Thursday, August 8, 2013

Upside, Downside

A few of the conundrums of La Vita Italia thus far:


The wisdom of stores closing for afternoon siestas, August holidays, or for just about any other reason the proprietor might require a break…
…but not when you really need carta igienica!


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The omnipresent napkins at gelaterias, cafes and restaurants…


…but made out of a material that feels a bit like wax paper, and is just as nonabsorbent.

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The logic and potential efficiency of queuing up at the post office and government agencies with a numbered ticket system, so you can hang out and wait to be called…


…but wait, and wait, and wait, and wait!

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The presence of ancient, public urinals along some of the narrow streets…


…but how about a door??!

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The lack of "modern" conveniences like Ziploc bags…


…but the inspiration to reduce our consumption and also reuse whenever/whatever we can.

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The lack of privacy when apartment buildings are nested so closely together along the hills in Genoa…


…but the girls observing a rooftop sunbather one afternoon gave them an idea for their own spa experience!

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And, the dilemma of where to find the best macchiato…


…but…hmmmmm…no downside to this one!


















2 comments:

  1. Ah, la vita Italiana. The first word I really learned there was "sciopero" :)

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  2. When we moved to the Netherlands I shipped a whole Costco carton of ziplock bags, only to bring them back. How do other places survive without ziploc?!

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