North VS. South . . . Italia Style

Check out today was at 10, this is hard for us not just cause we enjoy relaxing mornings but also because we have found a schedule for travel days that we have come to enjoy. We stick in a place till anywhere from 1-3 depending on the train schedule. After we checked out we walked to an area with a fountain in the middle and plunked ourselves down for an hour and a half or so and enjoyed the people watching, the shade, and the conversation that we were listening to by Rick Steves talking about the difference between northern and southern Italy. Now I shall bombard you with information that I deemed interesting enough to write down as we listened.

First off, we really need to embrace this ciesta business back in Canada. Having a couple hours off in the middle of the day for whatever they feel. A nap, family time, getting together with a friend, this we change so many things I feel. Even though the Italians are slow moving people just as an entirely of a culture, the ciesta I find even from other countries just makes the people happier and the atmosphere more enjoyable.

From north to south it sounds like it varies a lot. Will be interesting to see if this is really a difference that we notice. There were many things mentioned that you wouldn't normally pick up on as a traveller, example being a guest in someone's home apparently they open their doors to you, and will take you everywhere and pay for everything. That is in the south they are that hospitable, not the north. In the south as well they also will take you see all of their family, and have everything planned out. They are a much more relaxed in the south then the north. With longer ciesta in the south and having a more relaxed laid back lifestyle in general, they are much less focused on work and more focused on relaxing and enjoying life.

Language varies as well. Both the accents and the dialects change, one person in the interview was saying she is from central Italy and she often can't understand the south. The north has more sights to see, where as the south is more about the cultural immersion. They were saying Rome is the dividing line, and south of Rome is more intense.

Pizza was another topic of conversation. And we make it wrong apparently, to fluffy. It is supposedly suppose to be a little fluffier thick crust and thin in the middle. Or that is the Naples pizza, Roman pizza is thin and crispy. Pizza was invented in Naples, and for Queen Margherita, hence the first pizza being margherita pizza. Which is also a representation of the Italian flag. Basil for green, mozzarella for white, and tomatoe for red. All the ingredients make up a margherita pizza.

They are also particular about how and what they eat, I mentioned this I think before. They like to have things basic, they say our pizzas and sandwiches have to much on them and to much competing flavours. Also having their salad after a meal based on how it digests. Just like they will not mix eating egg, meat, and cheese because they digest each other and I guess that has something to do with burning calories or something. Maybe that's why they ain't fat despite how much carbs they eat.

Family is important to all of the Italians no matter north or south, but more so in the south. Our Sunday's we spend all day with family bouncing from one house to the next, and that is their daily life, especially Saturday's and Sunday's. They take this to the next level. What I mean by that is you do everything to not offend your family, and you also do everything with your family. The on man on the interview, lives right under his mom, and his mom cooks for his family, he is married with kids, they have a rope attached to a basket and she puts meals into it and drops it down for them. They pretend that his wife makes it but they all know his mom actually did. They have a saying for this, being attached and addicted to you pr mom, mamone. 

Well yea that is all the podcast interview stuff, wow a hefty bunch. We got on the train and made our way journey to Venice. A spectacular city so far. We decided a bit ago that if we would have changed one thing about our it would be staying the whole weekend in places. We are fortunate that we get the whole weekend in Venice. We are also fortunate that we haven't had any theft problems. 

Venice is going to be great fun. It is a city of water streets, dead ends, a lot of bridges, and far to many birds. I know many think the bird thing is an overreaction but you would be wrong. It is a legitimate fear that terrifies me. Venice is going to be so fun to be in, winding the streets and then getting to the end and realizing it is a dead end or water and having to turn around. It's exciting. Be prepared for many duplicate pictures. After we ate dinner we meandered around and ended up seeing more then we were trying to. San Marco square, the grand canal, and many other things. 

 

Venice is such a unique city, of coarse having the water all over is unique in itself, but the streets are so small and tight it is is like walking in alleyways all the time. Would be a hard place to get used to living in, but a great one. It won't get old to me. I love it!

 

On of the main bridges, ponte Rialto, is unfortunately being restored so it looses some of its beauty. But still pretty neat to see. You walk out of the train station and are immediately greeted by large water, it's great! We also walked by a store that had blown glass leaves acting as a large chocolate fountain. Blown glass is something that is seen everywhere and it is pretty cool stuff.

 

Our room is just little. Luke's bed is against one wall and two feet away is my bed on a wall. First time though that we can't get push our beds together due to the size and the closet and sink in our room. It is pretty little but cute. We also have a fan which is awesome! First time we had a fan that actually is doing something rather then push our sweaty stink around, from way up high in the room.

We are looking forward to spending the weekend in Venice and seeing all that surrounds it. So far we are loving what we are seeing and will enjoy probably literally getting lost in the streets. Italy is interesting for us for a few reasons. Luke has been to almost all of the places we are going to Italy, and I only a few in high school. Creating great memories together here as always. Food is also interesting as we eat a lot of Italian food back home, eating here we will be eating a lot more Italian food a lot more often, hopefully we will be able to find some diversity so that we won't get sick of it.  I have pictures upon pictures, will be fun going brought them all when we get home.

And so the adventure continues...