Ten things that are typically Italian and that we want here too
Colleague Sophie from Italiamo once told us that she has always wanted to be Italian. ‘When I look at my made-up list of fantastic things Italians do, I’m well on my way to finally becoming one. Because they have quite a few wonderfully typical Italian things going on, which you can learn from at home. In particular, I advocate adding numbers 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 to Dutch law. Although as far as I’m concerned, they can all be added.’
10 Italian things we want here too
1. Eat ice cream every day
And at any time of day, too. What do you expect, with a top-notch gelato spot on every street corner.
2. Drink coffee standing at the bar
Caffè al banco costs less, invites you to have a chat and keeps you off your lazy backside for five minutes, too.
3. Have an aperitivo before dinner
Thank goodness we can enjoy drinks and snacks in the Netherlands. But a daily interlude that fills the time between the afternoon slump and dinner with food and drinks? viva l’aperitivo.
4. Have a pisolino
The Italian version of the siesta. Whether potential customers are waiting outside or not, in Italy people simply close up shop between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. for an extended lunch followed by a nap.
5. Eat something sweet for breakfast
Espresso with croissant al pistacchio for president.
6. Drink wine with practically every meal
Cin cin!!!
7. Take a very, very long time over your meal
Eating is more than just bringing a fork to your mouth. Eating is being together (sorry for putting it that way, but it’s true), eating is tasting, eating is chatting, eating is drinking, eating is, if you ask me, the highlight of every day. And then la scarpetta.
8. Head to the beach en masse in August
On August 15, the cities empty out and the beaches fill up. Ferragosto is not only a public holiday, but also the day Italians kick off their vacation, after which they go and lie packed together by the sea. Wonderful phenomenon.
9. Ban flip-flops to the beach
Flip-flops are allowed on that beach, too, and nowhere else. A gift to the streetscape, because nobody is happy to see bare toes in plastic footwear.
10. Master the art of dolce far niente
Italians don’t run; they walk. Italians take that pisolino halfway through the day. Italians eat for hours and eat what they want. Italians do everything listed above, and that is il dolce far niente: enjoying life carefree.
Read also:
- Oh no! This could make a holiday in Italy considerably more expensive
- Let’s go: there’s a fountain in Italy that dispenses free red wine
- Really: you’d better not eat this in Italy
Source: Italiamo
