Friday 28 March 2008

What I learned in Italy, Part 2

Venice is better on cold, windy days when the water doesn't stink and you can still see the buildings through the tourists.



Always pack extra batteries. Your batteries will run out sooner than you expected, it will be harder to find them than you expected, and when you do find them, you will pay more than you expected. I know, dear, it was my fault. You're a hero for not saying "I told you so." (Picture taken with said expensive batteries.)



Poor taste is not restricted to religious icons. Mind you, they were offering cheaper prices than on nice days. Good day to bargain. (No, we didn't.)



Whenever you are in possession of a clean bathroom, use it, whether you think you need to or not. Public washrooms in Italy - unlike the private ones - are often disgustingly dirty. And for North Americans, bewildering. The entire county seems to be playing an elaborate game of "Guess what novel way of flushing we've come up with for this toilet." (No, I don't have a picture. I forgot. So this is an excuse to throw in an unrelated, but beloved, picture.)



"When in Rome, do as the Romans do" extends to Episcopalian churches. San Paolo dentro le Mure (St. Paul's Within-the-Walls, as opposed to St. Paul's Outside the Walls) was the baby of a Pennsylvanian Episcopalian in the late 1800's. He tried hard to fit in.



Continuation from Part 1.

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5 comments:

SippicanCottage said...

Io no parlo l'italiano molto buono, signora, mah...

Janet said...

Qualque settimane in Italia e parlerai molto bene! (I hope I got that right.)

I did much better on this trip than on the last (which was many, many years ago). Although you would have laughed to see me sweating bullets as I tried desperately to describe to my husband's relatives what happened when this blog received an unwelcome visitor. I'm not sure if they really understood or only pretended to in order to shorten my misery.

Anonymous said...

This is the part where I remember I need to stop speaking to you again!

Ah, Italy...

And you should read your Bible more, especially that passage that refers to "thou taking Gary in a suitcase when thou goest to Italy."

I hate to preach to you, but your eternal well-being is at stake over it! :-)

Janet said...

Your concern for my eternal well-being is noted. Your very poor command of 16th-century English is also noted... ;o)

Do they make Gary-sized suitcases?

Anonymous said...

If not, I'll lose weight and shrink my head! :-D

 

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