Italy is a blast from the past and this I feel, is the real reason why people love to come here. It reminds us of our innocent childhoods when life was simple and tomatoes tasted like real tomatoes.
In the historical center of each town there are no flashing neon lights full of advertising – only 400 year old buildings made of marble and sandstone with iron 18th century street lamps and a discreet bronze plaque with the name of the business.
The food is made with real sauces and stock, handmade without additives or genetically modified vegetables. The gelatos are made with real fruit not coloured flavouring. The bread does not have preservatives and only lasts one day but you can make crostini or bread crumbs with it!! Here it is a crime to reheat pasta or coffee!!
When I was working in Italy in April from our Italian Office, my Italian friend said to me, “You work too hard, you walk too fast, you are always so busy. See how the Italians stroll – they do not walk fast as they have all the time in the world….. see how they are not stressed – See how if they run into a friend they take the time to have a chat and a café with them even if they are busy!!”
Learn how to slouch against a wall in the Neopolitian way and observe the world passing by. This is the Italian way – take time out to step back to the past – you have worked too hard and for so long, come – experience it before life passes you by!!