Pasta basics
The rolling of spaghetti onto a fork is not difficult. You can cut your pasta into bite-sized pieces, but you should choose “short” pastas like penne, conchiglie and tortiglioni. These are easier to eat using a fork. You should always eat pasta al dente. It’s not just a connoisseur’s rule. Overcooked pasta can be difficult to digest. Once you start eating al dente, you won’t want to change.
Other notes on coffee culture
In Italy, coffee is a serious business. It does not require many variations or modifications. Starbucks’ long menu and ten types of milks can overwhelm an Italian. You can order like an Italian and start your day with cappuccino, decaf, or macchiato. In Milan, you might hear marocchino or Moroccan used to refer to what’s known as an espresso in other parts. The name is just a common slang used in this hospitable town and has no other meaning. It’s a mixture of espresso and some foamed milk poured in layers with cocoa. If you need caffeine in the afternoon, order caffè, which for us is espresso. You can say caffè corto, caffè lungo, caffè macchiato… but you never say espresso.
If we are going to a nice bakery for breakfast, it is best not to linger too long. The coffee will take on the taste of the paper cup. It tastes like cardboard. You should not linger in a bakery for too long if you are there to have breakfast. You may be behind someone else who is waiting to get their turn.
Keep to the meal schedule
While some tourist towns are now open 24/7, Italian kitchens are still not as common. Lunch is served typically until around 3 p.m., and dinner until 10 or 10:30 pm. Between meals there are bakeries, gelaterias, and cafés to choose from if you need a snack to tide you over until your next meal.
Souvenir wisely
Cities like Rome, Venice. Florence Mass tourism can have a negative impact on the environment. There are many shops and stalls that sell cheap souvenirs. In a place where craftsmanship It is possible to find many unique items. You’ll see cheap glass creatures in stalls on Venice’s Rialto Bridge, for example. These animals aren’t made on Murano island, which is known for its artisanal blown glass. They’re imported instead from countries that have cheap labor. You should explore off-the-beaten path workshops that produce unique handcrafted pieces. Tea towels and slippers are not helping to support cities and the trade is unfair and unethical.
The average tip is 5%, but can go up to 10%. In contrast to the United States tipping isn’t necessary because waiters get paid well. However, they will accept a small extra tip if that’s what you want. Most people only leave a few coins. Leave too much and you will be considered a fool.
Lower your volume
You may wish to speak more gently in general. It’s true that we Italians are loud speakers, and we are like Americans in this respect. When visiting monuments, other sites and speaking more quietly will help you blend in.
What you need to know about English
English is the official language of most travelers. It’s great that you can use your native language almost everywhere you go. It is almost universally understood and spoken by most people. It is important to remember that accents can vary and not everyone will be able to understand you. It will be easier to communicate if you speak in a simpler English, avoid acronyms and idioms, and speak slowly.
Some thoughts about Italian
Try to have some fun while learning some Italian. It’s great when people make an effort, even if it means making mistakes. It is this that sets us apart from the French. Please don’t speak Spanish. Although we are proud of each other and love one another, our countries are different. It is strange that Americans, who often speak Spanish poorly, mistakenly believe it to be Italian.
