In Italy never expect to get to an appointment on time. It is the unexpected chaos that ensures that Italians are always late. The other side of the coin is that they put themselves first which is both a good thing and bad. Good for their life but bad for services.
If it is coffee time and you have lined up in a queue at the bank….. Down comes the sportello – window and the bank man goes off to have morning tea leaving you standing there for another half an hour. “Please can you serve me first before you go”!! With a wave of the hand off he goes and you have to decide to wait or come back another day. Never go into a bank close to closing time or lunch time. As they say here – “Buonanotte“!!……
I find it hard remembering to get to the shops before they close at 1.30 p.m.and then at 7.30 -8.00 p.m.because after that – nothing is open; One cannot even buy a loaf of bread because there are no convenience stores open at odd hours. Closing time means that – everything and I mean everything is shut. You either starve or go to a restaurant to eat.
Time here in Italy is relegated – the work day is split around food, into morning, lunch, siesta (closing of shops for 3 hours) and late afternoon and then dinner at night. Pasta is always eaten at lunch then meat and vegetables for the evening meal.