American vs Canadian

One of the girl bartenders here at the Yellow who is an American tells people she is Canadian.

I actually blogged all sorts of stuff on this but then got cut off somehow.

I think it has to do with the anti-terrorism rules they have in Italy.

All I will now say is that I was tired of the Italians saying I was American.

I kept correcting them.

I have loads of American friends that I love...however... I am a Canadian.

C...A...N....A...D...I...A...N

Non-Italian Fashion

First thing I noticed while staying at the Yellow in Rome.....a very 'english' speaking spot....full of Brits, Aussies, Americans and Canadians..........is that we wear alot of baggy clothing.

We don't look as sexy as the Italians.

We look comfortable.

Bad Bad Me

Here I am in Roma and where do I go for an early dinner?

McDonalds.

6.20 Euros for a big mac meal. That's $10.00 Canadian.

Was it worth it?

Yup.

Sometimes you've just got to be bad.

Back At The Yellow

I'm only in Rome for one night, so where do I stay???

http://www.yellowhostel.com/

4 room dorm. 30 euros.

Here I am checking in, and who do I see behind the counter......Christina.....the actress from Australia that was on my Italy tour! She got a job at the Yellow the day after we last saw each other. The night she missed her convent curfew.

We met up for drinks...8 pm to 1 am.

Good thing I didn't have to go too far to get to my room.

You've got to love yellow!

Say No To Italian Food

I've been eating like a little piggy these last few months.

Primo, Secondo, Fruits, Gelato you name it.

Effective Sept 1st I'm saying NO to Italian.

The BEST food in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!

Good thing I will be in Eastern Europe....

Cry Baby Me

Last night everyone took me out for pizza to say good bye.

Even though my relatives stress me out.......I love them.

They treat me like a little princess.

Ciao Ciao Calabria

I'm back in Roma. I took a Eurostar train. 57 Euro's.....9:45 am Paola to Rome Termini...2:15 pm arrival. I went first class...not quite the same as my last experience.

There was a couple with 2 young children. Oldest was a girl....maybe 7 years old. The boy was about 3. Actually he wasn't a boy...he was a holy terror! Screamed the whole time.

Noone seemed to be bothered by this. As mentioned previously.....the children here really misbehave and get away with it.

I arrived in Calabaria bright and early on Aug 4th and stayed until early this morning. 26 nights. 3 of those were spent in Sicily.

I basically spent 3 solid weeks as an Italian beach bum.

I started out with a 45 sun protection and left wearing a 2 sun protection and even playing in the water!

Very salty water.

Italian Eyewear Update

Too good to be true.

The transitions would not be ready in time.

I still purchased these cheap frames, regular lens installed .

120 Euro's for both. $180.00 Canadian.

I'll have to get them checked out when I get back home as they have a pretty funny way of verifying your eye strength.

They use this nifty computer to look into your eyes and tell you what you need.

Maybe optometrists are obsolete in Italy.

Anyone Out There

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Isabell

Isabell who?

Isabell broken I've come to fix it.

I've been wondering who is reading my blog. Some of you put comments in. Some don't. And some don't sign who they are. Hmmmmmmmmmmm............

Italian Eyewear

I've been trying on some funky frames just for the fun of it.

I found one red pair that was kind of different to what I have at home.

The salesman gave me a deal if I purchased this pair and the similar one but a very strange colored one. I have no idea how to describe the color.

Two hundred Euro. $300 Canadian.

Transitions.

I just ordered them.

I hope to get them before I leave this Thursday.

Buring Calabria

There are some pretty devastating fires here in Southern Italy....most resulting from arson.

Very sad to see.

http://www.learn-italian-language-software.com/articles/oct_00.htm

Mountains In Italy

To escape some of this extreme heat wave, I went with one of my cousins and her family to the Sila on Sunday (Francesca).

http://www.emmeti.it/Welcome/Calabria/Sila/index.uk.html

What an adventure!

The main points..........there was a potatoe festival going on and we lost her 6 year old for a few minutes.

I had a major headache when I got home.

Dancing In Paola

The other night I went out with Sara and her fiance Savario.

Time: Midnight to 4:30 am (music stops at 4 am...club 'happens' anytime after 2 am)
Clubs: Oasi and Preve
Location: Paola (a 30 minute highway drive from here)
Cost: Paid cover for 2 people...20 Euro's
Drink prices: 3.50 Euro's for Bacardi coolers. 5 Euro's for cocktails.
Music: Varied at each spot...house in Oasi and pop in Preve.
Dress: All labels

Beautiful Boy

I watched a funny Italian movie the other night.

