Mi manca la mia Italia.
I do not know why but lately I have missed Italy, more so than usual. Miss does not begin to describe my feelings. I ache for Italy. Although I am 100% American and I bleed red, white, and blue Italy will always have my heart. Friday night I headed to the Salt Lake Airport to welcome my last child and companion home from Italy. Watching her interact with her family her mannerisms screamed ITALIAN, she felt like home to me. On the drive home I put on my Italian playlist and the tears began to fall. The following are just a few of the reasons I love Italy.
1. old men in fishing vests 2. Amerena and pistachio gelato (don't say pistachio with a "sh" sound, you filthy tourist, it's a "k" sound 2. the basket on my bike 3. Grandparents are constantly with their grandkids 4, the green parks and shady benches 5. Latin engraved on buildings. 6. You can literally drink water from public fountains 7. "centro" - the city square 8. the incredible street performers 9. humidity > lotion 10.the 1/2 hour and hourly ringing of the cathedral bells 11. open air cafes 12. the red postal boxes lining the streets 13. Pizza. Punto. Basta. 14. Always being on the lookout for gypsies 15. ancient looking apartment keys 16. Chalk artists. 17. street markets 18. the mailman's yellow vespa 19. getting lost 20. Citofoni 21. Focaccia 22. Castles 23. the smell of fresh basil 24. avoiding eating pesce del mare 25. museums 26. the sunflowers of Toscana 27. the anticipation of what an italian stamp might look like 28. inability to understand those from Napoli 29. the architecture 30. Risotto 31. Validating your train ticket or avoiding capi treno 32. Mediaval games and traditions are still practiced 33. Mozzarella 34. Scarves 35. everyone wears sweats all day errrry day 36. Umbrellas are a fashion statement. The bigger the better. 37. Line drying laundry 38. That one apartment with a tub. 38. IKEA furniture 39. Bidets, and trying to use them correctly without looking like you went for a swim 40. Vodaphone ringback tones. 41. Answering machines don't exist 42. Soccer or die. 43. Lidl 44. Plastic baptismal fonts 45. MasterCrumble 46. Running for trains and buses. 47. the sound of Dibb's voice at 10:25pm 48. Nougat pillows 49. 00 Farina 50. Being one of two people in the city wearing a helmet. Your companion is the other 51. Frizzante water. 52. Produce gloves 53. boxed milk 54. the process of promesso di sogornio 55. Nightmare = SCIOPERO. 56. the phrase, "By God's grace" 57. Sloooowwwwly walking past cafe's playing American music 58. Travelers circle 59. Accidentily eating alcohol filled chocolates or gelato 60. soooo mannnny cats 61. conversing with your hands 62. No, they aren't screaming at your, they're italian. 63. The way the members sing hymns 64. I still don't understand why there are so many Lizards? 65. Panna 66. The yogurt is drinkable. 67. Cobblestone streets 68. Sirens are constant. 69. Prosciutto 70. Baci. 71. Tesoro, ciccione, principessa, all Italian nicknames 72. Orzo hot or even frozen 73. Round abouts! 74. scary death elevators or 17 flights of stairs? 75. homemade pasta
Unless you are Italian or you served there, this list will mean very little to you. But for me, these are just a few of the reasons I grew to love the people and the culture.
1. old men in fishing vests 2. Amerena and pistachio gelato (don't say pistachio with a "sh" sound, you filthy tourist, it's a "k" sound 2. the basket on my bike 3. Grandparents are constantly with their grandkids 4, the green parks and shady benches 5. Latin engraved on buildings. 6. You can literally drink water from public fountains 7. "centro" - the city square 8. the incredible street performers 9. humidity > lotion 10.the 1/2 hour and hourly ringing of the cathedral bells 11. open air cafes 12. the red postal boxes lining the streets 13. Pizza. Punto. Basta. 14. Always being on the lookout for gypsies 15. ancient looking apartment keys 16. Chalk artists. 17. street markets 18. the mailman's yellow vespa 19. getting lost 20. Citofoni 21. Focaccia 22. Castles 23. the smell of fresh basil 24. avoiding eating pesce del mare 25. museums 26. the sunflowers of Toscana 27. the anticipation of what an italian stamp might look like 28. inability to understand those from Napoli 29. the architecture 30. Risotto 31. Validating your train ticket or avoiding capi treno 32. Mediaval games and traditions are still practiced 33. Mozzarella 34. Scarves 35. everyone wears sweats all day errrry day 36. Umbrellas are a fashion statement. The bigger the better. 37. Line drying laundry 38. That one apartment with a tub. 38. IKEA furniture 39. Bidets, and trying to use them correctly without looking like you went for a swim 40. Vodaphone ringback tones. 41. Answering machines don't exist 42. Soccer or die. 43. Lidl 44. Plastic baptismal fonts 45. MasterCrumble 46. Running for trains and buses. 47. the sound of Dibb's voice at 10:25pm 48. Nougat pillows 49. 00 Farina 50. Being one of two people in the city wearing a helmet. Your companion is the other 51. Frizzante water. 52. Produce gloves 53. boxed milk 54. the process of promesso di sogornio 55. Nightmare = SCIOPERO. 56. the phrase, "By God's grace" 57. Sloooowwwwly walking past cafe's playing American music 58. Travelers circle 59. Accidentily eating alcohol filled chocolates or gelato 60. soooo mannnny cats 61. conversing with your hands 62. No, they aren't screaming at your, they're italian. 63. The way the members sing hymns 64. I still don't understand why there are so many Lizards? 65. Panna 66. The yogurt is drinkable. 67. Cobblestone streets 68. Sirens are constant. 69. Prosciutto 70. Baci. 71. Tesoro, ciccione, principessa, all Italian nicknames 72. Orzo hot or even frozen 73. Round abouts! 74. scary death elevators or 17 flights of stairs? 75. homemade pasta
Unless you are Italian or you served there, this list will mean very little to you. But for me, these are just a few of the reasons I grew to love the people and the culture.
A small island dedicated entirely to the purpose of fishing and exile off Porto Venere.
My absolute favorite view of Verona. This city was full of magic and miracles.
Yes Venezia (Venice for you Americani), you are sacred. Mafia, can't you read?
The coliseum of Verona.
Apostasy in Rimini
My favorite view of Cinque Terre,
I will return here and live out my last days,
My apartment was 30 seconds from the Tower. We did morning exercise at this Piazza dei Miracoli.
I remember this moment vividly. It was my last Italian sunset before flying home and it was almost as if I could feel my love for Italy radiating from my body. It was a moment I will never forget.
:Ti amo, Italia mia.
Christine Marie
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