Buon giorno, Principessa!

I write to you tonight from Rome.

I figure if James Bond can do it, so can I. Travel, that is, not kill people.

Here is what I’ve learned so far in Italy:

  • The people are expressive, lots of hand motions.
  • The cars are extremely small, like 20% smaller than the Mini.

    • Smart Car

  • The men are not afraid of touching each other — arms, back of neck, chest — to make their emphatic point.
  • Yet most men are homophobes (I’ve heard more Italian gay jokes and euphemisms in the last two days than straight jokes).
  • There is much, how do you say?, wonderful strong coffee in Italy. Momma Mia!
  • I can now count to 10 in Italiano 1for pronunciations, see here!:

    • uno
    due
    tre
    quattro
    cinque
    sei
    sette
    otto
    nove

  • Italian pizza is boring.
  • Italian pasta is perfecto!
  • Italian phones look like they came from the future — the version from Back to the Future 2.

    • Italian pay phones

    As cool as all this is, I can’t wait to get back to the States tomorrow!

    Footnotes

Posted

in

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Rob

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Comments

17 responses to “Buon giorno, Principessa!”

  1. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Can’t wait to have you back! You should post some photos before you leave tomorrow morning. The SD card fits right into the slot in the laptop. I’m DYING to see pictures (oh, and to see what you bring back)!

    Reply
  2. Bruce Avatar
    Bruce

    The Roman’s sure do love their Smart cars don’t they? It’s easy to understand why if you’ve ever tried to park in Rome. If you have tried to park there, that would make you crazy, because it implies you tried driving in Rome. I still love my Smart (rave here although it currently sits in a garage 12,000 miles away, awaiting my return.

    Reply
  3. James Avatar
    James

    Sounds like you are having fun. Their education system can’t be that great. You only counted to 10!

    Reply
  4. James Avatar
    James

    Sounds like you are having fun. Their education system can’t be that great. You only counted to 9!

    Reply
  5. James Avatar
    James

    Stupid blackberry! Double post! This takes the sting out of my sarcastic comment. :p

    Reply
  6. Nathan Avatar
    Nathan

    Are you the Benedict stand-in?

    Reply
  7. m0n5t3r Avatar
    m0n5t3r

    it’s “bungiorno principesa” 😛

    Reply
  8. Angela Avatar
    Angela

    Ah.. I LOVE Italy!
    Can’t wait to go back someday soon.
    Yeah, I thought it was hilarious when I saw a group of teenage boys and couple of them grabbed each other’s hands. I assumed they pitched for the same team. Then one of them saw me, smiled, and started in with the not-so-lovely Italian comments.

    Reply
  9. m0n5t3r Avatar
    m0n5t3r

    er, “bongiorno”, stupid typo 😀

    Reply
  10. Carl V. Avatar
    Carl V.

    Wow, that sounds like a fun trip. Italy is one of the places that I hope to visit someday. For now I live vicariously through others.

    Reply
  11. Eliot Avatar
    Eliot

    I want to go! Too bad your trip was so short. But next time you can go with Sarah and have a really good time.

    I would love a Smart car.

    Yay for quattro!!

    Good to meet you yesterday. My photos from the weekend are up on flickr now. I’m putting together a couple of panoramic photos right now…

    Reply
  12. Jules Avatar
    Jules

    I guess I belong in Texas. I would not want to drive one of those miniature things. The bigger the better. Is that an American attitude? I would fit right in with the hand motions, pasta and coffee.

    I’d love to travel someday. I’ve only made it to Mexico thus far. That’s not much of a stretch.

    Congrats to you on your world travels.

    Reply
  13. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    Thanks for the correction, monster (sorry, I’m not hack3r literate, much less Italian!)

    Reply
  14. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Aww Life is Beautiful, I like that movie! I’d love to go to Italy someday!!
    so me and elyse went home this weekend for andie’s play (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever) and today we made peanut butter balls we all thought of you….miss you Merry Christmas Rob!!!!

    Reply
  15. Mark Avatar
    Mark

    I thinks it’s only “bungiorno” when your principesa is jumping off a bridge…

    Reply
  16. Carolina Avatar
    Carolina

    No, it’s Buon giorno, principessa!” and “perfetto” not “perfecto” You forgot 10 “dieci” and it’s “Mamma mia!” not Momma
    If you need Italian lessons let me know. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Rob Avatar
      Rob

      Carolina » Thanks for your corrections! Looks like I need those lessons!

      Reply

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