Italy emulates U.S. – Italians getting fatter
Native Italian and fitness expert Paul Frediani recently returned from his annual trip to Italy. Paul is passionate about Italy and the Italian lifestyle. While he always loves the precious time spent in his native village of Bozzano in Tuscany, Paul is bothered by a disturbing trend. Are the Italians emulating some of America’s negative habits?
Here are Paul’s thoughts:
“Tutto il mondo é un paese” – an old Italian saying meaning “the world is a village” – is certainly true when it comes to the alarming increase in the rate of obesity in western society today. The Italians are no exception. The obesity levels in Italy are up 25% since 1994. Italian obesity is at 9%, while America’s is at 30% but the Italians are gaining fast. It’s no wonder Fiat bought Chrysler. It was a strategic move: At the rate of their fast expanding waistline Italians will no longer be able to fit into their Cinquecentos. I was shocked and baffled by what I saw in Italy this past year. Young teenage girls with big bellies hanging over their waistline, men so fat their Armani’s are busting at the seams. Although I have seen the slow but gradual weight gain of the Italian population over the years, this last trip simply “blew my mind”.
Forbes Reports: Lucca, Tuscany is one of Europe’s most Idyllic Places To Live
A historic city within a city, it’s difficult to find a house within the old, Renaissance walls of Lucca, but apartments are more plentiful. Its handsome centro storico (or historical center) is little changed since local son Giaccomo Puccini served as church choir master, according to Schultz. The shaded three-mile path atop the city walls is a favorite bike ride or passaggiata for the lucchesi, she adds, and Lucca is the epicenter for Tuscany’s world-class olive oil, so you know food and wine are revered here. Living outside the city, in the surrounding hillsides, is just as idyllic. “To live in the city in the winter and come into the hills in thesummer, that is heaven on earth,” says local Realtor Sarita Vincent.
Click here to read the full article.
A dog’s life in Lucca, Italy
In 2008, Italy was named as one of the top 5 retirement destinations for U.S. citizens by International Living. My friend and client Marlene recently moved to Lucca (Tuscany), Italy. Marlene often lets me know how she is adjusting. A very important concern for Marlene was for her beloved pets. How would they adjust? How would they be treated? Below are Marlene’s comments on life in Italy with her two miniature dachsunds.
One of the best decisions I could have made when moving to Italy last year was to bring my adorable miniature dachshunds with me. Ruby and Ginger, ages 4 and 3 respectively, are little red cuties who attract lots of attention here. They are referred to as Bassoto or “short legs.” Because mine are miniature, they are called bassotini.
Fresh made pizza from a vending machine made in Italy
How would you like to insert 4 or 5 dollars into a machine then watch it prepare dough from scratch, add fresh ingr.jpg)
edients and emit a hot, freshly-baked pizza in under 3 minutes? This is the concept behind the “Let’s Pizza” vending machine.
The machine was invented by Claudio Torghele, 56. This Italian entrepreneur sold pizza dough in California and was impressed by the popularity of pizza in the U.S.
According to the New York Times:
A dog’s life in Lucca, Italy
In 2008, Italy was named as one of the top 5 retirement destinations for U.S. citizens by International Living. My friend and client Marlene recently moved to Lucca (Tuscany), Italy. Marlene often lets me know how she is adjusting. A very important concern for Marlene was for her beloved pets. How would they adjust? How would they be treated? Below are Marlene’s comments on life in Italy with her two miniature dachsunds.
One of the best decisions I could have made when moving to Italy last year was to bring my adorable miniature dachshunds with me. Ruby and Ginger, ages 4 and 3 respectively, are little red cuties who attract lots of attention here. They are referred to as Bassoto or “short legs.” Because mine are miniature, they are called bassotini.
When I take the girls out for their walks, I get stopped by at least half the people I see so they can pet them, talk to them or just call them “belline” (pretty little girls). The girls are very friendly, so this helps tremendously. Many of the folks I see on a daily basis make a beeline for the girls and I am just the one who happens to be holding their leashes. Ruby and Ginger have many, many friends here who don’t mind in the least if they jump on them and give them kisses. I have tried in vain to teach them not to jump on people, but here it’s encouraged.
Watch your head on New Year’s Eve – celebrating in Italy
New Year’s Eve is known as la Festa di San Silvestro (Feast of St. Sylvester) in Italy. New Year’s Day is called Capodanno. On either day, you will find people celebrating by eating lentils (symbolizing wealth) or pork specialties such as cotechino or zampone (stuffed pork sausage or stuffed pig’s trotter) symbolizing richness for the coming year.
If you possessed x-ray vision, you would find yourself in a sea of red as many Italians don new red underwear to bring good luck in the New Year.
At midnight, there are fireworks displays throughout Italy with the largest and longest taking place in Piazza del Popolo in Rome. The fireworks last for an hour and this is a true celebration for all (no reservations). As a result, people camp out for as much as a week in advance to secure a good spot. They are also treated to a concert that goes on for hours both before and after the fireworks.
10 Different Ways to Order Your Espresso in Italy – (How to order like an expert!)
Any Italian will tell you where to find the best espresso in their town or village. They may even argue over their choices with families and friends (as each person has their own criteria and strong opinion)!
This is a passionate subject. Italians firmly believe that, no matter your status or means, you should always demand the best for yourself. This attitude is certainly evident when it comes to their favorite beverage, the thick and frothy caffé.
But it does not stop here: If you hang around a caffé for a couple of hours, you will get very confused over the many ways Italians order their favorite drink. I have thought of 10. Do you know of any others?
Non-Italians beware: this is a very strong, small shot and true espresso. If you are used to the foreign versions of espresso, this may not be for you. You may want to order one of the versions listed below instead.
2. Un caffé “macchiato” (spotted): This is a request for an espresso with a quick shot of frothy milk (in a much smaller amount than that found in a cappuccino). Read more
Football in Italy – Of Helmets and Pointed Balls – Or Not
The UEFA Euro 2008 (European football championships) last week reminded me about the subject of football in Italy. There are 3 things Italian males brag about as their areas of expertise: Women, politics and football (soccer), not necessarily in that order. I won’t make any judgement calls here. Let’s just say I think most are more passionate than savvy about all three…
Back to the European championship: Italy was eliminated before the finals and Spain ended up winning the cup. This is great for the young Spanish team as they had not won the European Championship for about 40 years. This was not so great for Italy. In fact, it felt like a day of national mourning here.
However, this defeat did prompt coach Lippi from my home town of Viareggio (the coach who led the team to the World Cup title two years ago) to re-enter the arena as coach of the Italian Naional Team. Because of this, Italians are once again hopeful for the future of their national team called “Gli Azzurri” (because of their royal blue team color and jerseys).
If you engage in conversation with a European about soccer, remember this: In Europe people do not call soccer “soccer.” It is called “football” (they view it as the original version). They are not thrilled when someone calls it soccer. The football played in the U.S. is called “American Football.” Read more
“Italy – The Best Travel Destination” is a Jeopardy Answer
On tonight’s Jeopardy game show (June 23), contestant Tom Koch from Seattle was interviewed by Alex Trebek. It seems Tom is an avid traveler and has visited over 60 countries.
Alex asked Tom to reveal his favorite destination. Without hesitation, Tom responded, “Italy – I’d go there any day. Any part of Italy is great.” To this Alex commented, “That’s right, you can’t get a bad meal there.” Tom concurred and added, “You can’t find a bad museum there either!”
You see, any well-traveled person will admit that there’s no place like Italy!
Ciao for now, Serenella
