tank;
• Look around, on top of and under the tires – don’t forget the hubcaps;
• Check the driver/passenger compartment; always start with the floor and under the seat, then work up;
• Look for devices and wires attached to doors or wedged between the door and seat;
• Check door panels for signs of tampering;
• Look under seats, dashboard, floor mats and headrests;
• Check the ashtrays, speakers, cigarette lighter, vanity and dome lights;
• Check the sunvisor and glove compartment.

So, what do you think? :) I think there is some good advice, especially first section… but the rest… Secret Agent Man? :)

Security Notice source is here.

Fujico picture source here.

In Italy people aren’t only watching the game at the stadium, they are also (and possibly only) watching the women. So much that there are full blown “specials” on Italian newspapers - and not minor ones, but major ones like “La Repubblica.”

Do newspapers - and I mean, the ones you normally read for news, not Maxim - dedicate a lot of space to beautiful women in your country? Or is it only news? I kind of like it the Italian way… ^’^

More Pictures from the newspaper special:

All Pictures Source: La Repubblica.

With all that is going on in Italy with the whole garbage emergency deal, the Army has been used to defend sites that have anything to do with garbage waste. The above sign literally says: “Area of National Strategic Interest - No Access - Armed Surveillance.”

These guys are defending an incinerator. Italy doesn’t get a lot of those, cause nobody wants them around.

The Army defending garbage dumps and incinerators is something that is being largely criticized in Italy. I think that is a desperate measure, and with the situation being what it is, I think its also logical.

What do you think? Do you have such kind of issues in your area?

News and photo source: Il Messaggero.

So you want to go to Italy? Well you’re in the right place and, as a local, I’m happy to give you just a bit of initial advice on how to plan your trip. Hope it’s helpful :)

This post will give you some suggestions on how to arrange your trip to Italy, what to look for and what to keep your eyes open for.

I later plan on making a few more suggestions, mainly regarding where you should stat, what good restaurants you should eat and and what “local” places to visit.

What this is not: not a “Italian love the world guide.” Nothing crazy, no fake stereotypes, no “hey, Italian ladies love Americans,” or, “the Italian guys go around whistling at women and saying ciao bella.” As an Italian that stuff always makes me cringe.

Italy is not a big episode of That’s Amore, or The Sopranos… (even if we do have Newspapers Specials that talk about hot women at the Stadium).

So here you go, a few suggestions from an Italian lived there done that. Hope you enjoy this guide, but I especially hope you enjoy the awesome vacation you’ll have in Italy.

If there is one thing I’d like you to take away from this, even if you won’t follow any of my other advice, is this mantra: “Public transportation in Italy is awful, I want a hotel downtown, walking distance is king…” Repeat with me…

ROUTE:
So you’ve got 2 maybe 3 weeks of vacation, money to spend and an appetite for good food and awesome sightseeing. Hell, you’ve got to got to Italy! Unless you have loads of time to spend there, I suggest mainly 5 cities/areas. Rome and the Amalfi Coast being my preferred.

Here is a suggested Italy tour:

1) Milan (Milano)
2) Venice (Venezia)
3) Florence (Firenze)
4) Rome (Roma)
5) Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast (Amalfi, Ravello, Positano)

I will be later posting little guides for each of these areas.
With the describer tour you start north and work your way south down to the Amalfi coast.
You can easily land in Milan (Malpensa Airport), but Rome can work to if you want to do the route the other way around (land in Fiumicino Airport).

OVERALL SUGGESTIONS

Suggestion N#1:
Stay in a hotel that is walking distance from the sights you want to go to. The hotels I will suggest in later posts are smack dab in the middle of the interesting places.

Suggestion N#2:
Pay a lot of attention when in Naples. Unless you have a friend or a relative which can guide you through the wonders of this extremely beautiful city, you probably want to stick to the train/boat areas and not deal with the absolute chaos and intrinsic dangers, not to talk about the fact that Naples is currently submerged in garbage. If you decide to go to Capri, take the boat (the aliscafo) from Sorrento or Positano.

Suggestion N#3:
Mind your belongings. Keep your wallet in your pants front pocket, don’t keep valuables (passports, etc) in your purses, don’t leave cell phones on the table, etc. Italy has quite a bit of micro criminality, mostly “pickpocketing” and “grab and runs”. And you mostly need to worry of juveniles (8-16), both male and female.

Suggestion N#4:
Read the “Italian Journey” by Wolfgang Goethe - it’s probably the best guide you can get.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Suggestion N# 1:
Public transportation in Italy is as bad as it gets. You always want to be in a hotel where you can walk to all sites of interest. (I know I am repeating myself, but this is KEY to a great vacation)

Suggestion N# 2:
If you decide to use public transportation:

• Stay very focused on your wallet, purse, etc, when on buses or the metro.
• Have the concierge or bell captain get your cabs whenever possible and let him give the directions.
• Don’t use “fake taxis.” Taxis need to have the “Taxi” sign above the car, don’t trust anybody else. If the bill seems odd to you, and you dont speak italian, have the concierge at the hotel deal with the cab driver. He will know if the cab driver is billing you too much for your ride. A good article on not getting ripped off by Taxis in Rome is here.

TRAVEL

Trains are great in Europe and pretty speedy. 1st class and reservation will make your trip as smooth as possible. But, do not travel on night trains unless you are taking a wagon-lit. And if you are in wagon-lit, DO LOCK YOUR DOOR.

Rent a car if you want to, but in all cities you can easily survive without it. A car (or a motorcycle) is however a must if you want to town hop in Lazio, Umbria, Toscana etc. I would advise to rent from one of the major chains at the airport you land at.

—

So that’s it for now… and you know the 3 pillars of traveling to Italy.

What have we learned here, then? Let me repeat: “Public transportation in Italy is awful, I want a hotel downtown, walking distance is king…”

Repeat with me…

Rome pictures source Toshio.

Milan Station pictures source Stuck in Customs.

Taxi picture Source: Really Rome

It had to happen, after losing against Spain in the 2008 UEFA cup, Italy now has a new coach.

Goodbye Donadoni, hello again Marcello Lippi, the man who brought Italy to win the FiFA World Championship in 2006.

Lippi had taken off right after winning. He said he wanted a year break after the stress of winning the world cup, the rest of the world was convinced the stress really came from the “calciopoli” investigation.

While Lippi is happy to be back, as he clearly states, what about Roberto Donadoni? He says “Assurdo pagare per un rigore,” which means, “It’s absurd I’m paying for a penalty kick.”

IMHO, Italy did not play a great game or even a good game against Spain. We deserved to be kicked out, and mostly - the game was no fun to watch. Donadoni is a a great champion and man - but I think I prefer Lippi to be Italy’s coach.

Do you follow soccer? What do you think about the Italy-Spain? And do you think Lippi is a good choice?

Foto, source www.repubblica.it

So the Italian mafia has screwed up the garbage business so bad that southern Italy (aka il Mezzogiorno) is now swimming in garbage. There are 300 tons just on the streets of Naples… 300 Tons! That’s like garbage to the 2nd floor window.

Now people pack the stuff together and burn it to get rid of it…

What’s worst, this happens constantly and it gets worst by the year. See this video from a years ago.

Ever had these kind of garbage problems where you live?

Headline photo source: marcodelsorbo photostream on flickr.com