Thought I would share some of my learnings about this amazing country with you as I will be wrapping up my time and flying back to the USA on Sunday.
Italians only use ice for special occasions. There are no ice makers at the hotels. Most drinks do not come with ice unless it is a hotel catering to tourist. Solution, ask for a glass of ice at the bar if you want some for your room.
Breakfast for Italians is a cappuccino and a cookie or pastry. They do not have cappuccino after 11 AM. Some hotels are trying to cater to Americans by serving bacon, eggs and coffee. Key is they are trying, don't expect it to be the same.
They only have butter with breakfast. Some places do try and cater to this but not all.
They only have washing machines in their homes, no dryers. Our guide said she would not even know where to go buy one.
Italian women love to clean so there are stores that only sell cleaning soaps for the home and they are busy. They buy soaps for one type of cleaning not for all purpose.
They do not do oil for dipping bread.
No pepperoni pizza in Italy. Closest you can get is to order a salami pizza. Normally sell whole pizzas not slices.
No air conditioning in their homes as they are always cold.
Buffalo cheese is considered a delicacy. It only last 3 days and is made from the milk of the water buffalo that they tend to like dairy cows.
Salads are serve toward the end of the meal right before dessert. Certain places that are accommodating tourist switch this but it is not the Italian way.
They do not use wash cloths so you will not have them in your room.
No Kleenex in most rooms unless catering to tourist.
Gelato the Italian way is 2 scoops with cream on top. Adults do not do gelato until evening. So broke that rule...
Coins are hard to come so our guide told us never to pay the exact amount, always use a larger bill.
Public restrooms are not as common here. As in most European countries some charge so you need coins.
A chain of highway stores have been built off the main A1 highway. These are similar to our truck stops, most have a restaurant and convinence store items. If you want something from the deli area you pay first then take the ticket to the counter. All other items you pick out and then pay.
Air conditioning is limited. Most businesses do not have. Hottest months are normally June-September.
School ends in June due to the heat and is out till after September. Teachers send home summer homework requirements.
University is 5 years in Italy.
A light lunch for them is 5 courses!
The food is very fresh and high quality.
A lot of home made wines, normally dry and very plentiful.
They are very proud of the region in Italy they come from.
Italians consider it rude for waiters to be personable, so you will find a lot of them are just very efficient, which we may take as rude. The ones that work with a lot of tourist are more relaxed.
Learn a few of the basic words and they will be gracious to answer your question back in English.
Hotel rooms like other Europe countries are normally small, twin beds, the beds are normally hard, hallways are narrow, elevators will be tight with luggage and their will be steps.
No ranch dressing, it's an oil and vinegar world here.
They don't do fettuccine alfredo . Most sauces are a tomatoe base.
Lemon desserts are a must try.
Bread will be amazing and fresh.
They are a passionate people that have a great history and are living in a government/society of a lot of corruption.
