Just got back from Torino, a city that is beautiful and clean and actually more like a German or American efficient than the rest of Italy. I could definitely live there comfortable We went to a Juventus Seria A game in the new stadium in Torino (decorated with all Italian colors and the names of the players) and visited my family who live in the area. Although I love soccer, my favorite part of the game was not the game itself, but the reaction of the people around me. Where Americans watching a game usually stop (profanity-wise) with "shit", that's where the Italians only start. The hurling of insults at the otehr team and at their own players for messing up is an art that you can only learn from a young age and lots of practice. Check out this picture of people in despair over a bad call:
In addition to Torino, we went to Venice on Monday to do some research for the tours. Both in Torino and Venice, we got lost trying to find a landmark. We walked around, sure of where we were going but found ourselves even more lost than before. Both times, however, a little old man with a can popped out and asked us where we wanted to go. In Venice, the old man held an umbrella and pointed us to San Marco; in Torino he held a cane and lead us to the Juventus store. There is only one conclusion to this....Italy, in addition to having small people in general, is a land of helpful elves that pop out when you need them. Never fear Americans who feel daunted by a huge Italian city - help is just around the corner, holding a cane and speaking in half jibberish, half dialect, but pointing in the right direction.
In addition to Torino, we went to Venice on Monday to do some research for the tours. Both in Torino and Venice, we got lost trying to find a landmark. We walked around, sure of where we were going but found ourselves even more lost than before. Both times, however, a little old man with a can popped out and asked us where we wanted to go. In Venice, the old man held an umbrella and pointed us to San Marco; in Torino he held a cane and lead us to the Juventus store. There is only one conclusion to this....Italy, in addition to having small people in general, is a land of helpful elves that pop out when you need them. Never fear Americans who feel daunted by a huge Italian city - help is just around the corner, holding a cane and speaking in half jibberish, half dialect, but pointing in the right direction.
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