Things that are different

There are small things we notice in Italy, that are consistently true, and different from home.

Here are some of them:

Potatoes are sweet. Potato dishes are incredibly incredibly unusually good, and we determined it was not any kind of cooking or seasoning, but just the plain, incredibly delicious, sweet Umbrian white potato.

Doggie bags are not common in restaurants. Waiters have been everything from confused to shocked when we ask if we can take leftovers home. They have had to invent packaging solutions.

Dogs themselves, however, are common in restaurants. Even in places with white tablecloths and fancy wine, dogs of all kinds come in with their people and just sleep under the tables. And snore. Dogs also come in to stores and churches with perfect freedom.

Standing espresso counters are common in cafes. You just order and drink a little espresso while standing up, leaning on the long counter. Civilized.

Highway lanes are meaningless. As long as we are all going the same direction, we just ignore those silly lines, drive super fast, and hug the tail of the car in front of us like we're at NASCAR.

They do not bring you the check in restaurants. You must ask for it specifically, and often you must go hunt someone down to bring it to you. Once your food is served they stay as far away from you as they possibly can.

Glasses of wine are small. Like half a glass of wine at home, and similarly cheap. Portions are perfectly sized, also. Maybe that's why they are weirded out by the doggie bag request.

Pizza is just a whole different thing.

Al dente pasta really means a al dente, like you can totally feel it with your teeth. And everything is served perfectly hot.

Things start about 10-20 minutes late. Always.

There's pastries everywhere. Some as big as your head.

There's no butter. Ever. And nothing is cooked in it.

Everything has truffles in it--read labels carefully in the grocery store or it will all be truffle-flavored.

There are no clothes dryers--gotta hang up the clothes to dry. In the winter, that means in the apartment, over the radiators.

The cars are teeny tiny and have names like "Panda" and "Idea."

Hot chocolate is pretty much just thick melted candy bars in a cup.

'Prego' means everything you might ever want to say.

- Jessica