L'uomo Perfetto.

It had this cute boy in the movie........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riccardo_Scamarcio

(All non-italian movies are dubbed Italian not sub-titled)

Postcards In The Mail

I don't often send postcards.

On this trip I've sent about 12 cards.

All mailed the other day.

I used the stamps I purchased at the Vatican.

Bathrobes and Italians

Most of the Italians I have been meeting all use terry cloth bathrobes to dry themselves out of the shower.

I see them all hanging up in the bathrooms.

I'm even offered one everywhere I stay.

They all think I'm a bit odd that I don't use one.

'WHAT?' 'A TOWEL ONLY?' 'YOU NEED A BATHROBE TO DRY OFF PROPERLY'

I explain to them that I travel light (backpacking).

This calms them down.

Glass Containers vs Tin

Most of the food we buy in tins comes in glass containers here.

An example: Tuna.

Yup.

And I've got to say......it tastes much much better.

Peeling Fruit

All fruit gets peeled here.

I'm going to start carrying a knife in Canada to do this.

Watch out peaches.

Soap Operas in Italy

I don't watch any day time soap operas at home, so I had absolutely no idea what the show 'Beautiful' was all about.

About 95% of the population in Italian watch this show.

Monday's to Friday's....1:45 to 2:15 pm.

Strategic time slot. Lunch time.

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bold_and_the_Beautiful

Fiesta at Eighteen

Families here in Italy celebrate their child's 18th birthday in a super big way.

A big party with a huge huge meal, drinks, cake and entertainment.

The parents pay a fortune for these extreme parties.

You can only guess how much the 18 year old's outfit costs!

All designer.

Italian of course.

Healthy Do's For An Italian

Italians believe the following are healthy for you and a must:

• Eating pasta once a day every day
• Eating a pastry every morning for breakfast
• Eating two large meals a day....lunch around 1:00 ish and dinner around 9:00 ish
• Drinking 3 or 4 shots of espresso every day
• In the summer: sitting in the sun and obtaining a suntan
• Using a sun creme or oil of no more than a 4 protection

I know this list will get bigger as I get over the shock of some of the items.

Car Show in Campora

My baby the Fiat 500 was even there.........

http://www.autoepocacampora.it/

They even had a red convertible one!

Gassosa vs Pepsi and Fanta

100 ml

Gassosa (similar to 7-up): 32 Calories

Pepsi: 42 Calories

Fanta: 50 Calories

Some of my relatives even mix the gassosa with red wine or beer.

Espresso Coffee

For those of you that know me well, you know that I don't drink coffee. I'm a Starbucks tazo chai latte fan.

Well.....no longer.........

I now drink espresso.

The Italians are slowly breaking me down.

Positive Butterflies

I love not working.

It's the best way to stay relaxed and be a postive little social butterfly.

Thoughts For The Day

I've been dealing with some 'glass half empty' type of relatives.

I don't know why it's easier for some people to complain all the time.

When you face the sun, the shadows always fall behind you. Helen Keller

All battles are first won or lost, in the mind. Joan of Arch

There are always flowers for those who want to see them. Henri Matisse

Lifestyles Of The Rich

Last night I went to a dinner party for 20.

Pool side.

Very nice.

Beach Life

Kind of boring just lying around.

I'm not much of a suntanner.

A bit of color...but not much.

I've run out of books to read and have now started reading an Italian one.

I have no idea what the story line is.

More Eastern Europe

I'm leaving the beach life for a bit more touring on August 30th.

I'll be making my way back to Rome and then catching a flight to Budapest.

From there I will be visiting Novi Sad, Belgrade, Sarajevo, Ostrog Monastery, Budva and ending up in Dubrovnik Croatia where I'll be staying for one week.

I just finished reading Anderson Cooper's book: Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival.

Made me think about that area and seeing as I'm just around the corner...........

Ferragosto

August 15, Ferragosto (Assumption Day), is a national holiday so many businesses and shops will be closed. You'll find celebrations in many places in Italy on this day and the days before and after, often including music, food, and fireworks.

In some big cities like Rome and Milan, however, the city will empty out as Italians leave the city for the beaches and mountains.

Unlucky Seventeens

Back at home, Friday the 13th is unlucky.

Here in Italy its Friday the 17th that's unlucky.

