Our new theme song is "Drive Like an Italian" sung to whatever tune fits at the moment.
Dave's inner Italian has emerged. He is cooking like an Italian, and driving like an Italian. Turns out driving like an Italian is far more important to our health and happiness (not to mention survival) than cooking well. Left to me we would still be driving in circles in the first roundabout out of the airport.
The 'Rules of the Road' in Italy are more like 'Suggestions of the Road'. Stop signs, red lights, lines on the road, all are mere suggestions of conduct, to be considered as options.
As we drive, cars come toward us in our lane. This is usual, and we are expected to move out of the way. If a car pulls out of an intersection in front of us, it's our problem. We move into the line of on coming traffic to make space.
We have learned a cardinal rule. DO NOT HESITATE. If we are walking or driving, it is expected that we will maintain our pace and continue moving forward. Drivers anticipate where we will be and drive accordingly. If we hesitate, we are messing with their minds and they will plow into us.
A traffic cop trying in vain to prevent people from parking all over the place. Note the stylish uniform and Gucci sunglasses
On a rural road there is some work underway. A temporary traffic light is set up, and it's red, so we stop. A Mercedes roars up behind us and passes without a glance. WHAT? As good Canadians we wait for the light to turn green, and when it does we venture forward. But the trucks and road crew have no idea if the light is green or red, it makes no difference to where they put their vehicles, their equipment. The stop light was merely a suggestion.
In small towns older gentlemen ride bikes. They are dignified in wool cardigans and caps, and they pedal slowly on ancient rusty bikes. Admirable and charming to be sure. Until you have to avoid running over them in a narrow lanes where two cars are passing where there ought to be one. The gentlemen are often decrying the situation with much vigour and gesticulation. Which is easy to see and hear when they are two inches from our window.
Cooking like an Italian is considerably simpler.
Our tiny but pretty kitchen in Villetta Serena
Fresh local ingredients and we're cooking like an Italian
KA
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