Some Random Thoughts

Just a few things that don’t fit nicely into an individual topic:

1. Yes, I finally saw Dreamgirls! I went to the matinee showing of this film at the Odeon yesterday. The velvet rope guy recognized me immediately, gave me a big smile, and, when I handed him the ticket stub he had signed last week, he promptly tore it once again and waved me in. I really enjoyed the film, especially the fact that I was seeing it in such an historic building. The theatre itself was beautiful—plush velvet seats, marvelous mosaic tile floors, and a stunning stained glass dome. This place really puts all U.S. multiplexes to shame!

2. I’ve found that it’s so enjoyable to practice my Italian, even though I have a long way to go. The other day, while taking out my trash (yes, one of the glamorous parts about living in Florence), I saw the old man who runs the trattoria across from my apartment. It had just started to rain, and I tried to comment on this to him, but evidently I had forgotten the correct word for “rain.” I then apologized, saying Mi dispiace, il mio italiano è male (“I’m sorry, my Italian is bad”), to which he immediately responded, No, il tuo italiano è così così (“Your Italian is so-so”). I guess I’m getting somewhere after all!

3. I’ve mentioned before the impossibly narrow sidewalks, as well as the lack of pedestrian right-of-way. This may be true, but pedestrians in Florence have no fear. In fact, the narrow streets are clogged with pedestrians, walking right down the middle. Most of the streets are one way, and the locals have learned to simply sense a car, truck, or Vespa coming up behind them, moving out of the way at the very last second, without once even glancing back.

4. It costs .85 euros to mail a letter to the United States. (Chip, keep an eye on the mailbox!) But don’t go to the post office to buy a stamp because you’ll wait in line forever to do so. Instead, go to a tabaccheria (tobacco shop) for your stamps. Who would have thought?

5. Yesterday I saw Parmalat milk, for the first time, stacked up along the wall of a forno (bakery). (Yes, this is the same company that is the center of what might possibly be the largest accounting fraud case in history.) This milk is sold in juice box-like packaging, is not refrigerated, and the milk I saw yesterday had an expiration date somewhere in late 2008. Just what could they possibly put into that milk to make it last so long without refrigeration? I don’t think I really want to find out!

6. Did I mention that on one of my walks through the historical centre that I actually stumbled upon the Hotel California? I’m not kidding (look closely at this photo)!

7. In many places, a glass of wine costs the same or less than a Coca-Cola. This makes the decision about what to order rather easy, don’t you think?