Thirteen is a lucky number for Italians.

We like to be the opposite of others.

Here Goaty Goaty

One of my cousins in Sicily has several goats that he keeps at his country home.

The 4 goats roam around as they like..... home is being restored.... so.... very dirty at the moment.

What I found amazing was that the goats respond to my cousin talking to them!

It's like having dogs.

Italian dogs.

That you eat once fattened up.

Cemetaries and Flowers

The cemetary by where my aunt lives in Sicily is quite ahead of its time.

There is a small stand out front that sells fresh flowers!

What a brilliant idea!

Caution When Walking

I walked to the beach one day.

Took 30 minutes.

Along the highway.

No sidewalk.

Very dangerous.

I almost walked on 2 dead small snakes along the way.

I don't think anyone heard me scream.

Attack Of The Flies

What to expect when living in the country in Sicily...........

FLIES, FLIES, FLIES

Very annoying.

Sicilian Greenhouses

Everywhere in the part of Sicily I was visiting.

My cousins have lods of them.

Right now some of them are being used for growing Christmas poinsetta's.

They grow everything in Sicily.

Castello In Sicily

A bit of sightseeing one morning:

http://www.siciliatourist.tv/donnafugata/donnafugata.htm

Isolabella

Spent four days in beautiful Sicily.

Headed out by car with a few adult relatives and a 6 year old. Got there with a headache!

It takes aprx 1.5 hours from Campora to Villa San Giovanni where you take the ferry. The ferry takes only 30 minutes, however, you must wait until it arrives....which sometimes might be up to an hour.

You arrive at Messina Sicily, and from there it's another 2.5 hours (driving very very fast) to Santa Croce Ragusa where my aunt lives.

My aunt has 7 children and 11 grandchildren. All we did was eat and eat. We never had less than 15 people at the table at any one time. Insanity.

The food was amazing...........

• Pizza .....home made dough and cooked in a fire burning old stove outside.
• Lemon granita. Squeezed from the lemons out in the front yard.
• Sicilian ricotta cannoli.............yummy yummy.
• Tiramisu........home made........triple yummy yummy yummy.
• Pasta....bread.....meats..........all super delicious.

Sicily rocks!

The Most Dangerous in Calabria

Mafia
1. A secret terrorist organization in Sicily, operating since the early 19th century in opposition to legal authority.
2. A secret criminal organization of Italian origin operating in the United States and engaged in illegal activities such as gambling, drug-dealing, and prostitution.
3. Any of various similar criminal organizations, especially when dominated by members of the same nationality.

Camorra
1. A Neapolitan secret society organized about 1820, notorious for practicing violence and blackmail.
2. An unscrupulous, clandestine group.

'Ndrangheta (from a Greek word for heroism and virtue) is a mafia-like criminal organization in Calabria, Italy. It is not as sophisticated and has remained more rural compared to the Napolitan Camorra and the Apulian sacra corona unita. Though commonly lumped together with the Sicilian mafia, the 'Ndrangheta operate completely independently to the Sicilians, though there is contact between the two due to the geographical closeness of Calabria and Sicily. ...

Beer and Italians

No twist tops for the beer. You need a bottle opener.

I had forgotten how to use one it's been so long.................

Consumption of Italian beer, though considered a growing phenomenon, is not as widespread as in its European neighbours, mainly because of a historical preference for wine in the country.

One of the oldest and most popular breweries in Italy is Peroni, today owned by the SABMiller group, which is also owner of the worldwide brand Nastro Azzurro.

Festivals, Festivals and More Festivals

There seems to be a street festival every night here for the month of August.

Tonight is the 'Zucca' one.

The pumpkin festival.

Seems like I've stepped back in time somehow.

Fiats and Me

There's a new car in town that isn't as super cute as the original but still has charm:

http://www.fiat500.com/

If I lived in Italy, I would be driving one of the originals.

That car is so me...........

Franks Type Of Vacation

Hey Frank and Bernice.........I found a great vacation spot for you:

http://www.fargani.it/index_inglese.htm

Operated of course by our cousin Giuseppe!

Now with a pool.

No Life After Twenty Five

Seems like everyone over 25 years old has a family here and are married with a pile of kids.

I'm in Southern Italy so this is very common.

The 'kids' go out all hours of the night....usually dinner is at 9 pm and they then get ready to go out for midnight. By 'kids' I mean anyone 13 plus.

