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 1!:
  • 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

    1. for pronunciations, see here

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17 Comments

  1. 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)!

  2. 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.

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

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

  5. 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.

  6. 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…

  7. 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.

  8. 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!!!!

  9. 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. 🙂

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