Rome/Italy 2
October 10th 2006 23:26
Bella Roma…
It is quite easy to pick up phrases if you are staying in Italy. I made a point of ‘conversing’ each day with the waiters and shop assistants where I lunched, and frequented. We made an agreement that they were not to speak to me in English, so I ordered in Italian each day and learnt new phrases along the way.
It helps that Italian is formed from Latin. For the shy, it easy to start by adding on ‘ie’ to many words and one can make out some common shop names ie. Pharmacia – or our Pharmacy/Chemist.
Most people can also understand ‘grande’, ‘media’ and ‘Picola’.
Counting was easy as I had learnt French at school and it was similar ie. One: Italian una/French une, two: Italian dua/French deux….
You can occasionally have a hiccup as I did once on a hot summer’s day in a small village.
Anxious to impress my visitors, I ordered a ‘grande aqua mineral’- or large mineral water. This met with a mixed response, much amusement and chattering between the water and another customer.
Asked to wait- after a long thirsty fifteen minutes or more I was presented with much ceremony with the largest, dustiest bottle (about the size of a large magnum of champagne) I have seen – THEIR grande size and rarely asked for! After all their trouble (despite the bottle being warm), I was disinclined to rethink my order! After drinking about four glasses each, with still some aqua left in the bottle…we rolled on our way….
I mentioned wineries last time- and there are many dotted around the countryside waiting for customers. It is understood that you would like to try the offerings- so it is good to eat
before a visit.
We reached the first of the wineries on our list during mid morning before making a breakfast stop.
The owner was extremely hospitable and took us down into a cavernous building stacked high with wine casks, each with a sign above.
We were given several glasses and for the next hour or so, followed him around, taking samples from jugs filled with wine from different casks remarking on the contents as we went. Any encouraging comments brought forth insistence that we be ‘sure’ and so our glasses were refilled.
Time was soon forgotten as we disappeared into a delicious world of wine tasting.
We eventually made our way outside-the still bright sunshine harsh on our already bleary sight, to make our purchase from the ridiculously inexpensive wines. The car loaded up, we were mulling over the nearest place to rest, when thankfully someone appeared with a platter of bread with assorted cheese and a bowl of peaches to ease our rumbling tums.
We took our leave with directions from the winemaker towards the nearest town, promising to return soon.
Off to northern Italy:
The following week we decided on a camping trip to Grado, an islet off the coast of Venice.
Packing a sleeping bag sheet, drink bottle and a few changes of clothes, we took a train to Florence, then connected with a bus that travelled over the causeway to Grado. Our site had tents rigged up near the sea wall over which was the sandy beach. Tents were furnished with a camp bed and sleeping bag in one room, and a little ‘kitchen’ with gas cooking, complete with a table/chairs and broom in the other. The showers/convenience block was at one end of the camp near the little provision store that stocked basics of fresh produce and canned goods.
At the other end was a line of open air showers to wash off the sand. About 200 yards down the road was a little fishing village where one could purchase the daily catch. We preferred to have our evening meal there. For less than one pound sterling (then!)-The simple offering, served on wooden trestle tables under the sky consisted of a large plate of ‘fritto misto’- deep-fried assorted small fish and squid, a loaf of bread, a small flagon of wine, and a plate of fruit to complete the tasty meal.
The provision shop owner was a prolific cook and we were often invited to sample freshly caught squid simply sauteed in tomatoes, herbs and garlic- the juices dipped in slices of crusty bread.
I lost count of the plates of steamed cozze (mussels) that I enjoyed that summer. Friends became alarmed at my prodigious feasting on the tasty crustaceans imploring me to at least alternate them with plates of fried sardines!
Back to Rome….
If I yearned for the seaside, I would go to Ostia Lido- the closest beach area to Rome. Crowded
during summer, one would always run into friends also taking the opportunity to cool off from Rome’s searing, often humid summer days.
I loved the simple life I spent in Rome, exploring the sites of ancient civilisations so numerous and many within walking distance of the city. I especially loved ‘tastings’ from the many deli shops where large legs of Parma ham hung from the ceiling amid rows of smoked salami and wheels of the grande pandana Parmesan cheese lining the shelves. The fabulous aromas of smoked meat and cheese is magnetic-seldom a day went past without my buying a little treat for myself.