There doesn't seem to be much respect for the parents ...just a give me give me type of attitude for the kids....AND...they usually get what they want.

Whatever they want..............

Progetto Impossibile

I've been on the move for so long that I really can't just relax and sit still....so.....I've undertaken a project at my cousin Mirella's house.

Progetto Impossibile...........

This project is to organize ALL of Mirella & Claudio's family pictures. They have 3 kids.....the oldest being 23...the youngest 13. They have no real organized photo albums.

Most of the pictures are not in order and they are all just lying around sitting in a few drawers in the house.

Along comes ME with this amazing idea!

Let's make an album each for the kids and one album for the family.

Yippeee............I now have a project on the go.

I've just delegated one job to Sara while I blog.

Call me the 'idea' person/project head.

Crazy Italians

Loud chaos everywhere.

In the home. On the street. In stores.

This helps explain why I'm me.

I LOVE being Italian!

It's not my fault.

Bad Bad Children

The small children here are really really spoiled and misbehave all the time.

You often see the parents smacking them on their bum and yelling at them.

Nothing is quiet this part of the world.

I think I'm going deaf.

Yummy Rabbits

I really don't eat rabbit, but kind of do now. It's yummy when cooked right.

One of Mirella's neighbours was yelling out her name the other day in the back yard, and as she wasn't home, I went to see what they wanted (as mentioned prior...there is a lot of yelling around these parts).

They gave me a bowl with a skinned rabbit. Head attached. Eyeballs starring straight at me.

I had Mirella cover up the bowl in the fridge due to the continual stare.

It was super creepy.

Ironing Obsession

Mothers iron EVERYTHING here.

It's insane.

Zoe, my new Australian friend would love it here. She has an ironing obsession as well.

Italian Mothers

I continue to be shocked on what Italian mothers do for their sons here in Italy.

First of all, you have to remember that the sons stay at home until they get married. You will often see them in their 20's still at home.....and....after what I've been seeing...why not?

This is what the mothers do:

• Provide a wake up call to the MALE adult living in their home by knocking on their bedroom door.
• Provide breakfast if the MALE adult wants something to eat....whatever they want.
• Clean up the MALE adult's bedroom. Make their bed. Pick up clothes. Dust.
• Provide laundry service to the MALE adult. Wash. Fold. Iron.
• Provide lunch service to the MALE adult.
• Provide dinner service to the MALE adult.

From my obserations, there really is no difference in a mother taking care of their MALE newborn or a MALE adult SON.

Minus the breast feeding and diaper changing.

Beach Bum

That's me!

I'm haven't been doing much these last few days.

Routine consists of me getting up around 8:30ish, having breakfast, going to the beach, coming home for lunch (which my cousin cooks), then napping and hanging out a bit. Dinner around 9 pmish (cousin cooks) and then just hanging out again. Bed for around midnight or 1ish.

Got to love that!

Andiamo alla Spiaggia

I'm in Calabria now.

74 Euro's from Milano to Rome...first class on a Eurostar train. Loved the trip. Very relaxing. Loads of room...even though train was very full. 4.5 hour trip.

27.50 Euro's from Rome to Paola....second class on a regular train. Hated the trip. Very packed, people all over the place....very hard to walk down the aisles. At least I had a reserved seat in a 6 person cabin. The creep across from me kept playing with himself....great I'm thinking...this is going to be a long ride. It was.....11:30 pm to 4:30 am.

Mirella & Claudio picked me up and saved me from the train from hell.

I find out later that there are 4 million Italians travelling on the train that weekend and another 11 million travelling on the road by car. It's when most people start their vacations.

Joy.................

Ciao Ciao Milano

Stayed at Hotel Terminal...3 nights....a few blocks from the train station. 213 Euro's. A four star hotel with air conditioning!

Touristy things I did:

• Went to the Botero art exhibit at one of the Palazzo's near the Duomo.
• Walked around the amazing Duomo of Milano.
• Continued walking around the Galleria and Corso Buenos Aires for shopping.
• Went to see where the Last Supper Painting was (Santa Maria delle Grazie).
• Walked around the Castello Sforzesca and surrounding park grounds.
• Ignored the very expensive shopping streets.
• Ate at several great spots...the first night being river side.
• Drank a bit of vino and even stopped off at a salsa bar.

I really liked what I saw in Milan...........a huge city, where a lot of people were just heading away from to go on vacation.

The hotel I stayed at was even closing for August!