With such a magnificent choice, picnics were elevated to a veritable feast rather than a simple repast.
….Alas run out of time….visit again.
It is quite easy to pick up phrases if you are staying in Italy. I made a point of ‘conversing’ each day with the waiters and shop assistants where I lunched, and frequented. We made an agreement that they were not to speak to me in English, so I ordered in Italian each day and learnt new phrases along the way.
It helps that Italian is formed from Latin. For the shy, it easy to start by adding on ‘ie’ to many words and one can make out some common shop names ie. Pharmacia – or our Pharmacy/Chemist.
Most people can also understand ‘grande’, ‘media’ and ‘Picola’.
You can occasionally have a hiccup as I did once on a hot summer’s day in a small village.
Anxious to impress my visitors, I ordered a ‘grande aqua mineral’- or large mineral water. This met with a mixed response, much amusement and chattering between the water and another customer.
Asked to wait- after a long thirsty fifteen minutes or more I was presented with much ceremony with the largest, dustiest bottle (about the size of a large magnum of champagne) I have seen – THEIR grande size and rarely asked for! After all their trouble (despite the bottle being warm), I was disinclined to rethink my order! After drinking about four glasses each, with still some aqua left in the bottle…we rolled on our way….
I mentioned wineries last time- and there are many dotted around the countryside waiting for customers. It is understood that you would like to try the offerings- so it is good to eat
before a visit.
We reached the first of the wineries on our list during mid morning before making a breakfast stop.
We were given several glasses and for the next hour or so, followed him around, taking samples from jugs filled with wine from different casks remarking on the contents as we went. Any encouraging comments brought forth insistence that we be ‘sure’ and so our glasses were refilled.
Time was soon forgotten as we disappeared into a delicious world of wine tasting.
We eventually made our way outside-the still bright sunshine harsh on our already bleary sight, to make our purchase from the ridiculously inexpensive wines. The car loaded up, we were mulling over the nearest place to rest, when thankfully someone appeared with a platter of bread with assorted cheese and a bowl of peaches to ease our rumbling tums.
We took our leave with directions from the winemaker towards the nearest town, promising to return soon.
Off to northern Italy:
The following week we decided on a camping trip to Grado, an islet off the coast of Venice.
Packing a sleeping bag sheet, drink bottle and a few changes of clothes, we took a train to Florence, then connected with a bus that travelled over the causeway to Grado. Our site had tents rigged up near the sea wall over which was the sandy beach. Tents were furnished with a camp bed and sleeping bag in one room, and a little ‘kitchen’ with gas cooking, complete with a table/chairs and broom in the other. The showers/convenience block was at one end of the camp near the little provision store that stocked basics of fresh produce and canned goods.
At the other end was a line of open air showers to wash off the sand. About 200 yards down the road was a little fishing village where one could purchase the daily catch. We preferred to have our evening meal there. For less than one pound sterling (then!)-The simple offering, served on wooden trestle tables under the sky consisted of a large plate of ‘fritto misto’- deep-fried assorted small fish and squid, a loaf of bread, a small flagon of wine, and a plate of fruit to complete the tasty meal.
The provision shop owner was a prolific cook and we were often invited to sample freshly caught squid simply sauteed in tomatoes, herbs and garlic- the juices dipped in slices of crusty bread.
I lost count of the plates of steamed cozze (mussels) that I enjoyed that summer. Friends became alarmed at my prodigious feasting on the tasty crustaceans imploring me to at least alternate them with plates of fried sardines!
Back to Rome….
If I yearned for the seaside, I would go to Ostia Lido- the closest beach area to Rome. Crowded
during summer, one would always run into friends also taking the opportunity to cool off from Rome’s searing, often humid summer days.
I loved the simple life I spent in Rome, exploring the sites of ancient civilisations so numerous and many within walking distance of the city. I especially loved ‘tastings’ from the many deli shops where large legs of Parma ham hung from the ceiling amid rows of smoked salami and wheels of the grande pandana Parmesan cheese lining the shelves. The fabulous aromas of smoked meat and cheese is magnetic-seldom a day went past without my buying a little treat for myself.
With such a magnificent choice, picnics were elevated to a veritable feast rather than a simple repast.
….Alas run out of time….visit again.
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